Cape Breton's Magazine

bits. Now, I can't understand that myself at this point. Why? Why? My oldest brother, in the 25th Battalion, was an expert shot with a pistol. He had the highest score at the corps training camp in France, the Canadian Corps. He al? ways carried two guns into action, one in his hand and another in a holster. And he probably killed more men in hand-to-hand combat than anyone else in the Canadian Corps. Now why did he have that lust to kill? It's something that's bom in people. I think it goes back to our ancestors. The Germans attacked once without any warn? ing; that is, without a barrage or any? thing. And they were in our trenches be? fore we knew that they were there. Right in the trenches. The first intimation they had in the officers' quarters was when somebody threw a grenade down the stairway. My brother Bill, he was about six foot one, much bigger than I was. He grabbed a Lewis gun, a machine gun, and came up the steps shooting from the hip. And the Germans shot him through the face on the way up. The bullet went in one side and came out the other side of his nose. And he cleaned out the trench, or most of it, shooting the Lewis gun from the hip. And Morrison Jordan was a sergeant at that time, coming behind with a rifle and bayonet. The two of them cleared the whole trench out. Bill was recommended for a Victoria Cross by the colonel of the 22nd Battalion. But his own battalion commander wouldn't approve it. Bill was a reckless, impetuous person. You never knew what he was going to do next. I remember once watching him. They had outposts from the front line that were Dundee Resort Marina Cottages Golf Course A beautiful and friendly holiday resort nestled in the hills overlooking the Bras d'Or Lakes housekeeping cottages tennis courts licensed dining room lounge heated swimming pool R. R. 2, West Bay, Cape Breton, N. S. BOE 3K0 Reservations (902) 345-2649 jt.' Pro Shop '? <902) 345-2639 only occupied at night--a shallow trench running out closer to the German line. He went out one day where the men were stand? ing to, just before dusk. Saw a quail in No Man's Land--that's a little bird like a partridge--shot it with his pistol, leaped over the parapet, grabbed the quail, and crossed diagonally into the trench where I was, with the Germans shooting at him with everything they had. I don't know how he escaped. Machine gun and rifle fire. He had the quail next day for breakfast. John Angus MacNeil, Inverness: The only thing that I know, that the majority of us knew, was that we were so proud of the Ma? ple Leaf. The Maple Leaf was on our crest, that was our motto. That's the only thing Here's Your Invitation to Indoor Modern Convenient Shopping North Sydney Mall 116 King Street (off Peppett Street) Co-operators Insurance MacLean Colour Centre Sobeys Canada Manpower Jennifer's Place Shoppers Drug Mart Jean Gallery Ltd. Starcade Peoples Store Take a Break Agnew Surpass Alteen's Jewellers Sears Zellers Pipes 'n' Things Ltd. Rustle's Cards & Curios N. S. Liquor Commission Sound City Highland Florists Gals and Guys Hairworks Maher Shoe Store Super Touch T's Gateway Restaurant and Lounge YEAR 'ROUND SERVICE TO ALL OF CAPE BRETON