Left Flixecourt at 5:35 am in darkness. (Reveille at 3:30 am, breakfast at 4).
We march to Pont Remy where we arrive at 9:30 after rather quick marching. Passed thro’ L’Etoile, Lonquil, Cocqueval, and Pont Remy.
Entrain at Pont Remy for Caestre near HAZEBROUCK. Came via Abbeville, Rue, Etaples, Boulogne, Wimereux, Calais, Audruicq, St. Omer, Hazebrouck.
Packed into box car without any straw. All huddled up, 41 men.
Sleep impossible. No food since breakfast and no tea. As we approached Calais darkness came on.
Arrived at Caestre at 10:30 pm. Band played the Maple Leaf and O Canada. Band belongs to Canadian
Highlanders 2nd Battalion. Lined up and marched off on the cursed cobble stone. No. 4 Company is allotted billets in farms half a mile apart. Arrived at billets at 12:30 am. The usual barns.
*The Maple Leaf Forever – A song written by Alexander Muir in 1867, the year of confederation. For many years it was an unofficial national anthem; however its strong British perspective made it unpopular with French Canadians. The song makes reference to military history in pre-confederation Canada and is the official regimental march of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and The Royal Westminster Regiment.
