at time the Battalion was in a good
condition for anything that might happen. On the night of the 5th
Major Delancy, who was going to take the Battalion over the top, held
a meeting of all officers and everything was explained. The officers
were made to understand that even if only one man was left alive the
objective must be taken and held and unless the position was serious
no calls for help were to be sent to other units but that the "25th"
must carry out the task alloted to them.

Easter Sunday came and we were ready and anxiously waiting to move. At
6.30 a.m., Lieut. F.G. Lawzanne left with a party of N.C.O's to take
up, what the orders stated, to be a Camp but what was in reality all
that was left of a small forest known as the Bois-Des Alleux. At 9.30
a.m., the Battalion, in fighting kit, without great-coats, left for
this camp. After arriving bombs, ground flares, etc., were issued the
Battalion and the remainder of the day was spent in trying to keep
warm. During the course of the afternoon two men appeared in Camp with
sand bags slung over their shoulders. They turned out to be Piper
Brand and Piper Telford who did not want to be left behind and
volunteered to play the Battalion "over the top." Permission for this
was given by Lt. Col. D.S. Bauld, who, at that time, was in the Camp
with his Battalion and who was feeling downhearted at not being able
to lead his men on the following day.

At last orders were received to move forward to our jumping off
trench. At 8.30 p.m., Easter Sunday, the 25th left their camp, a camp
which, some of the finest sons of Nova Scotia would never see again,
and moved forward slowly, passing through Mount St Eloi, where could
be noticed a few remaining French families who had stayed by the home
all through the months of war. A few hours march, and we arrived on
the Muvelle St. Vacest Road where for some reason we stayed for almost
two hours, during which time the Hun started shelling the road, and
here our first casualties occurred. We were at last able to continue
our march and at 3.30 a.m., Easter Monday we marched out to the
jumping off trench which was already being shelled by the Huns. Zero
hour had been set for 5.30 a.m., so we had two hours to wait, and a
long two hours they were. Nobody can realize except those who have
been through it the thoughts which pass through mens minds at such a
time--thoughts of home and loved ones appear as a vision with a wonder
as to whet