The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

CANADA AND ENGLAND 7illuminated in turn by a gorgeous sunrise or an incomparablesunset until dank depressing fogs rose from theBanks. For several days the mist delayed the voyage,but when it lifted the desolate mysterious landscape soonfaded into the hazy horizon of the Atlantic. Submarineswere active, but even though these men had known thatthe very boat* on which they felt so secure was doomed tobe torpedoed by the Germans they would have treatedthis latent menace in their usual frivolous manner.As a precaution against submarines extra watches werekept. All portholes were closed and darkened at night.No lights were allowed which lent a mysterious and eerieatmosphere as the ship ploughed through the darkness ofthe night. Even though there were fatigues, guards andwatches to perform, the passage was a gay climax aftermonths on land.Nevertheless, it was with feelings of interest and excitejuiy 29,ment that they came into view of the shores of old 1915England.The transport steamed into the roadstead of PlymouthSound, which was receiving back younger generations offorbears who, a century before, had sailed from it.Romance was developing rapidly in the lives of theseyoung grandsons of the Motherland. On July 29th theRegiment disembarked and entrained for Shorncliffe.The interest of the men was absorbed inthe new andstrange things which confronted them at every turn; thetrains, the railway carriages, the hedges, the green fieldsand winding lanes.The troops detrained that night and marched into tentbillets at Dibgate Hill. Training recommenced; routemarches were made along the macadam roads of Kent;manoeuvres were carried out on the beautiful greendowns overlooking the English Channel; musketry waspractised at Hythe, where the regiment made the highestaverage of all Canadian regiments that shot there. Thisintensive training was punctuated with the inevitableleave" to London. Recreation was found in regimentalsports and concerts, or in the much frequented canteens.*The S. S. Hesperian was afterwards torpedoed and sunk by the Germans,while returning on her second voyage after conveying the 4th C.M.E. to England.