72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
It goes without s aying that in the dugouts set aside for
them, the victorious raiders reviewed with considerable ex
citement the ordeal they had gone through, whilst,
overhead, a solitary 5.9 battery pounded their front
line as if in sorrowful protest. Lieut. T. B. Barrie and
Lieut. W. C. Ross were each awarded the Military Cross
for their work on this occasion, while several of their gal
lant men also received decorations.
On February 18th, 1917, the Battalion was relieved by
the 38th and moved to Verdrel where it remained till Feb
ruary 25th. A raid by the 4th Division had been planned,
and during this rest it was practised, the 72nd being joined
at this time by a draft of N. C. O. s from the llth C. M.
R. and 172nd Battalions. On the 24th, Lieuts. G. Reid, J.
Acheson, A. G. Mackie, A. H. Finlay and M. M. Townley
reported for duty, having obtained commissions from the
ranks.
Relieving the 38th in the front line on the 25th it was
expected that the Divisional raid would come off on the
27th of February, but owing to unfavourable weather it
was postponed until March 1st. This raid was carried out
in conjunction with extensive gas operations, preparation
for which had been made during a previous tour. From
right to left the raid was carried out by the following
Battalions :
54th, 75th, 72nd and 73rd.
Gas cylinders, enclosed in wooden boxes, had been
placed in the holes prepared for them in every bay in
the front line trench. The raiding party were under the
command of Major R. K. Johnston, with Captain A. V.
Wood as second in command, and they had carefully re
hearsed the attack under the supervision of Major A. D.
Wilson. The general plan was for "A"
Company to go
over first and hold the enemy front line, the other com
panies following, "C" Company on the right,
"B" Com
pany in the centre, "D" Company on the left. Companies
were formed in patrols and patrols in sections. Patrols
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