72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
of August 1 Headquarters and "C" and "D"
Companies
moved back to Anzin.
The time for the great movement was drawing near.
Surprise was essential to the success of the undertaking,
and therefore every effort was made to maintain secrecy.
The numerous identification raids that were taking place
at tills time were for the purpose of leading the enemy
to believe that an attack at that particular point was im
minent. Further to deceive him a battalion from each of
the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions were put in the line
near Ypres. Other steps were taken to advertise the pres
ence of the Canadians in that area, while the units mov
ing to the actual battle area entrained without knowing
their destination. Rumours were rife that the whole of
the Canadian Corps was to be withdrawn from the Arras
front to go north, and Hazebrouek maps were issued to
all
battalions in furtherance of this rumour.
On August 2nd the Battalion moved by march and
bus
to Aubigny, where it entrained, the Transport Lines receiv
ing orders to march to an unknown destination. The 72nd
occupied portions of two trains, and their destination was
kept absolutely secret until after starting. As the trains
moved toward the sea there was great speculation w]^ ether
they would turn for the north, and when, finally, at
Etaples, they turned to the south, a great sigh of relief
went up from all ranks. Troops were detrained at Hangest
during the night and early morning and marched to Warlus
(where the preliminary plans of the L. C. operations
were issued to the Battalion commanders), a distance of
about eight miles. Here orders were received that all sur
plus kit was to be left behind, that all troops were to re
main under cover during the day and that all future prog
ress would be made by night marches. It was part of the
great plan of secrecy that was to result in the greatest sur
prise of the war. On successive nights the Battalion
marched to Pissy, a distance of about fourteen miles, where
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