The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion is relieved on the night of August 2nd and head to their billets in Brebis. Something different this time though. On their march to Brebis the men wear gas masks. This is because the Special Brigade Royal Engineers have projected gas into Lens in attempt to drive out the German occupiers. And then on their week away from the front the Battalion does more extensive training on using anti-gas equipment. Each man has to practice marching through a gas chamber with their gas masks on. As if these guys didn’t have enough to worry about already. Then the men are put on high alert that they might have to move into action with just 20 minutes notice. That command to action comes at 10:20 pm on the night of August 16th. The Battle to capture Hill 70 and the town of Lens has begun. Lens is just a few kilometers north of Vimy. The idea is to put pressure on Germany here in the south in order to divert their resources from the fighting further north in Belgium in the Ypres/ Passchendaele Ridge area. The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion is in more of a supporting role this time. They are being called into relieve other battalions and hold the positions they had won on Hill 70. On the 18th they are also given a number of supportive tasks involving numerous trips to the front line and back to deliver ammunition, verey lights ( flare guns) , stokes bombs, barb wire and rations. On the night of the 18th the men are severely bombarded with gas shells. Then on the 20th a Lewis Gun station of the battalion is blown up killing or wounding the entire Lewis Gun crew. As stretcher bearers try to bring in the casualties they themselves are shelled resulting in more casualties. Then on the 21st the group is subject to a mustard gas attack. There is no wind that day so the gas is very thick. It is difficult for the men to see through their fogged up gas masks. That gas mask training earlier in the month pays off. The Canadians do take Hill 70 above the town of Lens, but are unable to fully take back the town of Lens itself. Again the loss of life is immense. For the Canadian Divisions. in total : 1,850 killed , 1,300 missing and no graves, and 6,000 wounded. For Private Dixon’s battalion, in more of a support role, approximately a dozen men are killed and over 60 wounded . The men return to the relative safety of Houvelin la Comte and Bajus . They receive new clothing. And on the 27th are inspected by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig of the British Army who expresses gratitude and pride in the Canadian Divisions.
Back in London Ontario Deborah Ross Dixon is trying to remain positive, but it isn’t easy being all alone raising a child. She doesn’t know what she would do without her sister Isabella. The dam war has been going on for over 3 years now. And on August 10th, just like she did last year. she sadly pours herself a glass of wine , and she celebrates her third wedding anniversary all alone . Every day the London Evening Press lists local men who have died in the Great War. Deborah prays for her husband. She prays for this stupid war to be over – but there is no end in sight.