It's a description that likely resonated with the 500 to 600 men of the Ottawa-based, 38th Battalion, nicknamed "The Royal Ottawas," who were part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force under British command. Robert Percy Barr, a member of the 38th Battalion who died from his wounds at the battle of Passchendaele. Some of the 299 awards for bravery given to members of the 38th battalion were for actions not associated with combat. Amidst the horror and devastation of Passchendaele, Mackay said there are moments of humour that came from, in some cases, a private's diary who wrote about a shower several days before the October 30 attack. The allied win was short-lived as the Germans recaptured the ridge at Passchendaele five months later in April 1918.

Source: CBC News November 11, 2017 10:00 UTC