The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

THE LAST HUNDRED DAYS 139On October 8th the Battalion was told the plan of Oct -attack for the 9th. The Third Army was attackingsouth of Cambrai and if they were successful the 2ndCanadian Division on the north of Cambrai was to crossthe canal, hold the bridge-heads and join with the Thirdeast of Cambrai. The Second Division was notArmyto advance until the Third Army had gained the highground in the neighborhood of Awoingt. The 8thBrigade was to co-operate with the 2nd Division attackon the right flank; the 4th C. M. R. to advance to theCanal, clean up a few strong posts and secure the bridgeheads across the Canal. If the Second Division and 8thBrigade were successful the remainder of the ThirdDivision was to follow and secure the town and theground to the east until new bridges could be constructed.The Battalion was lying to the immediate north-westof Cambrai with the Canal between a formidable obstacle, with steep banks and considerable water. TheEngineers were to move up pontoon bridges, tubulartrestle bridges, ladders, and plank and cork floats tocross the canal. The attack was to take place on the9th at 0130, or 1.30 a.m. (The continental manner of Oct. 9,expressing the time was adopted throughout the Armyon October 1st). It was an unusual hour to attack, butit was a clear cool autumn night and the reflections fromfires burning in Cambrai lighted the sky.The attacks of the Second Division and the ThirdArmy were so successful that there is nothing to narratebeyond the fact that the German defence snapped andthe reaction to the tension of the last ten days meant asudden burst into the territory beyond Cambrai. At1.30 a.m. "CCompany attacked and within an hour allobjectives were reached. At daybreak the Battalioncrossed the Canal, passed through the city and by 8.00a.m. was established on the eastern outskirts of Cambrai,in touch with the 5th C. M. R. on the right and the 26thBattalion on the left. There were no casualties duringthe attack and the only serious opposition was metwhile crossing the Canal.The Battalion who were the first in Cambrai saw how