Witness to War: Saturday Oct 27, 1917

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 27, 1917: Inspection by Gen Curry[1] in forenoon and were told about the coming attack – There’s going to be something doing soon I can see that hope I pull thro’ o.k. Went to Hazebrouck in afternoon got a good feed and got some Razor Blades fine day but somehow feel something is going wrong.

[1] General Sir Arthur Currie (1875 – 1933), Commander of the Canadian Corps, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

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The RMR Foundation thanks Natalie Dyck for generously sharing her publication of “The Diary and Memoir of Private Raymond Duval” in order for us to be able to share his story with you 100 years on. You can learn more about Private Duval here.