Stretcher Bearers at the Double - ElectricCanadian.com

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES 305
were kept very busy, guarding bulky cartons during the perilous journey
from the French Village.
On the very ground where we had mobilized in 1914, we gathered to
celebrate and further cement the imperishable bonds of a comradeship
born of war-time experiences. It was fitting, indeed, that, after a score of
years, we should come back to our starting place; and it was most natural
that our thoughts many times turned toward all the fellows who had
passed on during the twenty-year interval. If only they could have been
with us in the flesh !
Official registrations were: Fifth, 132; Sixth, 25. At dinner (held
Saturday night) we were joined by twenty-four of the Fourth boys,
making approximately 180, all told. The Hamilton and Owen Sound
fellows were very much in evidence.
Our dinner was a most informal affair. We had specially-made Scotch
meat pies (Forfar bridies), roast beef, cheese, pickles, onions, bread,
butter, crackers, etc., all arrayed on a long table. One could help himself
to a meat pie or make whatever sandwich he liked best, take a bottle of
beer or ginger ale and seat himself at a table with his own chosen cronies.
He could fraternize to his heart s content, for there were tables and chairs
for everybody. He could eat when he was hungry and drink when he was
dry. There wasn t even a chairman in charge. It was a free-and-easy meal,
and how it did go over !
The old Fifth was well represented in the official activities of the
Corps. Frank O Leary was one of the medical officers in the camp hospital.
Frank Beatty was on duty as first-aid sergeant, and our old friend Art.
Lansdowne acted as casualty for the stretcher-bearer contestants before the
grandstand. We also provided one or two patients for the emergency
hospital, but - - no names, no pack-drill
!
Danny Kappele and Orvil Elliott were on deck early and late, mixing
with the gang and contributing greatly to the conviviality of the occasion.
We are not telling what they were mixing, for their well-known capacity
in this connection needs no explanation on our part. Two rather sad
Morgan got hopelessly lost
accidents occurred during the festivities Pier :
in the French Village and missed the dinner. And someone invited Harry
Allen to have a drink --and Harry didn t hear him. Stew bad, boys.
Better luck next time.
The Border-Cities Star carried on its front page a six-column cut of
General Allenby. In earnest conversation with the distinguished general
was our one and only Lance Elliott. Turk, no doubt, was telling the great
leader how he and Teddy Blair won the battle of Estree-Cauchie.
Toots Meisner isn t very big, but it s a safe bet that he made more
rumpus than any ten other veterans. His voice gave out Friday night
and he spoke in whispers - - but got wonderful results in spite of the
handicap.