72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
being the "Pimple" on the Battalion s left. The taking
of this hillock relieved the 72nd of the galling and costly
enfilading fire to which they had been subjected during
the previous day. Reconnaissances carried out during the
9th and 10th found the enemy to be holding in force a
position along Claude Trench, a line roughly parallel to
and about 250 yards in front of the Battalion. Reports
from the Division on the right were most favourable, and
indicated a break-through. Everywhere the attack had
been a complete success, and along the whole front the
allotted objectives had been gained. For three days the
fighting smouldered along the entire front, while units
gathered themselves for a final effort, and the guns, ter
ribly hampered by the enveloping mud, were moved for
ward to cover a fresh advance. How these guns were
moved at all will always be a thing to be wondered at,
but by means of tremendous effort and the use of horses
and tractors the arduous work was accomplished.
For the 72nd the fighting flared into flame again on the
morning of April 13th. Led on this occasion in person by
their Commanding Officer, the Battalion flung itself against
Claude Trench. The enemy s left flank and centre had been
shattered by the fighting of the previous four days and
he now collapsed under this spirited attack. The Kilties
swept down the eastern slope into the promised land be
yond. Here may well be mentioned the outstanding work
of Lieut.-Col. Clark, D.S.O. Accompanied by Lieut. Grey,
one or two runners and a Lewis gun crew, he outdistanced
the more heavily-encumbered Battalion and entered the
village of Givenchy, well in advance, and almost treading
on the heels of the now thoroughly-routed enemy. Push
ing rapidly through the streets he entered the Vimy
Angres trench system beyond the village almost a mile
in advance of his Battalion and in imminent danger of
being cut off by stray parties of the enemy, the gallant
C. 0. and his few men, fired by their first taste of open
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