CAPT. CHAS. D. SHRIEVE, M.C.
The morning of the 21st was beautiful and the battle was wonderfully successful. Before ten o’clock thousands of yards of enemy territory had been penetrated and Bourlon Wood captured. The enemy field artillery recovered and shelled us vigorously, and we suffered several casualties. The battle continued for several days, with constant gain of territory for us. On the night of the 28th, while Lieutenant Livingstone was unloading ammunition, his drivers and the gunners were subjected to heavy shell fire and we had many regrettable casualties; among the drivers, Frank Hughes, of Charlottetown, and Driver George McDonald, of Sydney. George was one of the most wonderful guides in France, and his loss was a severe one. The next few days saw several moves of positions, and on the 5th of October the 36th Battery was in a position at Raillencourt. On the evening of October 7th orders were issued for the Battery to move up to a position in the rear of St. Olle. The six guns with ammunition and ammunition wagons arrived at the position and were starting to unlimber when a volley of German shells landed directly in them. The casualties were terrific, over 50 per cent. of those present being killed or wounded together with twenty horses. The whole thing occupied only a few minutes, but it saddened a great many hearts. Lieut. Chas. Shrieve was shot through the chest and died instantly. Captain Craig was severely wounded through the hip. Lieutenant Livingstone was wounded in two places and his ankle broken. Twenty-eight N.C.O.’s and men were killed or wounded. Among the killed was the very popular Bombardier John Drysdale. The blow was a demoralizing one, but the undaunted courage of the remaining members of the 36th was equal to the task. Within three hours the guns had been transferred to new positions, and lines of fire laid out, and the Battery ready for action.
The Hill 70 gas episode and the shelling received the night of October the 7th were two of the worst experiences that any Battery had ever been called upon to endure, but the brave boys of the 36th met both with unflinching courage and proved themselves worthy of all the encomiums which had been bestowed upon them. For gallant work on this occasion several members of the Battery were decorated. On the 10th of October Cambrai was captured, the 36th Battery doing its share to make the battle a success.
LT. F. J. LONGWORTH, M.C.
From Cambrai they moved northward again, occupying various positions with various degrees of fortune until November 1st, when the march towards Mons commenced. This was one long succession of triumphs, culminating in the capture of the celebrated city on the morning of the 11th of November. On the afternoon of the 10th we were in position at Je-Mappes, about one thousand yards from Mons. At 3.30 in the afternoon orders were received to fire on the railway at Mons, and while engaged in doing that several enemy shells were fired into the Battery, one of which instantly killed Lieut. Fred Longworth, of Charlottetown, and wounded Sergeant Dickson and several others. Sergeant Dickson received thirty-two wounds but managed to pull through. On the morning of the 11th at 6.30 word was received that the Armistice was signed, and a March-Past was ordered to take place in the City of Mons. There was great rejoicing at the good news, inasmuch as the suffering of the last three months was beginning to tell on the remaining members of the “Old Guard.”
I cannot close this account of the doings of the 36th Battery without making reference to the wonderful qualities which the officers, N.C.O.’s and men displayed. It was easy to command a Battery like the 36th. They were everything that could be desired. Loyal, brave and good-humored, with the greatest devotion to duty, they cannot be too highly praised by me. Every man was a hero and every man deserved decorations many times over. I feel that it is but fitting that I should here mention the fact, when speaking about decorations, that the 36th Battery received a very large share of them, including one D.S.O., two Croix de Guerre, eight Military Crosses, one bar for Military Cross, ten D.C.M.’s and twenty Military Medals.
On November 21, 1918, Major D. A. MacKinnon, who commanded the 36th Battery from its arrival in France on July 14, 1916, and who took part with the Battery in all its battles, was granted sick leave to Canada.
The loss of so many brave officers and brave men had been a severe shock to him, and his nerves became greatly unstrung. It was with sincere regret that he parted with the boys after nearly three years of strenuous fighting. The Battery, after a short stay in Belgium, was transferred to England, demobilizing in March, 1919. On the 36th Battery’s return to Sydney, N.S., they were tendered a most notable reception.
| LIST OF OFFICERS WHO SERVED WITH THE 36th BATTERY IN FRANCE, WITH DECORATIONS RECEIVED. | |
|---|---|
| Major D. A. MacKinnon, Charlottetown, P.E.I. | Distinguished Service Order and Croix de Guerre. |
| Capt. F. H. Tingley (killed), | Moncton Military Cross. |
| Capt. A. L. Anderson, Toronto | Military Cross and Bar. |
| Lieut. D. L. Teed (killed), St. John, N.B. | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. C. D. Shrieve (killed), Digby, N.S. | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. R. Fleet, Montreal | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. F. J. Longworth (killed), Charlottetown | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. J. W. L. Harris, Moncton, N.B. | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. A. B. Manning, Toronto | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. A. Livingstone, Sydney, N.S. | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. I. Alexander, Fredericton, N.B. | Military Cross. |
| Lieut. J. O’Grady, Winnipeg | |