72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

IN THE HINDENBURG LINE.
hour. No. 16 Platoon,
"D"
Company, was detailed for this
purpose, and in the early dawn the operation commenced.
Despite heavy casualties, No. 16 Platoon fought gallantly,
and a post was planted well in advance by 1015903 Opl.
J. Carson and his men. During this minor but intense
fighting, Ptes. A. F. Selwood and J. R. Ryan were wounded
and captured by the enemy, but were rescued by their
own company on the following morning.
During the morning of September 1st, Col. Clark moved
his Battalion H. Q. into the front line, on the right flank
of the Battalion, and began to make his dispositions for
the great attack on the Drocourt-Queant switch of the Hindenburg
line. So far as direction was concerned, the task
was comparatively simple. From the positions which it
occupied the Battalion was to advance due east on a 600-
yard front, and, crossing the Arras-Cambrai road, just
south of the Hendecourt-Dury cross-roads, was to carry
the attack to the forward and eastern slopes of Mount
Dury a total distance of 4,500 yards. The 1st Canadian
Division as has already been stated, was on the right,
while the 72nd s old stand-by, the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion,
was on the left. Carefully the plan was gone over with
the Company Commanders. It all sounds simple, but it
must be borne in mind that the circumstances under which
the plans are drawn up, alter cases. The Boche had been
shelling heavily all morning, and the trenches of the Visen
-Artois switch line which held the Battalion, were receiv
ing a maximum of attention from his gunners. That this
was a prelude to something was inevitable, and at 11 a.m.
a German counter-attack was launched across the Dury-
Hendecourt road against the battalion on our right.
Fight
ing its way stubbornly forward in the face of frontal fire
from the attacked battalion and such enfilade fire as the
72nd could bring to bear, this attack succeeded in re-taking
a considerable portion of the front line (Orix Trench) on
the flank of the 72nd, thus becoming a very near and un-
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