The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

82 4TH CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLESOct. 26,touch with the companies on his right and the new linewas completed. Both flanks, however, were exposeduntil the left flank was joined up and the 43rd and 52ndBattalions had secured Bellevue Spur. The companiesmaintained their forward position against terrific shellingand small-arm fire until the flanks were secured about2.30 p.m. and the line consolidated.At 11.30 a.m. companies of the 1st C. M. R. Battalionhad reported at Battalion Headquarters. Captain Reganmoved his "D"Company into the old support line and"A"Company under Major Maxfield took over the oldfront line allowing Major Greenwood to send forward theremainder of his company to the new front line. MajorMaxfield got into touch with the Hood Battalion of theRoyal Naval Division and helped to improve the leftflank. The three companies of the 1st C. M. R. wererelieved in the line shortly after dusk by three companiesof the 2nd C. M. R. Battalion.By the middle of the afternoon the whole Divisionalfront and its flanks were established. The Battalionremained in the position it had reached in the morning.These positions were signalled to contact-aeroplanes bywaving helmets, since it was impossible to light the watersoakedflares. By this time the battle seemed to be overfor both sides. There was spasmodic shelling during theremainder of the day, and the line settled down ready forcounter-attacks which were anticipated. At dusk outposts were established fifty yards apart and the samedistance in front of the line. At 10.00 p.m. one of theposts on the left reported a body of troops gathering in thevicinity of Source Trench five hundred yards to the eastof Wallemolen and on the Battalion s immediate left front.Cool and calculating, Major Hart s men prepared toreceive them. Lewis guns were trained on them and themen ordered to stand fast until the party was withinone hundred yards, then the command to fire was given.Shooting thus over ragged rifle-sights resembled musketry drill and the early training on the rifle-ranges.This unusual reception so completely disorganized theenemy that they withdrew leaving some dead and