Sometimes, the Mountain comes to Mohammed.
It’s one of the joys of being a published writer. You don’t know your readers but they know you — and, every so often, one of them offers to share personal information that’s not to be found in the public realm.
In this case, back in July, Brian Brown contacted the Citizen, introducing himself thus: “I am responding to a Nov. 11, 2017 Remembrance Day article in the [Cowichan] Gazette in which the author [TWP] challenged his readers to do their own research into Sergeant Major Ed McAdams who served in the 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry in WW1.
“I am the keeper of S/M McAdams’ personal handwritten diary of his involvement in action in Ypres, Belgium from Jan to May 1915, and I have created a book, typed version. Would you be interested in receiving a copy?”
My limited connection to S/M Ed McAdams was buying his framed Medical Discharge Certificate from a local thrift store. Dated March 23, 1918, eight months before Armistice, it states he served “with honour” and was disabled while serving with the 5th Battalion.
As it happened, Brian’s offer to share S/M McAdams’ diary was the second case of serendipity involving this First World War soldier. Jim LaBoissiere, a follower of the Cowichan Chronicles when it appeared in the Citizen, had voluntarily researched McAdams’s army record and inspired the column about him in 2017.
When Brian replied, he wrote that he had two diaries. He described that of S/M McAdams as being written in pencil, in a “hardcover booklet about four inches square”. The second, also written in pencil, is that of his Great Uncle John Muir who served with McAdams at Ypres. This leather-bound booklet is even smaller, just two inches square.
He wrote: “The two diaries detail the experiences of [these] two men, serving in the trenches near Ypres, January to May in 1915.”
Brian offered to send along typed transcripts with photos, and generously granted permission to publish them in the Citizen. He notes that there’s “a bit of a mystery” about the McAdams diary as he found it “among papers left by my Great Uncle”. He has “no idea how it came to be there”.
For this Remembrance Day edition of the Citizen, the diary of Sgt. John Muir who earned his law degree at the University of Edinburgh before moving to Winnipeg to practise law. We begin with Brian’s introduction: “Here’s some of what I know about Great Uncle John Muir. As a lawyer in Moose Jaw, he enlisted along with 103 others in August 1914. He was active on the front line from Jan. 21 to May 24, 1915.”
In a later email, Brian notes that, on Aug. 16, 1914, John Muir joined the 60th Rifles of Canada along with 85 others from Moose Jaw and was assigned to the 11th Battalion and then the 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry Dismounted) before deployment to France then Belgium in late January 1915.
“Sadly, he was killed in action on Victoria Day, 1915. His effects, which included the two diaries, [were] delivered to his parents in Edinburgh, eventually passed down to his sister (my Grandmother), then to my Dad (John Muir Brown, named after his Uncle) and then to me.”
The diary’s dedication indicates that it’s a gift from 10 friends, probably at the law firm where he worked, in Moose Jaw, Christmas, 1914. Two of the names are indecipherable.
“Just a little reminder but rich outreach with the best wishes of us all for your good luck during the coming year, and for your quick and safe return. It will help you to keep notes of your experiences for recounting to your eager audiences here.” From there on, entries are in pencil and written by John Muir.
Here then, speaking from the grave 109 years later, Sgt. John Muir of the First Canadian Contingent, British Expeditionary Force. His wartime experiences, regrettably brief as they were, are a window into what life was like for a Canadian foot soldier in the Great War. Editing has been kept to a minimum.
••••
Joined 60th Rifles of Canada Aug 16/1914. Landed in England Oct 18/1914.
Spent xmas at Home (in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan). 11th Batt’n stationed at: Pond Farm, Sling Plantation, Tidworth Canadian Barracks.
11th Batt’n converted into depot Brigade, and I volunteered to go with a draft of 104 men to the 5th Batt’n (Western Calvary Dismounted) stationed at Lark Hill. Took 85 men of the Moose Jaw Contingent with me in draft and got 30 posted to No 2 Cy along with myself. [He then lists 14 names and regimental numbers.—TW]
Jan 31, 1915: Transferred to 5th Batt’n from 11th Batt’n. Col. Tunford in Command of 5th. Met Bagshaw of Regina.
Feb 1, 1915: Met Capt. Hopkins of Saskatoon in same company (No 2)
Feb 2: Met Sgt. Boucher, Violet’s husband
Feb 4: Reviewed by the King and [1st Earl] Kitchener. Canadian Division looked well.
Feb 5: Awaiting orders to proceed to France.
Feb 6: Orders posted that we leave on Thursday 9th (note: actually Tuesday).
Feb 7: Inspection of kit
Feb 8: Nothing doing.
Feb 9: Entrained at Amesbury and proceeded to Avonmouth. Our platoon on Fatigue loading and unloading transport wagons from train to ship (named) Lake Michigan.
Feb 10: Accommodated in hold below the horses. Bully Beef biscuits. Orders passed to form convoy in Bristol Channel at midnight. Spent day watching other transports filling up.
Feb 11: Sailed at 2 am. So far no convoy. Being escorted by Destroyer No 3. Nice day. Destroyer left us this evening and we proceeded alone due south.
Feb 12: Found myself somewhere in the Bay of Biscay this morning. spent evening on deck watching lights along French coast.
Feb 13: Found ourselves lying off Saint-Nazaire on the Loire. Was put on guard. Could see a Company of French soldiers drilling on shore.
Feb 14: On board whole day at Saint-Nazaire
Feb 15: Landed at 4:30 am. Served out with sheepskin coat. Taken to train. 40 men put into each box car and to go right across France. Oh, hell!
Feb 16: Still going after lengthy night passed through. Great reception at all towns, villages.
Feb 17: Landed at Strazelle at 7 am. Had to unload transport. Marched to billets. Billeted at farm. Nice people.
Feb 18: Nothing doing
Feb 19: The ground very cold. Walking about all night, watching flashes of German guns
Feb 20: Inspected by [General} French and [General Smith-Dorrien].
Feb 21: Marched from Strazelle to Armentières, about 18 miles. Hard march. Got in about 6:30.
Feb 22: Billeted at a farm. Passed a cold night. Germans had been all over this district.
Feb 23: Taken to 2nd line of trenches and did some work. Not much doing.
Feb 24: At 5:20 am marched to trenches and spent an enjoyable night with the Lancasters [likely the York and Lancaster Regiment—TW.]. Germans 400 yards away, sniping all the time.
Feb 25: Had good breakfast in trench. Slight fall of snow. Shelled by Germans at 1:40. One killed. 1 wounded. Left trench at 6 pm.
Feb 26: Eyes taken badly. Attended Court Martial of B. A. Smith. Reported at No 11 7H. Spent the night there.
Feb 27: Sent to No 12 7H at Steenwerck by ambulance. Eyes very sore. Got sand shot into them while in trenches.
Feb 28: Spent day at No 12 9H. Eyes still sore.
March 1: Transferred by motor ambulance to Distributing hospital at Bailleul. Good grief.
March 2: Shipped by Hospital Train to Boulogne and now in Hotel Splendid. Excellent place, room, food, nurses, etc.
March 3: Met Sgt. Wright of my Company
March 4: Hospital. One of the nurses is a baby doll.
March 5: Hospital. The baby doll has been transferred to another hospital.
March 6: Hospital
March 7: Hospital
March 8: Sent to rest camp in Boulogne. Charming spot. Lots to eat.
March 9: Rest Camp
March 10: Transferred to Hospital Base for drafting to Batt'n. Spent evening looking around Boulogne.
March 11: Came on the Base Camp at Rouen. Large camp. Details from whole army.
March 12: Knocked around camp. 16 Cdns here.
March 13: Went to Rouen in evening. Some town.
March 14: Orders to stand by for departure. Beautiful day.
March 15: On Guard. Guard composed of City of London Rifles. Such fellows.
March 16: Entrained for Le Havre. Put in charge of Prisoner Deserter from Scots Guards. Arrived 3 pm. Proceeded to Harfleur (Canadian Base). Nice camp.
March 19: Spent day in Le Havre.
March 23: Draft of 250 men arrived from England.
March 25: Left Harfleur to rejoin Batt’n
March 26: Reformed at Estaires.
March 27: German airplane dropped 2 bombs in town at 8 am. Only [One?] in canal at street corner. Went for 10 mile march.
March 28: Bathing Parade. Clean shirt issued.
April 3: An airship dropped two bombs, one almost on Batt’n when out drilling. Quick dispersal.
April 5: Marched to Steenvoorde. Billeted in a Bakehouse.
April 6; Marching. training.
April 14: Proceeded to Ypres by Auto Bus. Marched to a place called Juliet [Juliette].
April 15: French holding the Point Batter billeted with us. Saw the Cloth Hall [in Ypres].
April 16: My Platoon taken by a French officer to a ruined farm where we billeted in cellar
April 17: Shelled in the forenoon. French Battery replied. Very old French guns keeping out of sight of German aeroplanes. 100 shots fired at one.
April 18: German aeroplane brought down by a French warplane. Landed between the trenches. Both men shot. Orders to go into first line of trenches tomorrow.
April 19: Left billet at 8 am and relieved the 10th in First line. Old French trenches in a disgusting condition. Worked all night improving place. Went out on listening patrol.
April 20: Stand fast at 9 am. Shelled at 10 o’clock by German[s]. 50 shells at our trench. Big battle to our right. Shells in hundreds passing high overhead. Distributed rations.
April 21: Stand to at 4 am. Shelled at 6 am. Several shells hit trenches.
April 23: Heavy shelling of our trenches, new German explosives made my eyes run with tears.
April 24: Stood to all night. Gas made an attack on our left: repulsed. They have concentrated all their artillery on this place and giving it hell. Attack made by [Germans] who burned some kind of gas. Roberts killed.
April 25: Shelling resumed at 6 am. No British artillery to support us. Eight Germans surrender trench on our left. Germans break in behind us. We retire as best we can. Stand to at reserve trenches.
April 26: Arrive at Wieltje. Had 2 hours of rest and went out on reserve for big attack by British. Shelling terrific. Dug ourselves in 3 times. Spent night with open artillery going like blazes. Sick whole time.
April 27: Still [in?] reserves and still no sleep and little grub. Shelled whole day. Taken out about 10 pm and brought to Poperinje via Ypres. What a night. Slept in small huts.
April 28: Shelled out at 9 am and made for Bettges [?] in the country. Beautiful day. Second Contingent of draft arrived. Battle still going on at River Yser
April 29: Passed night in barn and had good sleep. Rested all day and progressed to Canal trenches at night. Trenches all along in gardens [of] houses recently deserted.
April 30: Stuck to dugouts. Some of the boys went along to Ypres. Got wine. Shelled
May 1: Heavy shelling. Several casualties. Good Champagne. Moved dug out. Campbell killed. Several wounded.
May 2: Much the same. Not as much shelling. Our artillery doing most of it.
May 3: Hopkins killed. More wounded. Living high on loot from Ypres. New dugout flooded. Moved back to higher ground.
May 4: 7 Germans killed. Expected to be relieved but nothing doing. Men pretty well all in. Rest badly needed.
May 5: Shell fire not so bad today and general lull along line. Left Yser at 9 pm and marched most of night. Men all in. Rested for 2 hours in field.
May 6: Arrived at a billet near Blen. Men dropping out all the way. Good billet. Milk, eggs.
May 7: Resting all day
May 8: Inspected by General Alderson, Commander Canadian Expeditionary Force. Great praise for our Batt’n.
May 9: Shells. Marches.
May 14: Sent with Billeting party by auto to Robecq [France]. Lost my rifle. Batt’n arrived at 2 in the morning.
May 15: Knocking round the town and drinking wine.
May 16: Paraded for Canadian Memorial Church Parade
May 17: Marched from Robecq to La Couture and slept in a stable. Some pretty refugees in a caravan here.
May 18: Marched to a point near Bethune and had trouble with the farmer where we were billeted.
May 19: Marched to the trenches. Spent night in the open.
May 20: Moved into a ruined farm. Artillery all around us.
••••
May 20, 1915 was Sgt. John Muir’s last entry. He was killed in the Second Battle pf Ypres, Belgium, on May 24, 1915. This battle marked the first mass use of poison gas by the German Army.
