Estabrooks, Walter Ray, First World War Diary, Part 4 (Whiz Bangs and Woolly Bears)

Part 4

Detailed to advanceparty from Jamappes. Rode through the city of Mons. Flags flying. Peoplewaving, shouting Vive le Canadiennes. A Provost Captain halted us with theinformation that the stretch was being cleared for General Currie and staff's triumphant entry into the square, and for us to detour, tout de goddam suit. Mostof the boys had a girl in the saddle with them and nobody was insulted. We rodethrough Mons to the adjoining town of Nimy. We were shown where the differentbatteries would go into position, and streets to billet the men. Inspected thehouses, marked with chalk on the doors, or gatepost number that could beaccommodated. Joined the party. Returned to Jemappes and guided 43rd Battery totheir lines, gun position and billets. 32nd Battery had been guided into rightfront of Nisy where the Belgian army had put up such a desperate resistance tothe invading Germans in 1914.

(Garitan Photo)

General Sir Arthur William Currie GCMG, KCB (5 December 1875 – 30 November 1933), Canadiancommander of the four divisions of the unified Canadian Corps of the CanadianExpeditionary Force (CEF), and Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig ofBemersyde, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, (19 June 1861 – 29 January 1928),commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from 1915 to the end of thewar.

General Sir ArthurWilliam Currie GCMG, KCB began his military service as a pre-war militiagunner, rising through the ranks to become the first Canadian to attain therank of full general. Currie's success was based on his ability to rapidlyadapt brigade tactics to the exigencies of trench warfare, using "setpiece" operations and "bite-and-hold" tactics. He is generallyconsidered to be among the most capable commanders of the Western Front, andone of the finest commanders in Canadian military history.

Currie was not afraid to voice his disagreement with orders or to suggest strategic changes to a planof attack, something that his British Army superiors were unused to hearingfrom a former militia officer from the colonies. Often these disagreements were taken all the way up to BEF Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. Haig sometimes agreed with Currie - allowing a strategic change to the attack on Hill 70 outside Lens, and approving Currie's audacious plan to cross the Canal du Nord- but he also insisted on the Passchendaele attack, to which Currie, who was skeptical that the strategic value justified the expected casualties, agreed with great reluctance.  British Prime Minister David Lloyd George claimed to his biographer that had the war continued into 1919, he would have sought to replace Field Marshal Haig with Arthur Currie, with Australian General John Monash as Currie's chief of staff.[64]

My favourite story of the war that Gramp told me is about his experience the day the war ended. He was sent through Mons on 11 November 1918 and passed General Currie and a platoon of Lancers lined up for the triumphant entry into the city.

“There were five of uson the long track going through to Nerring to arrange billets for the EighthBrigade. The military police headed us off at the square and shunted us throughanother part of the city. Before we had progressed very far, everyone had agirl on horseback with him. I followed my good resolution until we passed thehospital. A busty looking woman came running down the steps. I gigged thesorrel to the sidewall, pulled my foot from the stirrup. “Ascendez Mademoiselle.” “Mon Monsieur, j’ allez a l’ apothecarie. Viens tout de suit.”  Islipped to the back of the old universal saddle, and she came up sideways. Ipromptly took her in my arms. I was enjoying a hug that smelled likechloroform, until she slipped off and went into the drug store saying, “mercipour le souvenir.”  She had snipped every button but the top two off myovercoat while I was enjoying myself.”

‍November 12th

Took transport to Jemappes through Mons, Belgium, loaded with kids singing "Le Barbanconne,Le Marsellaise". More shouting than singing.

November 14th

Billeted in houseswith Belgian people. I often think of the widow Le Grand in her little house onthe hill. She showed Earnie Bennett and I her best room, bare of furniture,which we promptly took over and spread our blankets on the floor.  Thatnight we got an extra ladle of tea and poured her cup full. The next day foundour blankets spread on a nice bed of straw. The next day we jockeyed forposition in line to get the heel of the loaf because they were thicker andshared with her. The next day she put milk in our tea, the source of supply amystery to us. Later, one early morning in a bushy pasture over the hill, alarge ewe was discovered standing on a box eating some vegetable scrap, fromwhich madam obtained a bowl full of milk.

November 27th, 1918

(Library and ArchivesCanada Photo, MIKAN No. 3522654)

King Albert ofBelgium, March 1919.

In Mons, saw King Albert of Belgium as he passed through the square.

November 30th

Saw the Dumbbells concert party in HMS Pinafore.

December 5th

Went with Walter Tees,Frank Gourlay and Oliver Eastman by train to Brussels on weekend leave. Overthe weekend, the engineers had repaired the east and west railroads anddiscontinued the north and south service.  We had to walk back to Mons,reaching there December 11th. To tell of the fun and happenings on that tripwould fill a book.

December 11th

Battery moved toBreceniques.

December 12th, 1918

Battery moved toFamillereaux. Civilians invited us to a dance. My partner for the evening, LeaParadene, 5 feet 10 and beautiful.

December 14th

Battery moved to GrezDoiceau.

December 18th

Battery moved toGastouche and stayed there the winter.

Postscript from theofficial war records.

“In the First WorldWar the Canadian Corps achieved a reputation unsurpassed in the Allied armies. Afterthe Somme, its record had been one of unbroken victory. It emerged successfullyfrom every test, no matter how severe, and its professional ability had provedsecond to none. Canada had begun the war with little military experience andwith practically nothing in the way of a standing army. She ended it with asuperb fighting machine; “the greatest national achievement of the Canadianpeople since the Dominion came into being.”  A total of 619,636 men andwomen served in the Canadian Army in the First World War and of these 59,544gave their lives and another 172,950 were wounded. That such a war record wouldcarry Canada to full autonomy had been foreseen by Sir Robert Borden, and so itproved. A separate Canadian signature on the Peace Treaty signified that thestatus of nationhood had been achieved.”[65]

Walter’s closing diaryentries are as follows.

February-March 1919

Late in February,moved to Le Harve. In March, moved to Whitley camp in England. Took long leaveto Ireland, crossed the Irish sea from Holly Head to Kingstown. Went to Dublin.Too many discharged soldiers still wearing khaki thronging the streets, so wentto Belfast. Not much better there. Sgt. Brennan had given me a letter ofintroduction and address of relatives living between Magherafelt and Coolshinnyso went there. Such hospitality could not be excelled. The neighbours calledand invited me to their homes. The Wileys, the Palmers, the Stewards, andothers, whom I did not have time to visit. I walked the hills with the youngpeople. Climbed Slevegallon Mountain. Could see into three countries, also,Loch Neagh to the north. Bannwater to the south, and Giants Causeway to thenortheast. Where the road we returned to meet the main road, there were broadturns to the right and left, leaving a three cornered grassed over space. Thiswas Margaret’s grave, buried about a hundred years ago. The legend, she was awitch and feared by the people, lived alone, and cursed everyone that came nearher. When she was found dead, she was not allowed a lot in the cemetery, so agrave was dug here 100 feet deep and she was buried face down, so, if perchance, she decided to go places she would go in a hotter direction.

Came back to Belfast. Touredthe city with some relatives of the Wileys. Caught the Fleetwood boat fromBelfast back to England. Took the train to Liverpool and London. Made contactwith my old friend, Sam Price. We bought a camera and hardly slept the nextfour days seeing the city. When we returned to Whitley, the brigade had sailed.We were transferred to Ripon. I can only describe our stay there as a wonderfulholiday. Bounds 15 miles in any direction. We roamed the surrounding country. PlayedCrown and Anchor until one or the other of us won enough to buy a feed downtown.  Obtained extra clothing. Washed during the day and every secondnight, went to the Spa baths. One morning roll call, Sam’s name was called, andhe was sent on his way rejoicing. Jack Young had been released from hospitaland arrived at camp. We did a lot of boating on the Ripon River. Joined apicnic party one afternoon and Jack met the girl he later married. His firstwife had passed away a year before, while in France.

May 1919

About May 1st,transferred to Ryl camp in Wales.  Met Harley Olmstead. Visited the graveof young McLean, a Woodstock boy that had died there. My only duty there: meetthe train and guide any New Brunswick men to our section of the camp. Only oneman, Sgt LeRoy Mooers, a boy I knew in high school 1907-1908 arrived.

May 15th

Embarked at Liverpool.

May 24th

Arrived in Halifax. Anchoredin harbour to let the Acquatania dock first.

May 25th

Entrained, arriving inSaint John the morning of 26th.

May 26th, 1919

Sgt. Melvin Lawrencemarched us to barracks mess hall, and we enjoyed our last army ration. Weturned in our blankets, rubber sheet, gas mask, etc. Received our pay. Chase,Cogger, Adams, Diamond and I were given transportation to Woodstock, arrivingthere 11:00 p m.

That’s all.

Walter and Myrtle Estabrooks, post war.

Vimy Ridge memorial, Beatrice Skaarup, Dale Skaarup, Myrtle Estabrooks, Harold Skaarup, summer 1960.

Jonathan and Sean Skaarup, Vimy Ridge memorial, 1991.