Jim had enlisted in New Zealand, Archie in Australia and Hughey in Canada.  The only relative of whose presence in the battle I was aware, was Hughey.  Through a rule obtaining in the army, these three brothers took the opportunity when they got to France, to get a transfer to the Canadian army, all in the same unit.  Later, however, the casualties necessitated changing them around somewhat.  All three had been wounded and gassed, but were back again as full of fight as ever.  We went over under the shelter of such a terrific barrage that the German front line and its occupants were practically annihilated; the work of our artillery was nothing short of wonderful.  Staying there ten minutes we went on and took the second line, meeting a little more stubborn resistance as we went forward, but finally taking it.  In going over between the first and second lines it was necessary to jump into shell holes from time to time.  The men ahead of us were mostly Brandenburgers, Bavarians and Prussians.  At one place I had leapt with my pal into a small shell hole, and over to my right was a kiltie engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle with a Hun.  The kiltie was an undersized chap and Fritz was about twice his size, and with a much longer bayonet, and Jock seemed to be getting a bit tired.  I didn’t think it wise to wait, even though I felt very certain that Jock could hold his own, and taking careful aim with my revolver I tumbled the Fritzie over.  Looking then to the left I saw another kiltie in an argument with a Prussian; they were fencing with their bayonets, and a second Hun was coming up behind and again I took aim, but before I was able to get my pill started, my mate robbed me of the honor and sent his pill crashing through Fritzie’s head.  So I turned my attention to the immediate opponent, but before I could shoot, the kiltie’s body interposed in my line of vision, and when I got a glimpse of the Prussian a second later, he was in the throes of death with a bayonet in his bowels.  Further over to my right, two Huns were trying to bayonet a soldier, but our man was an expert and seemed to be easily holding his own, in fact, getting the better of it a little, and I noticed a Prussian jump out of a hole, aim his rifle at our fellow, and I yelled, “Get that one, Walter!” But Walter had already seen him and started blazing at him and winged him in the shoulder; he was later gathered in among the prisoners.

Then we turned to the duel and blazed at one of the Prussians, being lucky enough to land him, and at the same time Sandy got in his work with the cold steel on the other Hun.  Then, wiping the perspiration from his face with a swipe of his hand, he looked toward us and hollered “Gude work, laddies,” and dashed on ahead.

All these scrimmages took place in less time than it takes to tell about them; everywhere, as far as the eye could reach, the cleaning-up process was going on.  This was as far as I could go at this time, because I had strict orders to remain with my party there for observation purposes, the Infantry going on ahead and taking the third line.