The Black Watch | Battlefields.ca https://battlefields.ca Canadian First and Second World War Battlefield Tours, Books and TV Series Documentaries Wed, 26 Nov 2025 21:26:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 The Communication Trench https://battlefields.ca/battlefield-books-dvds/the-communication-trench/ Sat, 06 Sep 2014 22:30:04 +0000 http://www.battlefields.ca/?post_type=product&p=17228 The Communication Trench is a collection of articles written by Will Bird for a number of magazines and journals in 1933. This now rare book, privately published in 1934, contains many stories, often humorous, and a variety of statistics revealing much surprising information about the Great War.Will Bird was an important personality in the veterans’ movement. In 1931 Will revisited the Old Front and wrote a series of articles for Maclean's magazine. His series was an immediate success and Will became a symbol for the old veterans, who felt their exploits and sacrifices were already being forgotten. He became a popular speaker at events across the country, where he would show his slides, exchange stories and reminiscences with his comrades, then in the their 40s and 50s. It was from these experiences that he put together the articles for The Communication Trench.

Bird, of Amherst, Nova Scotia, was no stranger to the Great War experience. He had served from 1916-1919 with the 42nd Battalion, The Black Watch of Canada, and fought at Vimy, Passchendaele, Amiens, Arras, and Cambrai. During the capture of Mons on the last night of the War, Corporal Bird was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery, Will Bird died in 1984.

By Will R. Bird

The post The Communication Trench first appeared on Battlefields.ca.]]> Ghosts Have Warm Hands https://battlefields.ca/battlefield-books-dvds/ghosts-have-warm-hands/ Tue, 05 Aug 2014 05:54:20 +0000 http://www.battlefields.ca/?post_type=product&p=21 One of the most powerful memoirs ever written about the First World War. The Author served 1916 - 1919 with the Black Watch of Canada. Bird’s memoir captures the most poignant side of the war, the sacrifices, the humour, the rats and the terror, so unique to the First World War. His experiences were not only physical but also ethereal. His beloved brother, Stephen, who was killed near Ypres in 1915 played a critical role in Will’s survival and “appears” to save him from death on more than one occasion. Stephen told Will in 1914 “if I don’t come back maybe I’ll find a way to come and whisper in your ear."

by Will. R. Bird

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