The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

THE LAST HUNDRED DAYS 121anti-tank gun firing at almost point-blank range. Anotherwas put out of action later but the third foughtall day and assisted in clearing the town of Folies.Although the companies had not sufficient time toassemble and examine the ground, they advanced bysectional rushes with the tanks into the attack. Theyhad to cross a broad high plateau scarified by old trenchesand with a single-track railway running north andsouth, half-way between le Quesnel and Folies. Assoon as they left the trenches they w r ere subjected toheavy machine gun fire from the railway and enfilade firefrom a wood on the southern flank. By 2.10 p.m. thefirst of the attacking troops had reached the railway.At 2.35 p.m. Company was "C reported advancingslowly over the railway and the enemy retiring butfighting stubbornly. Some of the 1st Brigade sideslipped south about 400 yards and after considerableconfusion regained direction and kept in touch with "C*Company. On the rightA"Company under MajorSifton had a similar experience. At one point where theywere held up by a particularly obstreperous machine-gun,a Tank came along and put the gun out of action andthe attack continued. They also found part of the 1stBrigade crossing their front diagonally and advancingon Folies. Major Sifton, taking his company around thesouth of Folies, was temporarily checked by an anti-Tank gun firing point-blank. Fortunately its shells werericochetting from the ground in front and bursting in theair, doing no damage. Two Lewis guns engaged thegun and forced it to retire. Lieutenant Wreyford, although wounded at the railway, carried on and at 4.20p.m. was in a similar position to "A"Company on thenorth of the village and was advancing on it.B Company which had taken over the vacatedassembly positions of the attacking troops, moved forwardand closed in for the final assault on the village. Battalion Headquarters left le Quesnel and went into sheltersfurther forward, the reserve company going with Headquarters. At this time Lieutenant Inch of the FieldArtillery arrived with two field guns and got his gunsinto position to support the attack.