72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

time the
THE SUMMER OF 17.
29th team except one man had been pulled over
the line. They were, however, in splendid physical shape,
and managed to recover themselves and eventually win.
The 72nd team was well known throughout the Corps, and
was universally considered unbeatable, consequently this
defeat occasioned great surprise, and was generally at
tributed to lack of training and over confidence.
The early days of October were employed in practice
for the Sallumines operation. On October 2nd a Brigade
practice with contact aeroplane was carried out. On this
date Lieut.-Col. Clark, who had been absent on leave, re
turned and resumed command of the Battalion. On October
3rd the Sallumines practices were discontinued indefinitely
and rumours of a new move at oace became rife. Some
rumours were positive that the Corps was moving southothers
that it was moving north and others that it was
not moving at all, and that the Sallaumines operation was
merely postponed. Definite orders were received on Octo
ber 4th that the Sallaumines operation had been cancelled
and that the Corps was to move north.
On October 5th the Brigade commenced to move north
to Steenbecque, but owing to an outbreak of diphtheria
the 72nd Battalion was quarantined and unable to move.
On the 7th the Battalion was left in sole possession of the
Chateau de la Haie, all other units having been moved.
The weather being cold and wet, sports and training were
not practicable. During this period the Battalion had as
next-door neighbours on two occasions the 7th and 13th
Battalions. Finally arrangements were completed for the
quarantined men to proceed to Field Ambulance, and on
October 10th the Battalion was permitted to move, and on
a rainy morning moved off to
comfortable billets in Bruay.
This march was the first occasion upon which the recently
re-organized brass band performed in public. The following
day was spent in Bruay, and on the 12th the Battalion
marched to Bruay station and entrained for Steenbecque,
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