Stretcher Bearers at the Double - ElectricCanadian.com

266 GERMANY, ENGLAND & HOME
The Lancashire Lads
No history of the Fifth would be complete without special
mention of the Lancashire Lads. All together there were over a
score of them. Hamilton was their place of enlistment and nearly
all of them were assigned to A. Section. When they
first arrived
at Exhibition Camp the other members of the unit were some
what puzzled by their odd speech. Canucks, particularly, could
not make them out. They kept very much to themselves and it
was not until we reached England that the other men began to
understand them, and learn that beneath their rather gruff aloof
ness they were mighty fine fellows.
Arthur Dudley was sort of leader to them and they seemed
to look to old Dud for example and guidance. He was a South
African veteran and very level-headed. Somebody had the excel
lent good sense to make Dud a noncom. and, from the date of
his promotion, he wholeheartedly and effectively championed the
cause of his Lancastrian brothers. There were no better men,
either in or out of the Line. And where would our Soccer team
have been without these boys with the educated feet? Small won
der that the Lancashire Lads occupy a foremost place in our
memories and a warm spot in our hearts.
At 6 p.m., Monday, April 7th, we marched aboard ship and,
after an all-night cross-channel journey, docked at Southampton
at eight o clock next morning. From here we entrained for Witley
Camp - - where we once again came under the iron discipline
and exasperating routine handed out by parade-ground officers
and noncoms. Here we tasted the galling cup that later on resulted
in well-deserved rioting at this camp and also at Rhyl. It was
quite evident that the Witley Camp martinets had been so far
from the war they hadn t yet learned that it was over. We sin
cerely hope that, when the rioters burned down Tin Town a few
days after we left, they did not fail to chastise some of the camp s
staff bullies who tried to make our lives miserable during our
month s stay at Witley.
Now began the long and tedious series of medical examina
tions, boards, embarkation interviews, etc., etc. The whole gamut
of red tape statistical stuff through which we had gone at Auvelais
was repeated here - - but with far less tact and understanding on
the part of our interviewers. Naturally, we were heartsick for