Scots were scattered in and about these
positions. From the upper village back to the hospital stretched a good
three miles, which of course meant that the troops in this position,
numbering not more than five hundred were considerably scattered and
separated. This detailed description of our position here is set forth
so specifically in order that the reader may appreciate the attack which
occurred during the early part of November.

On the morning of November 11th, while some of the men were still
engaged in eating their breakfasts and while the positions were only
about half manned, suddenly from the forests surrounding the upper
village, the enemy emerged in attack formation. Lieut. Dennis engaged
them for a short time and withdrew to our main line of defense. All
hands were immediately mustered into position to repel this advancing
wave of infantry. In the meantime the Bolo attacked with about five
hundred men from our rear, having made a three day march through what
had been reported as impassable swamp. He occupied our rearmost village,
which was undefended, and attacked our hospital. This forward attack was
merely a ruse to divert the attention of our troops in that direction,
while the enemy directed his main assault at our rear and undefended
positions for the purpose of gaining our artillery. Hundreds of the
enemy appeared as if by magic from the forests, swarmed in upon the
hospital village and immediately took possession. Immediately the
hospital village was in their hands, the Bolo then commenced a desperate
advance upon our guns.

At the moment that this advance began, there were some sixty Canadian
artillery men and one Company "B" sergeant with seven men and a Lewis
gun. Due to the heroism and coolness of this handful of men, who at once
opened fire with their Lewis guns, forcing the advancing infantry to
pause momentarily. This brief halt gave the Canadians a chance to
reverse their gun positions, swing them around and open up with muzzle
bursts upon the first wave of the assault, scarcely fifty yards away. It
was but a moment until the hurricane of shrapnel was bursting among
solid masses of advancing infantry, and under such murderous fire, the
best disciplined troops and the most foolhardly could not long
withstand. Certain it was that the advancing Bolo could not continue his
advance. The Bolos were on our front, our right flank and our rear, we
were entirely cut off from communication, and there