Since beginning the work of putting my data into book form, the United States has accepted the gauntlet of battle thrown down to her by German militarism, and the prospect of American lads and British Tommies fighting shoulder to shoulder in the cause of democracy and the world's freedom has inspired me with a new hope and faith in the outcome, and I am resting content in the unshakable belief that when the might of the Greatest Republic gets into action, the murderous tiger of German autocracy, with its fangs dripping blood from the lives of countless innocent victims, will in short order receive its final death thrust.
Chicago, January, 1918 H.B.
Introductory
While adventure of every kind and character abounds on all sides in the trenches, in billets and in the rear of the front line, yet the grim seriousness of the business soon possesses a man with but a single idea in life, especially when in the vicinity of No Man's Land—to get the Hun and get him as quickly as he can.
In these pages I have but lightly touched on the awfulness in the sections of country over-run by the human devils. I have two reasons for so doing: First, because I do not believe it lies in the power of human ken to adequately describe the inferno created by the Hun, and, secondly, if I were to devote my lines solely to that phase of my life while in active service, every page should be deeply edged in black, because—"I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul."
Such is not my purpose. I am blest by nature with the most intense optimism and this spirit has never deserted me but once; and I think under the same strain it would have taken leave of any man; and since I returned from the front I am more than ever determined that for the balance of my time on earth I shall endeavor to radiate optimism whenever and wherever I can. I think I will live the longer for so doing, and maybe those who come within the zone of my voice and my pen may also be the better for the dissemination of my love in the joy of living.
Therefore, the purpose I have undertaken has been to faithfully relate my experiences, and those of my chums, from the point of view of one who looks at the brighter side of life while undergoing the most severe test of grit and endurance that ever tried mortal men.
Contents
CHAPTER
I [Answering the Call]
II [En Route to Valcartier]
III [Canada's War Camp]
IV [Soldiers in the Making]
V [Crossing the Atlantic]
VI [Land Ahoy]
VII [Salisbury Plain]
VIII [Life in the English Camp]
IX [Getting Ready to Go]
X [Leaving for France]
XI [Landing in France]
XII [My Baptism of Fire]
XIII [In the Front Line]
XIV [Saxons and Prussians]
XV [Training for Runner]
XVI [By the Wayside]
XVII [Steenvoorde]
XVIII [Ypres]
XIX [Battle of Ypres]
XX [Hell Let Loose]
XXI [Hanging On]
XXII [Here They Come]
XXIII [Fighting for Our Lives]
XXIV [The Boches Balked]
XXV [Fun and Fury]
XXVI [Yser]
XXVII [The Fun of It]
XXVIII [Leaving Yser]
XXIX [More Hell]
XXX [The Last Fight]
XXXI [The Aftermath]
XXXII [In Heaven]
XXXIII [Back to Earth]
XXXIV [Home]
[Epilogue]