Cleaning Armoured Cars, Canadian Motor M.G. Brigade

Cambrai in November and had missed that one glorious opportunity of which the Canadian Cavalry took such startling advantage.

Now as they roared south they were heading right for the type of open warfare for which they had been hoping and praying these last few years - but it was to be the reverse side of the picture they were to see, and it was to be painted on a dark, dismal background of tones when first it burst upon their view.

The convoy chugged into Amiens at 12.45 p.m. and just minutes later were again on their way to 5th Army Headquarters at Villers Brettoneux. There, Gen. Sir Hubert Gough met them, warmly commented upon their timely arrival and, in admitting the seriousness of the situation which had overwhelmed his army, said that the Canadian Motors represented the only available reinforcements. This was at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and just a few hours later batteries had been dispatched to fill menacing gaps which had been opened in the sadly-battered ranks of the 5th Army.

The Eaton and Yukon Batteries, under Capt. H.V. Muerling, M.C., reported to the 18th Corps at Roye and "B" and "C" Batteries, under the command of Capt. Holland, were on their way to Corbie, on which the hard-pressed 7th Corps was based. "A"Battery was held in reserve.

As the batteries moved along the roads to their alloted tasks they had time to reflect why well-conducted retreats get almost as favorable attention in the study of military history as successful ...