The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

"PASSCHENDAELE 85recognized. This was the Battalion s only V. C. Therewere men who received their early training with theBattalion or were seconded for duty with other unitswho reflected credit on the Battalion. Of the manyexamples the most outstanding was Corporal G. T.Lyall, who was granted a commission and won the V. C.with the 102nd Battalion C. E. F.There were many others who did more than their mereduty, but none would begrudge another mention of theChaplain, Captain W. H. Davis. As at Vimy and everyother action, so at Passchendaele this Padre exceededhis duty by exposing himself unnecessarily. He wentforward with the men, mustering and organizing aparty of stretcher-bearers, gaining the admiration ofall the combatants by walking about in the open lookingfor wounded, apparently oblivious of his danger. It was amiracle that he lived to enter another action. Hiscoolness and unselfish thoughtfulness for the welfare ofothers gained for him a very warm spot in the hearts ofall the men. One officer, who saw the Padre laboriouslycoming toward him through a downpour of "crumps,"asked him what he was doing walking around in theopen; his reply had its usual candour: "I was gettinganxious about you. During the afternoon of the 26thhe so successfully controlled the stretcher-bearers andset such a wonderful example that practically all thewounded were collected.One incident which illustrates the curious turn ofevents of that day is not recorded in the Diary, but hasbeen gleaned from witnesses. It shows how rapidly asituation could alter and throws some light on the curiouspsychology of the real combatants. Late in the afternoon by common, uncommunicated consent, withoutnotification or sanction, both sides suddenly decided on atemporary armistice to look after their wounded and dead.It was one of those spontaneous things, arranged withoutagreement. It just happened. It suited both sides.Some think that the Germans were probably awed by theunusual sight of Padre Davis with such a large partynonchalantly walking about and as soon as they realized