Hooge, Halfway House. 2 Bn Canadian Mounted Rifles. March 1916
2 Bn Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion had spent the first part of March 1916 in huts and camps behind Ypres where they had been drilling and training as well as working parties. On 19 March they moved forward into the reserve lines at Belgian Chateau and Zillebeke. The weather had been changeable, some days were bright and clear, other days were dull, cloudy and raining, there were also falls of snow and always very cold. Enemy aircraft were active and there was the occasional spell of shelling in nearby fields. The men were employed on working parties. On 23 March they moved up to Halfway House just behind the front line. Two companies, C & D Coys, went up to the front at Hooge, A & B Coys were in support. The men spent time repairing trenches, the area was very active with shelling, trench mortars and sniping. On 24 March 1 man was KIA and 1 wounded. The next day 5 KIA and 11 wounded. That evening the companies changed over. For the next 2 days the battalion casualties were 2 KIA and 16 wounded. The battalion was then relieved and moved back to Ypres, they would return to the front at the end of the month.
2 Bn Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion.Hooge, Halfway House. 25 March 1916. (National Archives)
References / sources War Diary 2Bn Canadian Mounted Rifles. March 1916
B&O 1916. Ypres. Hooge, Halfway House. 2 Bn Canadian Mounted Rifles. March 1916.
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