Private Raymond Duval, MM, was a soldier of the 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) CEF who served overseas during the last two years of the First World War. He participated in some of the fiercest fighting seen by Canadians during the war and was decorated for bravery at Passchendaele. Determined to preserve his memories of the First World War, he maintained a daily record of his experiences. Here is what he wrote precisely 100 years ago today:
Saturday April 28, 1917: Moved from Bat [battalion] Lines No. 2 to Happy Valley with No. 23 Batl’n. 244th is no more The O.C. [Officer Commanding] gave us a little talk and he felt pretty blue at parting with his old Batl’n but maybe he will stay with us all the officers feeling the same way.
