A Rifleman Went to War

A RIFLEMAN WENT TO WAR By Herbert W. McBride Captain Twenty-first Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force and United States Army

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Being a narrative of the author's experiences and observations while with the Canadian Corps in France and Belgium, September 1915–April 1917. With particular emphasis upon the use of the military rifle in sniping, its place in modern armament, and the work of the individual soldier.

Originally published by Small-Arms Technical Publishing Company, 1935

This edition copyright © 2012 Tales End Press

ISBN 978-1-62358-029-2

eBook Notes

This ebook uses the spelling from the original printed edition, except where typographical errors have been corrected. The cover design also reflects that of the original.

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An Appreciation

Ottawa, Canada,

November 9, 1935.

The author of this book — the late Herbert W. McBride — served in my Battalion as private, non- commissioned officer and officer. He was one of the best fighting men I knew and was promoted and decorated on my recommendations.

He was considered one of the best “Machine Gunners” in the Allied Army. Also one of the best shots with a rifle.

Herbert W. McBride was outstanding as a fighting man, fearless, untiring, a genius for invention, and always seeking authority to be given the opportunity of damaging the enemy. I had the greatest admiration for Captain McBride as a soldier, and with an army of such men it would be an easy matter to win against any troops. It was such fighting ability that enabled my 21st Battalion to come home with the record of never having been given a black eye in over four years of active participation in the war. They never went after anything they did not take, and they never gave up anything they captured. Of the original 1058, less than 150 are now alive, most of them buried in Flanders’ Fields and in the Somme.

W. S. Hughes,

Brigd. General.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all those members of the original Twenty-first Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, who served in the Machine Gun Section during the time I had the honor to belong to that unit.

The following list, made from memory and such meager records as I possess, may, possibly, omit some of them. If so, I tender my most sincere apologies. I would not, intentionally, slight any member of that gallant Section.

*Allen

Baldson

Booker

*Bouchard

*Brooks

*Castleman

*Charles

*Clark

+Currie

*Deegan

*DeLisle

*Dupuis

Endersby

Esdon

Flannigan

*Freeman

Gillette

*Gordon

*Gray

Hart

Harvey

Jackson

*Jendon

+Johnstone

Laidlaw

*Lanning

Lee, Cecil

Lee, Jack

Lynch

+McBride

McFarlin

McGinness

McNab

Mangan