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WALCHEREN CAUSEWAY, 1ST. Nov., Wed.

Weather - cold and clear. As the month opened the Bn. was holding the causeway leading from South Beveland to Walcheren Island. A very heavy arty. barrage was being laid down to facilitate the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS passing through us to establish a small bridgehead on Walcheren Island. Our C Coy. in the forward position had to hold on until the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS had passed through, and were eventually relieved around 0100 hrs.. In the withdrawal Capt. H.S.LAMB, acting O.C. of the company was wounded and his men carried him to the end of the causeway where a jeep met them. The signaller with C. Coy. did a thoroughly excellent piece of work when reporting that Capt. LAMB had been wounded. Capt. LAMB was temporarily replacing Maj. E.V. PINKHAM, and the message read "LYDIA SUBSTITUTE HURT" - linking the name of the Major with the purveyor of pink pills for pale people. The signallers and the carrying party from D. Coy. followed C. Coy. on the way back. Lt. J.P.JODOIN and four men of his leading section (two of whom were wounded) who had reached a position 25 yards from the Island end of the causeway and had there been forced to go to ground were unable to withdraw before our barrage started, and saw it through from a German slit trench on the causeway. This party was evacuated by the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS the following day, and were brought out from the Beveland end of the causeway by Pte. PARKER of A Coy. who went up in the Coy. jeep to bring them out. The day was spent resting, and regrouping where necessary. In the afternoon Lt.-Col. B. R. RITCHIE, O.C. the Bn. attended a co-ordinating conference at Bde. where plans were made for a forthcoming move. LIERRE Belgium Sheet 24-34 1:50000 Square 7886

2nd. Nov., Thur.

Weather - clear and sunny. Word was received that we were moving back to LIERRE. The SP was passed at 1345 hours and the route took us through GOES, PUTTE, CAPELLEN, ANTWERP and down to our area at LIERRE where we pulled in at 1830 hrs.. In the afternoon the C.0., Lt.-Col. B.R.RITCHIE, and the I.0., Lt. W.J.SHEA, went to BERGEN op ZOOM and checked with various civilian sources that a large school operated by a religious order had been used by the enemy in evacuating their prisoners taken in the WOENSDRECHT, HOOGERHEIDE area. In particular they endeavoured to ascertain if any regimental personnel had passed through this institution, and if so, if Maj.SLATER, O.C. of B. Coy., reported missing on the 10th. of October, had been one. One priest WHO was allowed a little more freedom than the others as far as mixing with the prisoners was concerned stated that he had seen some wearing what he believed to be our unit flashes, but was unable to confirm one way or the other whether or not Maj. SLATER had passed through their hands. On the way through ANTWERP we heard a roar and, upon looking up, saw one of the Germans' notorious, and noxious, "buzz bombs" As we watched we saw it precipitate itself into the heart of the city. The evening was spent in getting settled in our new quarters. The B.O.R., H.Q. Coy., A and B Echs. occupied a large school near the cathedral, while the rifle coys. settled in a large convent, centrally located in the town.

3rd. Nov., Fri.

Weather - cold and dull. All trucks and carriers are off-loaded and a check is being made of all stores preparatory to re-equipping. The Coys. are regrouping and re-organising. Support Coy. and H.Q. Coy. were paid today, much to their elation. Tonight the K. of C. showed a movie in a large theatre in Support Coy. lines, the most suitable location they have had yet. An Officers' Mess has been established in the Hotel du Commerce, in the town's main square. Tonight the pipe band played Retreat at 1700 hrs.. The usual town regulations apply here, and all soldiers must be back in barracks by 2230 hrs.. The men are allowed to walk out from 1730 hrs. on.

4th. Nov.,Sat.

Weather - clear and cold. Re-equipping and regrouping continues. Today the rifle companies were paid. It is indeed a treat for the men to be located in a town of this size while they have some money in their pockets. Many of them made arrangements with the K. of C. to send flowers home for Christmas. On the streets of the town many of the boys could be seen shopping for suitable souvenirs to send home - an in-dication if any is needed - of where their thoughts centre when they have time to think of things not connected with soldiering. Two movies in town show American films and tonight both houses had to hang out the S.R.O. sign. A tour of the town reveals that there is on sale a great number of things for which the boys have been yearning. To estimate by the numbers crowding the ice-cream parlors this commodity falls into the above category. All the men have been, or are about to be, issued with new uniforms. Today being Saturday, a concession was made to the habits of civilian life and the men were allowed to walk out after 1300 hrs..

5th. Nov., Sun.

Weather - fine and clear. Two Protestant church services were conducted by the padre, Hon. Capt. ROYLE, one for H.Q. and Support Coys., the other for the rifle coys.. The R.C. Service was held in the Jesuit church on the main street of the town for all British and Canadian troops in the area of this denomination. At 1330 hours a bath parade was held. In the afternoon the massed pipe bands of the BLACK WATCH and the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS played in the main square of the town to a very appreciative, if heterogeneous, audience. In the evening a dance, to which civil-ians were invited, was held in Support Coy. lines. Notices were distributed to the people of the town and many were in attendance when things got under way. All the officers were present, and during the evening Brig. W.J.MEGILL, Officer Commanding 5 C.I.B., paid us a visit, chatting with the boys. During the intermission the regimental pipe band played for about ten minutes. Coffee, with biscuits, was served before the dance broke up at 2200 hrs. in time to permit the civilians to get home before curfew. It was a most enjoyable evening and a radical change from many that we have had. This was the first opportunity the Bn. has had of holding an affair of this nature.

LEWEDORP,Sheet 14 SW (E),MR 234291

6th. Nov., Mon.

Weather - fine and clear. Reorganising and re-equipping continues. The men are enjoying this break from front line duty and take with a will to the instruction being given them during the day. They realise - more than they ever did in Canada or in England - that they just can't know too much about their own and the enemies' weapons, tactics, and all the hundred and one things which go to comprise a soldier' book of knowledge. Many of the men have had all too little training for the tasks expected of them in an Infantry Bn.; they realise fully this lack and do all that they can to make up for it. The training is, of necessity, confined to lectures. A burial ceremony and commemoration service was held this morning at LEWEDORP for the men who fell in the crossing of the Walcheren Causeway. Hon. Capt. ROYLE, padre of this Bn. and Rev. Mr. C.F. WADSWORTH of the GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS officiated. The pipe band of the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS was in attendance as were representatives of British and Dutch civil organisations. This is a temporary British-Canadian cemetry and contains 62 graves. Thirteen members of the BLACK WATCH are buried there .

7th. Nov., Tues.

Weather - clear and cool - dull in afternoon. A meeting was called at Bde. at 0930 hrs.. The information given out there was that the Division would shortly be moving up near NIJMEGEN in Holland, and at noon a recce. party consisting of the 0.C. Lt.-Col. B.R.RITCHIE, Maj. E.W.HUDSON, 0.C.of D.Coy., Maj. R. MacDUFF, O.C. of B Coy. and Sgt. LESSARD, D., of the Intelligence Section, replacing the 1.0. who was attend-ing a course, left to look over the new area. When the party had reached the tou of 's HERTOGENBOSCH the Officer Commanding, Lt. -Col. B.R.RITCHIE, received word to return to LIERRE, the remainder of the party continuing to its destination and re-maining there until the Bn's. arrival. The move was originally scheduled for 1800 hrs. but as our Bde. would be in reserve it was decided that we should not move just yet. A casual bath parade was held during the morning and many of the men availed themselves of the opportunity. The K. of C. ran a movie tonight- "Meet the People"-a musical. On the whole this type of film is more popular with the men than the heavier fare which is sometimes provided. Lt. - Col. F. M. MITCHELL, presently commanding #10 C.B.R.G., paid us a visit today, and spent the evening at the 0fficers Mess.

8th. Nov., Wed.

Weather - dull and showery. The vehicles of Support Coy. are now in first class shape, many even having been repainted. The suspension of the tracked vehicles have received a thorough check up during our stay here. Today, regimental Christmas cards showing some of the engagements in which we have participated, were made available to the men at 50 centimes each, this to help supplement the issue of five per man which was made previously.

9th. Nov., Thur.

Weather - raining. The companies are all getting packed up and ready for the move. From 1400 hrs. on was enforced rest for the men not required for uduty, in preparatiox for the long night ride. As the men were in line for supper one of the German's V2s - the rocket shell, passed overhead and at its moment of passing the booster charge exploded. The noise was, to say the least, startling after the comparative peace and quiet of the past few days.

CUIJK, Holland

Sheet 12 SW (E), 1:25000, MR 7149

10th. Nov., Fri.

Weather - bright and clear. The Bn. move to the new area commenced at 0020 hrs.. It was a miserable night - cold, raining and blustery. The convoy proceeded by way of WESTMALLE, TURNHOUT, POPPEL, TILBURG, 's HERTOGENBOSCH to the dispersal point at GRAVE, and then to our destination at CUIJK where we arrived at 0945 hrs.. The Coys. took up locations as follows: Support - 713523, A - 724526, B - 722516, C -724522, D - 714523 and B.H.Q. at 716494. The morning was spent in settling in to the new quarters and the afternoon in compulsory rest. In this area a curfew goes into effect at 1930 hrs. and after that hour no civilian may go on the streets.

11th. Nov., Sat.

Weather - fine in morning, cloudy in afternoon. The pipe band - five pipers and four drummers - was out today, and playing through the streets of the town. Gradually it is getting back up to strength - a far cry from that day at Point 158, near EPANCY in France, when retreat was played by two pipers and one drummer. Some of the boys who were wounded have now returned to the unit and their place in the band. It is good to see and hear them again. Guards were posted at certain crossroads on the edge of town with instructions that the names of all civilians entering must be recorded, and that the civilians must be notified that if they came in they would be unable to return. Unknown to us all the civilians were being evacuated from ST. AGATHA and the guards were uwapped when the evacuees started pouring in. Some of the farmers wished to drive their cattle out again to pasture, others to go out to milk theirs. It was a little while before order was restored. Parades were held this afternoon to permit the men to exchange Belgian money for Dutch. D Coy. held a party in their lines tonight voted a huge success by all in attendance. Patrols by night from CUIJK to ST. AGATHA are being carried out by the INNS of COURT REGIMENT.

12th. Nov., Sun.

Weather - Fine in morning, rain in afternoon. Things were quiet in the morning until around 1030 hrs. when the enemy placed four 15.5 cm. shells in the town. One of them landed just across the way from B.H.Q. and flying fragments nicked one of the guards there and gashed the trousers of the other, while the blast blew in most of the windows of the B.O.R. A pig rooting in the yard was the only casualty. In the afternoon church services were held by the padre. The K. of C. held a showing of "Stage Door Canteen" in the evening, but one of the tubes in the sound apparatus blew out, bringing a halt to the show.

13th. Nov., Mon.

Weather - raining. The pipe band is parading daily, playing through the streets of the town. The men of the rifle companies are receiving further instruction on the use of small arms and are firing their weapons on the range on the West side of town. While B Coy. were so engaged today tracer bullets, fired from 'the rear came unpleasantly close, causing the men to dive for cover. Upon the firing being resumed the same thing occurred, the fire coming even closer. A fighting patrol was despatched to the rear to clear up the matter. They were unable to find anything, but the rest of the practice was uninterrupted. A cloth model has been prepared and laid out in a large factory in town and may be used by the companies for training. This afternoon the N.C.Os. of A Coy. received instruction from CSM TURNBULL, A.F., on section handling and the use of ground and cover.

Nov. 14th., Tues.

Weather - dull and showery. Training in the companies continues. Today there was an increase in mortaring in the area, the enemy taking quite a few tries at the church towers and the railway station. In the afternoon we had one man killed, D82316, L/Sgt. THORNHILL, H.B., of Support Coy., and two men injured when a mortar bomb landed in the area. Fragments were dug out of the hole and these proved to be from one of our own 4.2 mortar bombs. Investigation was immediately instituted and it was finally conclusively proved that the shells were being fired by the enemy, and that it was not a case of an error of judgement on the part of our mortar batteries. The K. of C. tonight held a showing of "See Here, Private Hargrove" for the rifle companies. In the evening the Officer Commanding, Lt.-Col. B.R.RITCHIE, held a meeting of the officers, and, using the cloth model, demonstrated the initial stages of an attack on a Company scale.

15th. Nov., Wed.

Weather - fine in morning, dull in afternoon. The companies continue with their training, including strenuous battle drill. A bath parade was held during the latter part of the morning and in the afternoon the rifle companies were paid. There is not much upon which one may spend one's money in town here, but at least few cafes are open. In view of the curfew, however, these establishments are not as heavily patronised as they might otherwise be.

16th. Nov., Thur.

Weather - Bright and clear. Increased activity during the night with lots of mortaring and shelling. The Company Commanders have very favourable reports to make upon the reactions of their men to the training being undergone. Pay day today for H.Q. Coy.. While the men were in line for supper tonight two very heavy mortar bombs landed in the centre of our area, again very close to B.H.Q.. B Coy. reported that the bombs had landed 200 yards West of their position. No damage resulted.

17th. Nov., Fri.

Weather - Cold and wet. There was no activity on our area today. Elements of the INNS OF COURT REGIMENT continue to patrol from OEFFELT to CUIJK each night, reporting to our guard post at prearranged hours. Since our coming here they have experienced no action on these patrols. Members of the Dutch Orange Brigade reported today that an enemy patrol had crossed the River MAAS near ST. AGATHA, causing great alarm and despondency in their midst when enemy weapons were heard firing from their rear. They asked that we send out a fighting patrol to take care of the matter, but before this could be done further word was received that any enemy in the position had pulled back across the river at first light. Tonight's show by the K. of C. was DANGEROUS BLONDES .

18th. Nov., Sat.

Weather - dull. Training in the companies continues. Maj. R. MacDUFF, O.C. of B Coy. received a letter today bearing the superscription "Dear Sir MacDuff, --" from the owner of the property in which his company is stationed. The letter went on to thank him, and through him the men or his company for the exemplary fashion in which they are conducting themselves and the care they have taken of the buildings. Comparisons being odious, let's make the comparison: the previous occupants had been the enemy. We had a grand stand seat this afternoon for an attack made by Typhoons and Spitfires upon MEDDELLAR. All officers tonight attended a meeting at Bde. where our Commanding Officer, Lt.- Col. B.R.RITCHIE, delivered a lecture on the tactical handling of a vanguard company, with tanks in support, in the advance to contact.

19th. Nov., Sun.

Weather - fine and clear. Lt.- Col. B.R.RITCHIE, the Officer Commanding, and Maj. A.G.STEVENSON, the 2 i/c. left this morning on 48 hour leave. Temporary command of the Bn. was taken over by Maj. E.V.PINKHAM, O.C. of C.Coy.. A compulsory R.C. church parade was held this morning at 1000 hrs. and in the afternoon a voluntary Protestant service was held at 1500 hrs. in a hall in D. Coy. area. Shortly after lunch two enemy planes came low over our lines and were given a hot reception from the A/A gunners in the area. While watching the air bursts chase the planes across the sky. L/Cpl. Harry PINCK, D81394, driver for Lt.- Col. S.S.T.CANTLIE, Lt.-Col. F.M.MITCHELL, and Lt.-Col. B.R.RITCHIE in turn - was hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel, and died instantly. On parade today, the band looked very smart, wearing the kilt for the first time since the Bn. landed in France. The drummers wore the tartan of the BLACK WATCH, the pipers, the ROYAL STUART. A few bombs from a heavy mortar landed just in front of A. Coy's. 0.P. and Capt. C.S.MacLAREN, 2 i/c of the company, went down to the 0.P. to get any information they had. While he was there seven more bombs landed and Capt. MacLAREN went to work. Within a few moments of their landing a full Morep was with Bde.. Typhoons and Spitfires later went in over the MIDDELAAR area.

20th. Nov., Mon.

Weather - mild and overcast. This morning a burial service was held for L/Cpl.Harry PINCK in B. Coy. area. As the cemetery of the Protestant church was under observation by the enemy it was necessary that the interrment take place at the back of the church Hon.Capt. E.C.ROYLE officiated and many officers and ORs., friends he had made in the Bn. attended. The service closed with the playing of a lament by Pipe Major H. MacDONAlD and Piper W.HANNAH. Arrangements have been made to treat every member of the Bn. with de-lousing powder - though it should be emphasised that this is a precautionary measure rather than a cure. H.Q.Coy. received their dusting today, and the rifle coys. will receive theirs tomorrow. All ranks will be re-innoculated with T.A.B.T. if a check of their documents reveals that sufficient time has elapsed sincE the last innoculation. A photograph of the cemetery at FONTENAY le MARMION was received today. It is understood that a copy of this picture is being sent to the familie of all men buried there. Tonight a lecture was delivered by Lt.- Col. J.L.BIBEAU, at Bde. The subject was "The Fluid Battle".

21st. Nov., Tues.

Weather - bright and clear-showers in late afternoon. A casual's parade to the Paymaster, Capt. A.E.D.HULL, was held this morning to straighten out any problems of any of the boys or to permit them to send remittances home for Christmas. The pipe band continues to parade daily through the tovim, and have by now gained quite a following among the younger generation. By order of Corps the curfew in the Corps area has been set at 2230 hrs.. The K. of C. ran a movie tonight entitled "Woman of the Town".

22nd. Nov., Wed.

Weather - rain all day. The enemy continues to lob over the occasional mortar bomb and a few shells. From time to time, about once or twice daily, he fires something; just what it is has not as yet been ascertained but it has considerable blast effect. At a lecture he delivered at Bde. this evening, Lt.-Col. A. ELLIS, Officer Commanding the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS, spoke on the Battalion in defence.

23rd. Nov., Thur.

Weather - overcast and showery. The Bn. moved out of their positions today to take over from the ROYAL HAMILT0N LIGHT INFANTRY on a front approximately l500 yards from the Western border of Germany. B Coy., in reserve, B.H.Q. and the R.A.P. were able to move into their new positions immediately upon arrival, but the forward companies had to await the coming of darkness before moving in. Their positions are exceeding close to the enemy along the whole Bn. front - much closer than in any other positions we have ever occupied. In C Coy's. area the enemy occupies the houses on one side of the street across the way from us, and in both A and D Coy's. positions the proximity is almost as close. Recce patrols were sent out at night but were unproductive of any new information.

24th. Nov., Fri.

Weather - overcast, raining and mist. The mud we experienced on the South Beveland isthmus we now admit must take second place to that up here. At the least suggestion of rain the ground takes on the qualities of a quagmire and pools of liquid, oozing rnud, almost a foot deep, are common. In this area movement by day is well nigh impossible. Many gliders are scattered throughout the fields and the men positively itching to get at them. They cannot do so by day, and it would be an extremely hazardous undertaking by night as we believe them to have been booby trapped. The kitchen staffs of the coys. are having a grand time as there is all sorts of fresh beef in the area, and the riflemen certainly do appreciate their efforts in keeping them supplied with hot meals, wherein steaks are not forgotten. It is a most welcome change from the regular fare.There was some mortaring in the forward positions coupled with several air-bursts but the area was relatively quiet.

25th. Nov., Sat.

Weather - bright and clear. In the early hours of the morning there was considerable shelling of the ground behind our area, and this was repeated around 0800 hrs.. In spite of warnings to the contrary there has been unnecessary movement of troops-the chasing of cows, pigs, chickens, etc., in the area in the open, during the day-light hours and too many fires have been kindled in the houses. At 1215 hrs, some smoke bombs landed about 200 yards short of the road upon which B.H.Q. is located. During the afternoon there was spasmodic shelling and shortly after l500 hrs. a heavy concentration of 8cm. and 21cm. rockets showered around B.H.Q.. Many of the houses were hit and one small fire, soon under control was started. It was unfortunate that although the fire was not extensive, before it was overcome the Intelligence Section, in whose house it had been started, lost all tactical information which they had on this sector, as well as most of their personal kit and equipment. The ACMO, Lt. Meredith FLEMING, R. C. A., was at B Coy. H.Q. at the time and had a first rate view of the mortar activity in which he was so interested. B Coy. H.Q., and Tac. H.Q. were among the buildings hit, but only one casualty was incurred. Capt. D.A.LAW, the Adjutant, was hit by flying glass, and cut around the left eye. The actual extent of his injuries has not as yet been ascertained.

Nov. 26th., Sun.

Weather - bright and clear. Along the roadway upon which B.H.Q. is located the houses on the North side are occupied respectively by The TORONTO SCOTS M.M.G. Pl. H.Q., Tac. H.Q., the Intelligence Secn., Rear B.H.Q., and Support Coy. H.Q., and the R. A. P., and on the South side by B Coy. H.Q. and cooker, H.Q. of the Anti-Tank troop of the R.C.A., Signals Platoon, one pl. B Coy., Pioneer Platoon, and the Scouts. In view of yesterday's mortaring there was quite extensive digging in the cellars and gardens of the houses occupied. Dug outs and crawl trenches have been commence. In spite of the efforts of our patrols to bring in a prisoner they have so far been unsuccessful. A Coy. this morning reported that one of the Scouts attached to them to snipe, had accounted for an enemy sniper who was dug in beneath the wing of a glider, but they were unable to get him as the enemy had a crawl trench to that position, and the area was under close observation and swept by fire.

27th. Nov., Mon.

Weather - dull and overcast. During the hours of darkness Lt. R.F.DAVEY of the Scout Platoon, and three men went out on a patrol in front of D Coy's. area. They were unable to move before 0300 hrs. as there was very bright moonlight. They cross-ed the road, proceeded through a vegetable garden and came upon a single strand concertina wire fence and behind that a communication trench 7 feet deep. They followed the zig-zags of the trench almost to house 46 before retracing their steps. As it was now almost 0500 hrs. they decided to return. As they left the trench five hand grenades were thrown at them from the next bay, wounding one of the Scouts, Pte. Y.A.NERON, B155536, so that he was unable to walk. Pte. WATSON, W.G., B138591 was also wounded, but more superficially. They had to make their getaway hurriedly, carrying their wounded comrade all the way in to the R.A.P.. There was some mortaring of our Coy. positions during the day and our C Coy. dropped some 2 inch mortar bombs behind the houses across the way from their forward positions, in the vicinity of the crawl trenches the enemy has there. Shortly after noon today a salvo of rockets was seen to burst in the air over our A Coy's. area showering down propaganda pamphlets addressed to the men of the 2nd. and 3rd Canadian Divisions. The propaganda he uses is most unsubtle. Unfortunately the charge in the rockets had destroyed parts of all the pamphlets.

28th. Nov., Tues.

Weather - bright in morning, heavy rain in afternoon. Things are generally quiet throughout the area, our men keeping out of sight as much as possible during the daylight hours. The fact that the enemy is prone to drop a few mortar bombs period-ically is an added incentive for the boys to keep low. In spite of the fact that we have many O.Ps. in operation it is only in the isolated instance that a glimpse is caught of any movement by the enemy. Our snipers take the occasional shot at one but so far we have been unable to estimate the accuracy of their fire as we have beer; unable to get out to the men fired upon. Weather- misty in morning, clearing later. The positions we are occupying are rather trying on the nerves as there may be absolutely no movement by day in the forward areas, and at night the enemy is very aggressive with his patrols and snipers often penetrating as far back as the vicinity of B.H.Q.. One of our snipers again accounted for one of the enemy today. Mortar bombs once again landed in our area, but no appreciable damage was caused, and no casualties incurred. The left-hand platoon of D Coy. received a direct hit upon their P1. H.Q., but they were fortunate enough to emerge without suffering any injuries. The Officer Commanding, Lt.- Col. B.R.RITCHIE, the Company Commanders and the I.0. attended a study group Bde. H.Q. this afternoon, on the subject of patrols.

30th. Nov., Thur.

Weather - misty all day. The sun did not break through today and visibility was extremely bad. The O.Ps. had practically nothing to report all day. Brig.W.J.MEGILL Officer Commanding 5 C.I.B., went up to the forward companies this morning and spent over two hours at their H.Qs. and O.P.. The front on our sector was comparatively quiet - only a few mortar bombs falling. It is believed that the enemy has a mortar position in the neighbourhood of their R.A.P., and today our mortars landed a few bombs in the general vicinity. Arrangements were made for our Bn. to be relieved by the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS. One platoon from that regiment took up the position of the forward platoon of our B. Coy. during the night, and at last light today the change over was commenced. We moved into position as reserve Bn. in the Bde. with B.H.Q., A and C Coys. in square 7453, D Coy on the South-East edge of the wood in Square 7452, and B Coy. along the East edge of the woods in Square 7554.

It might be interesting to present a list of the casualties suffered by the Bn. during the month of October with those of this month for purposes of comparison.

A total of 25 Officers and 429 other ranks. During the month of November we had one man killed, one died of wounds, and ten were wounded.

During the month we received 134 OR reinforcements and 14 officers.

One award was made to the Bn. during the month, and this, the Military Medal was won by Pte. DELUTIS, F., D82579 in recognition of his gallantry and distinguished conduct in the attack on SPYCKER, in France.

TRAINING AND REFITMENT.

1) During the period 2nd. to 22nd. November inclusive the Bn. was able to concentrate on much needed training, more particularly on the section and platoon level.

2) Equipment shortages were made up except in the case of jeeps which are still short on demand. A general overhaul and clean up of all vehicles and equipment was completed during the month.

3) An N.C.O. training school under Div. arrangements has been operating since the middle of the month.

REINFORCEMENTS .

Fourteen officer reinforcements arrived all except two having been re-allocated from R.C.A.S.C., L.A.A. or R.C.A.. They had had a six weeks infantry course.

MORALE.

1) There has been a definite and noticeable boost in the morale of the Bn.. We feel that this is due entirely to the training period and the opportunity it gave for and weapons that the required knowledge gave to the troops and N.C.Os.

2) Except for recent reinforcements it is hoped that all ranks in the Bn. will have Lad a 48 hour leave to one of the leave centres, Brussels, Gbent, or Antwerp, before the end of the year.

3) There were more courts martial for personnel of the Bne than at any time since the start of the war, during this period. We know that the explanation is that improperly and inadequately trained men were committed to battle. Their lack of knowledge of the fundamentals of fieldcraft, battle drill, etc., outweighed their personal courage when the battle was joined.

HEALTH .

The health of the Bn. has been generally good the only complaints being mild influenza and scattered cases of dysentry.

B.R. RITCHIE. Lt.- Col.

Officer Commanding,

1st. Bn. The Black Watch,

(RHR) of Canada

INDEX

December, 1944