[From the Canadian Bank of Commerce’s book: Letters from the Front: Being a Record of the Part Played by Officers of the Bank in the Great War, 1914-1919, Volume I, pages 199-200 (Southam Press, 1920).]

The following is a letter from Mr. M. V. Holdsworth, formerly of the Supervisor's Department at Head Office.

This refers to the Vimy Ridge attack of 9th April, 1917:

“It is Sunday night, but no more like it than day is like night. A fairly heavy bombardment on our right has been going on since 6.30 this morning, and we are rather anxious to know what it's all about. And all day thousands of men, horses, wagons, lorries and guns have been passing—an inconceivable sight to anyone who has not witnessed it.

“We sailed from England in March, 1917, were only one hour and twenty minutes crossing the channel, three transports coming together, and, if you could have seen the way we were guarded, you would easily understand why no transports have ever been sunk among the thousands that have crossed.

“We remained a fortnight at the Canadian base before coming up the line. It is located in one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen and, in a way, I was sorry to leave it.

“There were 60 in our draft and, upon arriving at headquarters here, we were all put in the Divisional Ammunition Column. I have not yet been able to find out whether it is temporary or whether we shall eventually be put into a battery.

“There is something doing here every hour of the day. At night there are to be seen the flashes of the guns, the rocket signals and the star shells; and, in the daytime, the observation balloons and the many kinds of aircraft-both ours and Fritz's. We knew to a minute when the boys were going over last Sunday night, and it would have done your heart good to have heard the guns start the bombardment just before they began to advance. The first results were noticed about nine o'clock, when the prisoners began to pour in, and by noon they could be counted by the thousand.

“At present we are located near a village that is simply blown to atoms, as most of the places round here are. It is a little exciting when one first hears the shells passing over-ping! bang! Haven't had any close calls as yet.”