72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

LA COULOTTB.
On June 6th all available officers of the 4th Division
went to Chateau de la Haie to bid goodbye to Lieut.-Gen.
Sir Julian Byng, who was relinquishing command of the
Canadian Corps in order to take command of the Third
Army. It was an occasion of deep interest, for this fare
well seemed to bring into review all that had taken place
since the battalion arrived at Hopoutre on August 15th of
the previous year when Sir Julian had met them at the
station. It was impossible not to call to mind the march
past of the Battalion, 1055 strong, on that first introduc
tion to the neighbourhood of hostilities, since which so
many gallant soldiers had given their lives in the service
of their country. Sir Julian made a brief but touching and
inspiring address, giving ample credit for his promotion to
the valour of his men and the good work of his subordi
nates.
On June 8th Lieut.-Col.
Clark resumed command of the
Battalion and training was carried out. The end of this
rest period was marked both by the warlike and the recrea
tive. On June 12th the Battalion relieved the 54th in sup
port at Givenchy. On the two days following Divisional
sports were held, 72nd competitors being left out to up
hold the Battalion s record, with the result that they won
the championship in the tug of war and also in the trans
port competition. Alternately relieving and being relieved,
the daily routine of the Battalion s life had the addition
at this period of rumours as to an impending attack on
the Mericourt Switch Line and La Coulotte. By and by
these rumours were confirmed and plans of attack were
matured. When the Battalion moved to the front line on
June 14th the tour was part of the preparation. The hot
weather at the time will be remembered by every man
concerned. One morning not long after dawn the new
Corps Commander, Sir A. W. Currie, made an early-morn
ing tour of our front. On June 19th the Battalion was re
lieved by the 44th and moved back once more to the now
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