The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

">:96 4TH CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLESraiders tried to extract the torpedo from the entanglement but it was too thoroughly embedded. An attemptwas then made to cross the broad stretch of wire by meansof bath-mats, but on the first attempt one of the partyfell into the wire and it took half an hour to extricate him.While they were cutting this man out of the wire theirpresence was discovered by the enemy, who threw bombs,but without effect. It was then 10.00 p.m. They hadbeen away five hours, all luck was against them. In theearly morning of the 8th, three men went out to try andrescue the torpedo but they found the enemy workingon his wire and they returned. It was then decided todestroy the torpedo by Stokes mortars and after severalrounds Lieutenant W. B. Hastings, who was observing,saw an explosion which he believed to be the torpedoand at dawn an N.C.O. of the raiding party went outand confirmed his opinion.The Battalion was relieved by the 2nd C. M. R. onthe day after the raid and went into Reserve in the villageof Mazingarbe. The men had a general clean-up onthe 9th and prepared for the belated Yuletide. ColonelPatterson was on leave in Paris and Major G. F. McFarlandwas acting Commanding Officer. The dinner washeld in the suitably decorated local cinema building, twocompanies dining at one time. Captain H. Franks, theQuartermaster, had previously journeyed to Enquin-les-Mines and made copious purchases of food and drink.They had Pantagruelian porkers with fresh vegetables,Christmas pudding and maple sugar. The piece deresistance was a delectable rum punch generously drunkto the music of the new brass band which made its firstconcert appearance during the dinner. Each memberwas greeted with cheers and the slogan Good old band!On the last day of this rest, the 13th, the Battalionheld church parade in the Cinema Theatre. The Englishpapers, which arrived that morning, reported the awardof the Victoria Cross to Pte. Holmes. On coming outof the Cinema after church the companies were lined upand Major McFarland announced the award. Threecheers and a tiger were given for Pte. Holmes, who was