Witness to War: Monday, August 5, 1918
Private Raymond Duval, MM, was a soldier of the 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) CEF who served overseas during the last two years of the First World War. He participated in some of the fiercest fighting seen by Canadians during the war and was decorated for bravery at Passchendaele. Determined to preserve his memories of the First World War, he maintained a daily record of his experiences. Here is what he wrote precisely 100 years ago today:
Monday, August 5, 1918: Nothing much doing Very tired today and lonely for my little girlie. We expect to go into action within next few days Germans retiring all along the line we are told. Moving again tonight – to where? by buses – to near Amiens. Got off buses August 6 hard marching to Boves a hard march where we slept and rested till about 10pm when we got into Battle equipment and marched to trenches all day and night. Material of war tanks guns etc went thro’ in a steady stream What a wonderful organization it No order shouted yet everything moves along without a hitch.