Stretcher Bearers at the Double - ElectricCanadian.com

170 VIMY, LENS & PASSCHENDAELE
days - - of the Past. Now, thank Heaven, we can laugh about the
whole silly medal business, for we know their true worth.
Only civilians ask questions about medals. Veterans rarely
mention them, excepting in a joking sense. Those of us who
have decorations have been repeatedly embarrassed when asked
to explain how, when, where and why we received them. And
some of us who did not get medals have spent many uncomfort
able and painful moments trying to explain why we were so
long overseas without getting ourselves decorated for bravery.
Every veteran who received a medal knows that his comrades
helped him to earn it; and every soldier who was actually at the
Front, did his bit and didn t get a decoration, knows he is the
secret sharer of whatever honor and glory go with his com
rade s medals.
On June 12th our unit joined other field ambulances in a
Field Day at Hersin-Coupigny. The Fifth won as many races
and fights
!
- - as any unit participating. Colonel McGuffin repre
sented the Fourth and won the fat man s race, the prize for which
was a bottle of Scotch whisky. To the same officer fell the honor
of distributing the prizes and in doing so he began telling about
some of his experiences as a hockey player. "Perhaps many of you
don t recall that in my younger days I played hockey!" he began,
when from the middle of the crowd Teddy Blair interrupted him.
I remember- -and you were the dirtiest player I ever
"Sure,
saw!" The gang simply roared in laughter. McGuffin asked the
interrupter to step forward and Teddy mounted to the platform.
The colonel, to his credit be it said, laughingly gave Blair his
own bottle of Scotch, threw up his hands and sat down, thor
oughly squelched, but much better thought of for his act of
sportsmanship.
On June 23rd, Divisional "Vimy Ridge" Sports were held at
Hersin-Coupigny. Here our soccer team lost its game in the finals
to the 18th Battalion by the score of 2 to 1.
Short Summary of Vimy Battle, <^>
The preliminary bombardment for the Battle of Vimy opened
on March 27th. The first stage of the battle was from that date
to April 2nd. The second stage was from April 2nd to April 9th,
when the main assault took place. The third stage ended on