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Experiences of the Great War

Preparation for battle

On 12 May 1915 a General gave George Ramage and his fellow-soldiers a pep-talk to prepare them for battle.

The Lance Corporal records the episode in his diary entry for that day:

'Paraded before a General who said we were going, not exactly to the most dangerous zone, where one brigade had only 400 men left — spoke of Listerine and gas fumes and carnage of Scots — the trenches he said had been smashed flat but the Germans could not overcome the spirit of the men — and we were going there — we were a very distinguished regiment with a glorious history — we were Scots and he was perfectly certain we would never retreat. 'Same old bloodly muck' murmured the older soldiers in the ranks …

'The general was a handsome, magnificent chap with a grey moustache and a virile appearance and voice — he looked gey bonny on his horse surrounded by his aides — infinitely superior to any officer we had — am quite sure he would never retreat …

'Passed within a mile of burning Ypres — like molten caldron with trees — German shells continually dropping into it … — entered communication trench to our place near Hill 60 — our trench said to be a captured German trench — my part of the trench was the end which ended in two feet of water — no dug outs in this trench, no shelter from rain, no seats.'

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