The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

146 4ra CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLESN 8i9i8section of the 9th Canadian Field Artillery. The Battalion attacked on a two company frontage, Company"A"on the right,"CCompany on the left,"B"Companyin support and "D"Company in reserve. By 9.00 a.m."A"Company had gained touch with the enemy at thevillage of Thulin. The 2nd Canadian Division was intouch with them on their right;"CCompany wasalso at Thulin although held up by machine-guns in thevillage. It was known before the attack that the enemyhad withdrawn but it was too late to alter the barrage.Thulin was out of range and although the attached sectionof artillery went into action on the Mons road and didsplendid shooting, heavier artillery was needed to dealwith the machine-guns protected by the houses. Everything was out of range on account of the rapidity of theadvance of the infantry.The Battalion closed in on the village as much as possible by means of short rushes. The companies waitedthe remainder of the day for artillery support which theyhad been asking for in every message but which nevercame. In the evening the 7th Brigade came up and thePrincess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry relieved them.At 10.00 p.m. they marched out in the mud from theirlast action to billets in Blanc Misseron near Quievrechain.The Patricia s surprised the enemy during the night inThulin and occupied the town. The garrison of 300fled before they could be rallied and a line was establishedby morning on the eastern outskirts of the village.This type of fighting was typical of the last few days;a half-hearted stand by day and a retirement by night.The rest of the Division pursued the Germans to the gatesof Mons. The war was over for the Battalion. Itfollowed in the train of the Division for the next fourdays and joined in the triumphant entry into Mons.During November 8th and 9th the Battalion wasbilleted in the office buildings and in the hospital of asteel plant. The men were very w r eary, they had hadlittle rest for a week; after getting across the canal theyhad marched all night and had gone into action withoutsleep so that they had been continuously on the move for