Chapter XIX: Appendix: IV

LT.-GENERAL E. A. H. ALDERSON, C.B.,
COMMANDING THE CANADIAN CORPS.

The following is the text of the speech made to the Canadian troops under his command after twelve strenuous days and nights of fighting, from April 23rd to May 4th, 1915.

I tell you truly, that my heart is so full that I hardly know how
to speak to you. It is full of two feelings--the first being
sorrow for the loss of those comrades of ours who have gone; and
the second, pride in what the 1st Canadian Division has done.

As regards our comrades who have lost their lives--let us speak of
them with our caps off--my faith in the Almighty is such that I am
perfectly sure that when men die, as they have died, doing their
duty and fighting for their country, for the Empire, and to save
the situation for others--in fact, have _died for their
friends_--no matter what their past lives have been, no matter what
they have done that they ought not to have done (as all of us do),
I am perfectly sure that the Almighty takes them and looks after
them at once. Lads, we cannot leave them better than like that.

Now I feel that we may, without any false pride, think a little of
what the Division has done during the past few days.

I would first of all tell you that I have never been so proud of
anything in my life as I am of my armlet with "Canada" on it. I
thank you, and congratulate you from the bottom of my heart, for
the part each one of you has taken in giving me this feeling of
pride.

I think it is possible that all of you do not quite realise that,
if we had retired on the evening of April 22nd--when our Allies
fell back before the gas and left our left flank quite open--the
whole of the 27th and 28th Divisions would probably have been cut
off. Certainly they would not have got away a gun or a vehicle of
any sort, and probably not more than half the Infantry would have
escaped.

This is what our Commander-in-Chief meant when he telegraphed, as
he did, that "the Canadians saved the situation." My lads, if ever
men had a right to be proud in this world, you have.

I know my military history pretty well, and I cannot think of an
instance, especially when the cleverness and determination of the
enemy is taken into account, in which troops were placed in such a
difficult position; nor can I think of an instance in which so much
depended on the standing fast of one Division.

You will remember that the last time I spoke to you, just before
you went into the trenches at Sailly, now over two months ago, I
told you about my old Regiment--the Royal West Kents--having gained
a reputation for never budging from their trenches, no matter how
they were attacked. I said then I was quite sure that, in a short
time, the Army out here would be saying the same of you.

I little thought--none of us thought--how soon those words would
come true. But now, to-day, not only the Army out here, but all
Canada, all England, and all the Empire are saying that you, too,
stand fast.

There is one more word I would say to you before I stop. You have
made a reputation second to none in this war; but, remember, no man
can live on his reputation. He must keep on adding to it. And I
feel just as sure that you will do so as I did two months ago when
I told you that I knew you would make a reputation when the
opportunity came.

I am now going to shake hands with your officers, and as I do so, I
want you to feel that I am shaking hands with each one of you, as I
would actually do if time permitted.

ON RELINQUISHING HIS COMMAND OF
THE 1st CANADIAN DIVISION.

The following is the text of the Special Order issued by Lieut.-General Alderson on transferring the 1st Canadian Division to the new Commander, General Currie, C.B.:--

On handing over the command of the 1st Canadian Division to General
Currie, C.B., I wish to give my heartfelt thanks to all ranks of
the Division, and especially to the Brigadiers and the Divisional
and Brigade Staffs, for the loyal and efficient help they have
given me during the eleven months that I have commanded the
Division. It is this help that, in spite of the difficulties of
organisation, or the trying climatic and other unpleasant
conditions of Salisbury Plain, has made my period of command so
pleasant.

I have already expressed personally, to all ranks, my appreciation
of the conduct of the Division in action at all times, and
especially during the trying twelve days--April 22nd to May 4th--at
Ypres. I will not, therefore, say any more about this conduct,
except that I shall never forget it.

I am consoled in my great regret at leaving the Division by the
thought that, as Corps Commander, I shall still be in close touch
with it.

In handing over to General Currie I feel, as I have told him, that
I hand over an efficient fighting unit, which, I am sure, will,
under him, add to the reputation it has made, and also give him the
same loyal support that it has always given to me.

I feel that I cannot conclude better than by asking all ranks of
the 1st Division always to remember the words which I am adopting
as the motto of the Canadian Army Corps:--

"CONSENTIENTES VI TRAHUNT VICTORIAM."[1]

[1] Those in agreement seize victory by force.