Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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LOYOLA. COLEEGE REVIEW E саге 15 taken; no smoking on deck after 7 p.m., and all lights out by 9 o'clock. The first night out, we almost ran down a large coal boat. In fact she crossed right in front of us and we only missed her stern by about 5 feet. я We reached the danger zone оп Wednesday, May 3rd. Four escorts appeared on the horizon and soon reached us, travelling at great speed. The destroyers are small, are very low in the water and look about the size of a pleasure yacht, but they travel very fast. Their object is to ram a submarine before she can launch a torpedo. If one is launched, they are fast enough to follow it and get a shot at it with their small guns, thereby diverting its course. When the destroyers arrived, we all separated taking different courses. Awakening next morning, we found ourselves off the north coast of Ireland. The land was very green and all the farms divided off in squares of little: more than an acre; here and there a small village and church. We could see the coast of Scotland on our north and a few pretty islands. We were just losing sight of Ireland when we sighted the Isle of Man, one of the prettiest but most peculiar islands I have ever seen, being one continuation of hills and villages, and dotted here and there with castles. We got a lasting impression of Britain's Fleet. Off Ireland we saw the trawlers searching for mines, while on all sides one could see destroyers and cruisers patrolling the waters; we also saw aeroplanes and seaplanes. When we were nearing the Mersey, it became quite foggy and began to rain. We arrived at Liverpool about 6 p.m. Crowds of boats passed us, and every one cheered and saluted the Canadians. Arrived here at Bramshott Camp on Saturday: The country from Liverpool here is very fine; one con- tinual row of trees and parks. It looks like one big garden, and the small towns seem so strange, all old and the streets lined with beautiful lanes and quaint houses. . France, December 5th, 1916. If the people over there could spend a few weeks where we were, it would certainly open their eyes. You can't imagine what it is like and what the boys have to endure. Mud! you can't seem to get out of it and water ankle deep. Last time (luckily for forty-eight hours only) we had the worst spell of it yet; however after a day or so you forget all about it. For miles around you see nothing but a wasted country. Where villages have been, you see but a pile of debris and trees lying low. On all sides the country is one mass of shell-holes. One day a village behind Fritz's lines will bein good condition ; then after a day's bombardment, it is nothing but ruins. I have in mind one village; we had good observation on it from our position: we came out for a couple of days and on our return practically the whole village was demolished. As for shells, it is one continuous sound of them all day, but as long as they keep going over or do not get too close, one gets accustomed. However when the time comes for an advance and one knows he is going ahead, there is some com- pensation for it all. France, March 3rd, 1917. Our divisions made quite a raid the other day, using gas. They keep old Fritz busy all along the line; just one series of raids. Simultaneously the artillery and the machine guns open fire on Fritz with one contin- uous stream of explosives, shrapnel bursting in the air overhead in one big flame, and the high explosives on the ground; just one continuous sound of thunder and then after five minutes or so, every gun is raised on its supports, and with reserves, etc., over the top of the trench go the boys! If itis just for a raid, they £o for about half an hour and destroy his dug-outs, etc., and hurry back any prisoners they may find. One would think it impossible to live through such a barrage but the amount of men that are killed: is relatively small. However, it puts his trench in. bad shape and that, with the destruction accomplished by the raiding party, certainly tells on him. Кепе April 15th, 1917. Since my last letter, we have been through some- thing and it is certainly to your prayers at home that we owe our safety. By now you will have heard of the advance and of the part the Canadians played in it. This was the first time our guns were sent over the top. Formerly we were used behind and then moved up. However this was on such a big plan, on account of the value Fritz set on the Ridge, that they decided to send us over. We went over the top Easter Mon- day at daybreak and it was a sight I shall never forget. Our guns put up the heaviest possible barrage and poor Fritz had little chance. Everything was nice and quiet until about ten minutes before the time set, and then we scorched his line before his artillery got £oing at all. No opposition was encountered in his first two lines and it was only in his third and fourth that he made any kind of a fight. We took up a position quite a distance behind his original front and I managed to get my crew over O.K. though one of the boys was killed after we got there. We dug ourselves in, got our guns up and, though we waited, he didn't come back. We managed to hold everything we had taken but those three days of holding were the hardest; weather bad and food poor, but we were finally relieved. France, April 27th, 1917. Our section so far, is having the best time, as we did the heaviest part of the work in the advance. We are in one of those large tunnels in which the ridge abounds and it is a wonderful piece of work, being a regular underground village over six hundred yards long; it has electric lights, running water and numerous rooms and will be quite a place for sight- seers after the war. I do not like them, however, so well as the above ones we used to make for ourselves ; the air is too heavy and you never know whether it is night or day. Well, Fritz is back a few miles further than he was before Easter. We are in reserve now just where our old front line was and one hardly ever sees a shell reach this far now. I have been over the ground we took and you would wonder how we were ever able to get it from his hands. It is about a mile in width and then slopes into a wide plateau, which runs as far as the eye can see. He was practically free for observation except for aeroplanes and could bring up almost anything he wanted without being seen. The far side of the Ridge was practically a net-work of Fritz's dug-outs, almost impregnable against shell- fire. He was safe as long as he stayed in them and I think he did so, for they looked as if they had been continually inhabited. To see the ground of his old first and second line, is to realise the thoroughness of our artillery. It is nothing but a mass of shell- holes overlapping one another and how he ever kept any at all is beyond me. That his morale is broken does not surprise one. Reports are coming in of continual advances but no sight of him is visible. I have been up for a couple of nights and could see a series of fires in his rear; he is apparently setting fire to numerous villages before evacuating them. Enough about the war; best love to all.

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30 LOYOLA.COLLEGE REVIEW CORPORAL STANTON HUDSON When Stanton Hudson's name appeared in the list of Canadian casualties, Loyola mourned the loss of a true Catholic gentle- man and a loyal alumnus. He was born in Perth, Ont., on September 16th, 1893, began his education in Perth Separate School and later attended Perth Collegiate for two years, whence he came to Loyola in 1907. When at Loyola, Stanton already mani- fested the qualities which were to mark him as a soldier on the battlefield. A generous: self-sacrificing boy, ever ready to do his share in upholding the honour of his College in whatever sphere his activities were required, he won for himself life-long friends with the pupils and professors. On leaving Loyola in 1912, his aim was to take up Civil Engineering, and, as he wished to have some practical work before finishing his course, he accepted a position in the Transcontinental for one year. At the end of that time, he became engaged with the engineers of the C.P.R., until he finally took a position with the Northern Develop- ment Branch of the Ontario Government. He enlisted with the Canadian Grenadier FROM MAJOR L. I. PEARCE Your son was with me a few: minutes beforé he was hit by a shell. He had just been to my head- quarters to make a report on his guns and was returning to his guns when a shell came and he was mortally wounded. He did not recover consciousness before his death a few minutes later. I was present at the burial and a small cross marks the place of his last resting place. During Ше attack the week previous, he was one of the outstanding N.C.O.'s of his section, and for his initiative and courage was then awarded the Military Medal. Itis our regret that he has not survived and the officers and men of my Company miss your son very much. . He was a most regular attendant at the Catholic Church Services and took every opportunity of attend- ing. His body is buried at Tynn Cott Cemetery. FROM LIEUT. J. D. RIDDELE The fighting at Passchendaele was indeed very severe and it was more by good luck that any of us came out alive; the shelling was continuous day and night with practically no shelter, the condition of the ground being such that dug-outs were impossible. Your son will be a great loss to the Company and a greater one to his Section. I looked on him as a coming man, and had he lived, he would certainly have made a name for himself. On the day he was killed, we had quite a few casualties; the section was naturally worn out and weary of the continuous shelling. Under these trying Guards at Montreal, and having finished his training at St. Johns, Que., left for overseas on April 15th, 1915. While at Bramshott Training Camp, he was transferred to the 12th Canadian Machine Company, in which he continued until his death. From the time that he left England for France, August 15th, he was continually on Active Service, taking part in the battles of the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Lens and Passchendaele. He was promoted to Corporal and was also awarded the Military Medal one week previous to his death for worthy deeds performed in the Passchendaele engagement. Before making the supreme sacrifice, he was once wounded. His chaplain informed Mr. Hudson, that shortly before being killed on November 14th, Stanton had received Holy Communion. In one of his own letters, Stanton, after mentioning that he frequently met old Loyola Boys, remarked that he often served Mass back of the firing line. On behalf of his old College, we offer his relatives our deep sympathy in their grief at his loss. conditions, Stanton organized stretcher bearers, supervised the burial of his comrades and many other worthy deeds, in carrying out his duty. His loss has affected me greatly and he can never be replaced in the Company. I might add with pride that his recommendation for the Military Medal was granted. He was buried with full military honours. FROM STANTON HUDSON . (HIS VOYAGE ACROSS) We set sail on Wednesday, April 26th, 1917. There were three of us in the convoy—The Empress of Britain, The Lapland and the Metagama. We were accompanied by the cruiser Kenervin. The sea was very rough and many were seasick; the decks were lined with men, leaning over the railing. We had fine weather the whole way across although at times the sea was very rough. It seemed very strange to look out and see nothing but water on every side. We did not follow the regular course; the Captain had been on the Hesperian when she was torpedoed in the Mediterranean and he was naturally very careful. Friday they mounted a guard with rifles aft and stern on the look-out for sub- marines. We had to take turns, three men to each gun for twenty-four hours, Thursday afternoon we were joined by the cruiser Drake and the Kenervin went back to Halifax. On Saturday afternoon she chased a boat that showed upon the Northern Horizon and didn’t answer her signals. However it proved to be some tramp schooner. I saw quite a few whales from a distance but nothing that looked like a submarine. Great

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32 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW LIEUTENANT JOHN F. WILKINS Lieut. Wilkins, youngest son of Mr. Robert C. Wilkins of Farnham, Quebec, was born in Montreal, 1897, and came to Loyola in 1906. Those who knew him while at Loyola remember him as a boy of strong character, with sterling qualities of mind and heart. That his future career did not belie such a promising beginning, is amply proven by the testimony of Chaplains and Officers, who had dealings with him at the Front. Lieut.. Wilkins went overseas with the 11th E.T. Battalion; when this was broken up, he served for a term with the 23rd in England and was then transferred to the 24th Victoria Rifles. He fell in action on August 15th, 1917, while leading his men in an attack. He had just succeeded in pene- trating the enemy barrage to a distance of 800 yards and in attaining the objective sought for, when either a fragment of a shell or a sniper’s bullet laid him low, caus- ing instant death. Not the least striking trait of his character was his devotion to his religion. Chaplains, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, have testi- LETTERS FROM LIEUT. WILKINS Bramshott, October 8th, 1916. I am pleased to say that we are having a Mission in the Camp this week; it was opened this morning by the Bishop of Southampton. We shall have a sermon every night and finish next Sunday by con- fession and communion. I do not know if I shall be able to finish but at any rate I shall commence. I hope to get a chance to write to Mr. Brown, but it will be rather hard to get in four more letters before tea, as I have my mission to attend this evening. Bramshott, Eng., October 11th, 1916. I thank you very much for your kind wishes for my birthday, and trust that before another one comes round, this wicked war will be over and I shall be back home with you all. But I have set out to do my duty towards my country, my parents and my all; until this is achieved, we shall have to bear our little troubles, but by God’s will, we shall soon be together again, my dear mother. France, April 12th, 1917. Our officer here is Col. Ritchie, a splendid chap; my brother-officers are all fine fellows and have treated me with all possible consideration and kindness. The Battalion forms part of the Canadian Division and has a good record in France. Last week I spent four days in the trenches and last Thursday night I received my baptism of fire. I happened to be in a trench which Fritz decided to fied to his admirable spirit of piety. One non-Catholic writes of him thus: “І know from talking to him again and again what love he had for his Church, and what strong moral and religious principles were the back- bone of his life. I feel sure he was ready for whatever might happen. As a boy he had been regular in his religious practices; and this fidelity still characterised him later on at a time, when not all are willing to make the sacrifices which such loyalty de- mands. To his bereaved parents, Loyola College extends its sincere sympathy and condolence in their loss. We close with an extract from the Farnham newspaper: “ А memorial service for the late Lieut. John Fox Wilkins, who was killed in action ‘‘ Somewhere in France,’’ on August 15th, 1917, was held in St. Romuald’s Church on Tuesday, at 9 o’clock. The church was appropriately draped and lighted, and over the catafalque rested the British flag. The Knights of Columbus attended in a body, as well as many friends from Montreal and the surrounding towns. The flags on public and private. buildings floated at half-mast to honour the memory of one of Farnham's heroic sons. try to hit; of course itis a most unplesaant experience to have shells and bullets flying and dropping about one, but in time one gets quite used to it. It is only fair to say that I was dreadfully nervous but I by no means gave way to my fears at any time. З The trenches are fearfully muddy and wet and it is no exaggeration to say that, at times, the water is knee-deep; it is quite an ordinary thing to be walking along a road or a trench with water up to one's ankles. One night I set out with a party of men to do some work on a certain trench in the Front line. We set out without a guide; I only knew the map location and was totally dependent upon sign-boards. It was pouring rain, and was very cold, considering the time of the year. We went on and on, but could not find our position ; we tried trench after trench until at last I realised that I was absolutely lost. No one around me knew where we were. The men by this time also realised that we were lost and some of them began to show signs of nervousness. Suddenly I got a message from the rear: ''Party of men coming across No- Man's-Land towards you. Ilooked over the parapet and saw quite a good-sized party of men; it was difficult to say if it was a friendly or à hostile party. Naturally if it was the former, I did not want to open fire; if the latter, I could not afford to let them get away. With visions of capturing a Hun raiding party single-handed, I leaped over the parapet and started crawling along on my stomach, through the mud, until I came to a shell-hole into which I crawled, drew my revolver and waited for signs of the party. Suddenly I saw them appear, but, Alas! all hopes were shattered; it was a small party of our men going out