Stretcher Bearers at the Double - ElectricCanadian.com

GERMANY, ENGLAND & HOME 241
A Real Mutiny At
Tuesday, November 19th -- At Houdeng-Aimeries (Pop.
8,000). The men had no breakfast. The Commanding Officer
refused to hear their complaints and ordered the whole unit "con
fined to barracks."
A parade was called for 9 a.m. Not one man
paraded. Another parade was ordered for 11 a.m., and only
nineteen men answered roll call - - all the other fellows had left
camp. The Commanding Officer refused to see a deputation from
the men, so they coulctn t see the Commanding Officer. The
Mother Superior of the convent again ordered hot soup served
to our men, and they felt considerably embarrassed depriving the
local civilians of food which the long-suffering townsfolk them
selves so obviously needed. To add to the general discomfort, it
rained hard all day.
Private Alex. Samuels, No. 536215, who had not been well
for the previous few days, died.
Some of our men spent the evening and night in La Louviere
(Pop. 20,150), about two miles southeast of Houdeng-Aimeries.
There they saw the French townspeople raid a tobacconist s shop.
The store front, windows, showcases and fixtures were smashed
to bits and the raiders helped themselves to pipes, tobacco,
cigarettes, and everything that was worth carrying away. We
learned that the proprietress had been very friendly with the
Germans during their four-year occupation of the town and that,
just before our men arrived on the scene, the woman had been
stripped naked, her head had been shaved close and she had been
chased out of town. Many of our lads returned to camp with
pipes and other booty.
Wednesday, November 20t/i -
-At Houdeng-Aimeries. Up to
noon there were no rations for the men, so the mutiny continued.
There was now a sort of fifty-fifty arrangement - - no food for
the men - - no parades, drills or duties for the Commanding
Officer. Finally, shortly past noon, the colonel consented to listen
to the men s complaints. A delegation of two men from each
Section paraded to the Commanding Officer and he heard plenty.
Rations were obtained during the afternoon, and that night the
men had their first decent meal in three days - - and, no doubt,
the colonel had his first decent sleep in three nights. Everybody
was pleased when the trouble was settled.