72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
maining officer in "C" Company, conceived the brilliant
idea of blocking the trenches leading into his front line
by burying a German "stick" bomb in either wall of the
trench and connecting the igniter buttons by means of a
string stretched tautly above the floor of the trench. About
midnight, the German bombers began working up the
trenches leading into "C" Company s front, relying, no
doubt, upon surprising the defenders and overcoming their
resistance by a swift night attack. Straight into the traps
set for them the astute Boches crept. Only with the stun
ning detonations of the bombs right amongst them did they
realize their fatal error, with the result that the attack,
thrown into confusion, failed to reach our lines, although
a severe bombing fight took place all along the left flank.
All through the afternoon and evening of the 10th and
until the afternoon of the llth, the 78th Battalion had
gallantly hung on to the village of Hallu. With their flanks
hopelessly the "in air,"
and menaced by the enemy from
every direction except directly behind them, they had stub
bornly fought off successive counter-attacks. When, how
ever, it was seen that their flanks could not possibly be
secured, they were ordered to fall back on the line held by
the 72nd. This was accomplished, and during the night of
the llth the 78th moved into the gap existing on the left
of the 72nd Battalion, thus relieving the heroic flank Com
panics of the 72nd from some of the pressure which they
had endured for almost two days without giving an inch.
The 12th of August passed without incident. The enemy,
discouraged in his attempt to budge the Kilties from their
tenacious hold upon Chilly, ceased his attacks, and the
situation quieted down along the front of the Brigade.
Special mention might be made of the splendid work of
Lieut. H. C. Whittaker,and the scouts who accompanied
him. While the work of all officers and men was beyond
praise, this particular case stands out even amongst such
examples of conspicuous valour. As has been detailed
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