Lest we forget (Saturated Market)

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Lest we forget

I'd like to do something different today. Today is Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day in the U.S.), and I would like to do something to commemorate it. Some years ago, we were fortunate to find my great-grandfather's war diary from 1917. Corporal Carman Thornton of the 2nd Canadian Battalion, 1st Brigade, fought at Vimy Ridge, and survived to live a full life and apparently stir things up in the Liberal party in Gault, ON. My mum, his grand-daughter, transcribed the journal onto the computer before we turned it over to the War Museum in Ottawa. The brief entries and the way writes about the war is quite striking, particularly for someone his age to live through such an experience (he was only 18 at the beginning of 1917). Below are some entries I would like to share.

Saturday, March 17th, 1917
Worked as usual at plan of attack. Great way to spend a birth-day. In Camblin L’Abbe a little village. At pict-show at night.

Monday, April 9th, 1917
[Battle of Vimy Ridge]
Successful in the attack. Carl wounded & he certainly was lucky to get it where & when he did. Shelled pretty strenuously. Lots of Germ. prisoners who seemed very happy. Chamberlain, Agar, & Monan buried [?] at night.

Friday, April 13th, 1917
Spent the day lying around. Saw a German plane come down in flames. It sure is a terrible death.

Wednesday, April 25th, 1917
Doing nothing all day but out in big party digging & kick-off lunch for attack. Six casualties in plat. as Mackay stepped on a bomb. Chambers, Greenaway, Wilson, Denoyer, Mincis, & Duffy.

Friday, April 27th, 1917
Just got our tent fixed up when we heard “back up the line at 12:00 p.m.” It certainly is rotten news. Got box from mother of candy (no 6). Heard from Earl & he certainly is a lucky cuss. I would certainly like to be with him.

Saturday, May 12th, 1917
~~War ends by to-day or Ray Newton gets 5S.~~
I never thought 3 months ago that Ray would be killed but it had to be. Bombing in morning & sports in afternoon. Wrote a couple of letters & walked around a bit.