72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
ing that this was immediately accomplished, and the ad
vent of this number from the original home city of the
Battalion was productive of much pleasure. The lengthen
ing days of May had come; the trees around the old
Chateau were in full fresh leaf; the weather was all that
could be wished, and a very pleasant rest period was spent
in training and sports. On June 4th a Brigade parade
was held at which decorations were presented by the Di
visional Commander. The parade was followed by Brigade
sports, which, from the number of men present and on ac
count of the contrast it presented to recent stern and ardu
ous weeks, were highly entertaining and enjoyable. The
72nd easily won the championship; the total number of
points gained by the Battalion being twice the number of
those made by the nearest competitor. Among the interest
ing and unusual items of the sports was a mule race. This
was won by Lieut. E. A. Edwards, but the same event
proved unfortunate for Major F. J. S. Murray, as he met
with a mishap which very shortly afterwards caused his
evacuation. In the lengthening shadows of the early sum
mer evening the grounds looked more charming than ever,
calling
up memories of what they must have been before
the days of war. Then when twilight had fallen word
came that the 72nd were to move forward to Berthonval
Wood and go under canvas. The Battalion had scarcely
got comfortably settled when the unmistakable whirr of
enemy planes was heard overhead, and immediately after
wards several bombs were dropped in the immediate vi
cinity. It was the first time the Battalion was subjected to
enemy bombing from the sky, and unfortunately it led to
the death of 129683 Pte. R. Davidson, who was killed while
acting as Brigade runner. On the following day, June 5th,
as a precautionary measure after the previous night s
bombing, the Battalion moved further into cover in
Berthonval Wood, where a most comfortable camp was
quickly made and given the appropriate appellation of
Seaforth Camp.
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