72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

CAMERA!.
raged upon the first slopes of the high ground beyond.
The crossing of the canal, which though dry in this par
ticular sector, had been rather dreaded by all ranks on
account of the anticipated artillery fire which it was sup
posed the enemy would concentrate upon it, was effected
with scarcely a casualty. Cheered by this good omen, the
72nd pressed on to its next assembly position immediately
in the rear of Quarry Wood. From this coign of vantage a
comprehensive view of the attack was obtained. Up and
down the front, as far as the eye could see, stretched the
white smoke of the rolling barrage. Every switch and lift
could be plainly seen as the curtain of shells bit further
and further into the enemy s territory, closely followed by
the all-pervading waves of khaki. Close behind the in
fantry came the guns, swaying
at the heels of their sweat
ing teams, as they raced forward to take up new positions
to cover the rapid advance. Already the thick streams of
prisoners were commencing to dribble back, sullen defeat
stamped on their faces. The initial stage of the first phase
of the operation had been a sweeping success.
On schedule time 8 :35 a.m. the Battalion left Quarry
Wood, and following closely behind the 38th (Ottawa)
Battalion, through whose ranks they were to pass on reach
ing the Green Line north of Bourlon village,
pushed stead
ily up the slope.
From the N.W. outskirts of Bourlon village a deeplysunken
road stretches northward. Along this road the
enemy made a desperate attempt to stem the flood of in
fantry. The leading platoons of the 72nd, seeing that the
battalion in front of them (the 38th), was being held up
in places by this resistance, launched into the fight before
their time in order that the barrage might not be lost.
Fighting stubbornly, the Boche was driven out of. the
road, and these leading platoons assisted the 38th Battalion
in their struggle for the Green Line. During this fighting,
Lieut. J. McK. Knight, M.C., and Pte. C. C. Graham, notic-
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