Witness to War: Saturday, Oct 19, 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:
Saturday, Oct 19, 1918: Marched thro’ to Somain and came across first French civies – what a wonderful sight they greeted the boys with flowers. The women embracing us as we marched thro’ their town – They are almost crazy with joy after four years of most cruel bondage at the hands of the Hun.