72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

CHAPTER VI.
VIMY RIDGE.
A short rest Brigade sports at Chateau de la Haie Culmination
of months of effort Zero hour on April 9 The great fight
begins Over shell-holed ground in blinding sleet The Ridge
falls before Canadian valour Gallant exploit of Lieut. D. O.
Vicars Grim hand-to-hand fights Fine work of Major S. B.
Birds Generalship of Lieut.-Col. J. A. Clark Consolidating
gains after winning objective Further dash by 72nd.
THE RAIDS described in the previous chapter were
enough to indicate that the final taking of Vimy Ridge
would be a serious business. The 72nd were now to have
a short "rest"
partly by way of recuperating and partly
in the nature of further serious practice of the operations
that were shortly to be undertaken. On March 7th, 1917,
the Battalion moved to Bouvigny Huts. Lieut.-Col. Clark,
who had been in Italy, as a member of the British mission
mentioned in the last chapter, since February 12th, had
rejoined the Battalion on March 4th. From March 7th the
whole Brigade was out of the line practising brigade at
tack in view of the great effort that was shortly to be
made.
As a variety, Brigade sports were held at Chateau de la
Haie, and on this occasion the Battalion saw for the first
time that historic old residence with which afterwards they
became so familiar. At the sports the ground was found
to be very soft, and tiring to the competitors. But they
came up to the events with considerable vim, and the
occasion recalled happier days.
On March llth the Battalion moved back to the front
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