“15–10–16.”
In November the Battalion moved north again to Neuville St. Vaast, nothing of much importance happening with the exception of raids. These commenced after Christmas and became almost a daily occurrence. Daring deeds of all degrees were performed by all ranks, with the result that the Battalion was morally and actually master of the situation and owned “No Man’s Land.”
On April 9, 1917, the Battle of Vimy Ridge commenced. This was one of the most perfectly planned actions that has ever occurred. Every man knew exactly what he had to do and how to do it, and where he was to go. The strong ridge which the Germans had held and fortified to the best of their ability fell into our hands with comparative ease. Many trophies were captured by the Regiment, and all their objectives were taken without any delay or hitch of any kind. This was accomplished in bitter weather and mud knee deep; the ground captured was held intact in spite of the furious and continued attacks launched by the enemy to wrest our gains from us.
After Vimy the Regiment took part in the following major actions:—Avion, June, 1917; Hill 70, July, 1917; Passchendaele, October and November, 1917 (in the latter period eleven hostile attacks were successfully repelled); Amiens, 1918, where the Regiment was on the extreme right successfully operating with the French; Monchy, August, 1918; Cambrai, where Lieut. M. F. Gregg won his V.C.; Forêt de Raisines, Valenciennes; and last, but not least, the dramatic capture of the world famous Mons. The credit for the first to enter Mons has been claimed by the 42nd Battalion. This is a moot point, and is probably due to the fact that a Company of the Royal Canadian Regiment was detached to the 42nd and entered the City from the S.E. The indubitable fact remains that Lieut. W. M. King of the R.C.R. was the first to reach the square, where he was received by the Mayor at the Town Hall with his platoon, and where he signed the Golden Book of Mons, which was given by King Albert to the City on his departure in 1914.
The Regiment returned to Canada and the C.E.F. personnel was demobilized at Halifax on 10th March, 1919.
The following distinctions and awards were gained by the Regiment in the war of 1914–18:—
| V.C. | 1 | |
| G.B.E. | 1 | |
| C.M.G. | 4 | |
| C.B.E. | 1 | |
| D.S.O. | 11 | |
| O.B.E. | 5 | |
| M.C. | 37 | |
| Bar to M.C. | 5 | |
| D.F.C. | 1 | |
| D.C.M. | 24 | |
| Bar to D.C.M. | 1 | |
| M.M. | 128 | |
| Bar to M.M. | 10 | |
| M.S.M. | 10 | |
| Foreign Decorations. | 15 | |
| Mentions. | 35 | |
| Commissions from the ranks: | ||
| Lieut.-Colonel. | 1 | |
| Major. | 5 | |
| Captain. | 14 | |
| Lieutenant. | 28 | |
| 2nd Lieutenant. | 4 | |
CHAPTER X.
THE 17th BATTALION, C.E.F.
When war clouds lowered on the European horizon in July, 1914, it would have been strange had the men of Pictou County, Nova Scotia, not been among the first to recognize their duty to civilization and the Empire.
