ENTRANCE OF THE FIELD ARTILLERY INTO MONS
WHICH WAS RECAPTURED ON NOVEMBRER 11, 1918

For some days previous to the taking of Mons we had mor or less of a triumphant march as the Germans at that time were not forcing the citizens to go before them.  I might say that at the outset of the Big Push the Germans forced the citizens and their prisoners to go before them, taking them toward Germany, allowing the citizens to gather what few things they could in a hurry and take with them, but during the last week of the war they seemed to be in too much of a hurry to get away themselves to bother with these folk, so as we were marching forward toward Mons we met thousands of these people returning to their homes, carrying their good in many weird vehicles, some being manufactured out of old wagons, etc.  Mos of them were drawn by the people themselves.  One, I can remember, was drawn by a donkey and a cow.  Another by a small donkey with an old man pulling the donkey, and the rest of the family pushing behind.  One family had all their goods in an old cab, and everybody did their bit to boost the cab along the road.  Many of our prisoners also returned with these people as the Germans were not bothering much which way they went at this time.

At one village, just after it was recaptured, one of our Tommies was bringing a German prisoner in along the main street.  This German proved to be a fellow who had done police duty in that place, and was very much hated by the inhabitants.  Tommy, being taken up with the cheers from the crowd, was walking ahead of his prisoner, and didn’t notice two women rush out of their houses, take of their wooden shoes, and beat the poor fellow to death.  However, on turning around, he didn’t seem very much concerned but went off back to get some more prisoners.

The people were almost crazy with excitement.  Men who had not shaved for two or three days would come up and hug and kiss us, while their whiskers nearly took our hides off.  One fellow was so excited he picked up an old lady, who must have been around 70, and tossed her up in the air like one would a child.

The day before we entered Mons the Infantry asked for a little support as the Germans were holding them up with a few machine guns on top of a slope just outside the town.  (It would be like passing out of Faversham toward Whitstable, the machine guns being just along the top of the slope along by the cemetery and railway bridge, etc).  We ran our guns into position in the back gardens of a row of houses.  Of course it was only an hour or two since the Germans had occupied the town, so a great many of the civilians turned out to see us go into action, and every time a gun was fired a great cheer went up from the crowd.  This is the only time in my experience we had an audience when we were fighting.  Unfortunately, several of them got killed by the German’s retaliation.

Next day our Infantry entered Mons about 6 o’clock.  One old fellow who had been watching the Germans retreat at last saw a Canadian soldier coming down the street.  He was so excited he rushed indoors and woke his daughter up to ask her to go and speak to him, as she could speak a little English.  She in turn rushed out int the street, and, to the surprise of the Tommy, was so overcome that all she could do was to throw her arms around his neck and hang on.  Another poor old fellow who had not been well for some time died from excitement that night.

I was Adjunct of our Brigade at the time, and I rode in with a Colonel at 6 o’clock in the morning.  We were the first mounted men to enter.  As we rode down the street the people in the houses hearing the clatter of the horses all came out, and before we gone many blocks we were so surrounded that we couldn’t trot any more.  One old grey-headed fellow grabbed the bridle of my horse and gave vent to his feelings by calling for cheers all the way down the street.  Girls rushed up, and unable to get to our faces, kissed our boots.  Soon after we got in the town about one hundred lancers, with their flags attached to the lances, which made a very pretty site, came down the street, causing as you may imagine a terrific outburst of excitement, and from then on of course the various troops came in.

Orders were issued to the effect that we would assemble on the Market Square to celebrate the Armistice at 11 o’clock.  We were there by 10, and it was interesting to see the folk watching the town clock gradually working to the hour, and also watching the air to see if by chance a German plane should come over and drop a parting bomb before the hour struck, for a few shots were exchanged practically to the last.  It was very striking as we rode in the town to see the bodies of a few of our poor fellows who had just lost their lives the last day very nicely laid on the edge of the cure, and covered with flowers, while the Germans were in the gutters.

Although the fighting ceased at 11 o’clock, we still had our out-posts, and guns were set ready for action, all lines of communication being kept up just as during the war.  It was in the afternoon that Gen. Currie arrived and there was the Grand March past of all the troops.  This also took place on the Market Square.