72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

AMIENS.
ing of August 8th, it shone down upon a sight which once
seen could never be forgotten. As far as the eye could
reach in either direction were lines of steel-tipped khaki,
save to the south, where across the Roye-Amiens road could
be seen the horizon-blue of the French.
in front were
Away
the tanks, the "whippets" chugging swiftly from one point
of resistance to another, while their big brothers, the Mark
V s, plodded more sedately behind them. The cavalry,
having once more come into their own, streamed along the
roads and across the fields, while above, our planes
poured a galling fire into the packed roads in the rear of
the harrassed enemy. It is interesting to note that during
the first two days, hardly a German plane was in the air.
Now that the stage-setting has been sketched, the chief
actors in the drama the infantry demand some notice.
The 72nd leap-frogged through the 78th Battalion just
east of the Black Line, about 2,000 yards short of the
Amiens defence line their final goal.
"B" and "D" Com
panies flung themselves against Caix Wood and the beforementioned
trench line within the Battalion s objective. Se
vere machine-gun and rifle-fire was encountered in the
Wood itself, and beyond, from the trench system, but by
resolutely pushing forward by means of covering fire from
the men lying down while others rushed forward and vice
versa, the enemy s resistance was overcome and by 6:15
p.m. these two companies had completely evicted the Hun,
and were swiftly engaged in consolidating the position
gained.
On the right flank ia most interesting situation had de
veloped. In the village of Le Quesnel, a very large body
of the enemy, surprised by the speed of the advance, were
frantically endeavoring to get their transport loaded and
to get away. Menaced by the swiftly-attacking Kilties, they
flung out a very strong rearguard force in front of "A"
Company s right flank. Nothing daunted by the sight of
this force,
"A"
Company swung to the right and attacked
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