1/6 Battle of Langemarck 16th August 1917. Cyril Falls, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 36th (Ulster) Division wrote about the pack mules: “Among those good dumb soldiers, the transport animals, the casualties were the highest ever suffered by the Division. @LMBD1418

2/6/The pack mules, the use of which was even more necessary than at Messines, but infinitely less favoured by the terrain, were pushed forward too soon, and came under heavy machine-gun fire.

3/6 Many were killed, and a far greater number had to be destroyed, though a few survived their wounds, and, like gallant veterans bore their scars till the war was over. The loss among artillery horses was also very great.”

4/6 Whereas it had been a kinder experience two months previously during Battle of Messines. Falls said “It was the ideal opportunity for the employment of pack transport ...

5/6 The pack was one of the successes of the battle. Officers commanding battalions ... told their transport officers they would expect them at such an hour with the rations, just as if they had been holding the most placid trenches on the front.

6/6 They were not disappointed. Indeed, mules were moving up with grenades, water, and wire, before ever the Black Line was reached. The transport officers of the battalions showed in this action that long months of stagnation in the war had not robbed them of their initiative.”