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bit frightened, in act we rather enjoyed it at first, but people kept getting killed, in such messy ways, that it became a nightmare. It is funny how calm you get. A man falls beside you, and you just heave him out of the way, like a sack of flour. Finally we reached the last trench, which was simply jamed with men from all our Regts. There we put up a scrap for sometime, till the order came down from the Major to cease fire (why I do not know). He must have been put out about that time, because we were never told to commence again, even though I passed up several messages asking if there were any Officers. Meanwhile the country was swarming with Germs and their shrapnel began to come in. Not caring to be made a prisoner, I decided to make a dash for it, two others came with me, and both were hit. After that a big bunch followed. None of us have any idea how we got out as the enemy were on three sides of us, and believe me, we survivors are an awe struck bunch. Well we were gathered together by the ADJT. further back to make another stand, but luckily did not have to, as reinforcements were coming up. We sat around and watched the Regts. come up in skirmishing order, under most hellish fire, and helped the wounded in. Some of the fellows went along with them, but the rest of us were too all in, having been without sleep and food, since the start. The enemy got within a few hundred yards, and the noise was awful. Our Batteries simply mowed them down. We then moved further back into a barn, and went to sleep for an hour, when we were routed out and went into a trench, ankle deep in water, where the rest of the Canadians were. Here we got some rations and rum. Soon after we moved off again and dug ourselves in right in the front, with some Regulars on our right.

BC Archives, MS-1901 / Box 1 / File 10 RUSSELL, Alma M., 1873-1964. Victoria; librarian Selected letters from Sergeant John Raymond McIllree, 1915.