The Attack on Rifle Wood (Part 3)

A rare lighter moment was recorded by Sam Williams in his account of the action at Rifle Wood. He recounts how Lieutenant Bennett of the Fort Garry Horse was hit by shrapnel in the area of the crotch. Williams had this to say:

'He was saying to Captain Hutchison between sobs, "Hutch," sob, sob, "The dirty bastards," sob, sob, "Have shot my balls off." There was not a happier man in the whole hospital the following day than Bennett, when a more careful and complete examination showed him to be still a complete man.'

The Fort Garry Horse Nominal Roll records a W.O.1/Lieutenant George Henry Ritson Bennett. I hope Lt. Bennett's wound was enough to keep him out of the front lines for the rest of the war, and that he went on to live a happy and prosperous life.