72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

THE LAST FIGHT.
and north-east. From these reconnaissances it was found
that the enemy had fallen back on the village of Onnaing.
One of the patrols, while working its way through the
wooded country north of St. Saulve, encountered a number
of civilians running through the trees to view the wreck
of a British aeroplane which had just been shot down by
a German scout machine. On sighting the patrol the civil
ians showed the greatest terror,
some getting behind treetrunks,
and others running aw.ay through the wood. It
must be remembered that they had not seen British khaki
since those stirring days of the retreat from Mons more
than four years before. At length, after some difficulty,
an old man approached the patrol and after being assured
that it was British, stated that the Germans had with
drawn but a few hours before. Of the extent of the with
drawal he was ignorant, but said that the German officers
were having the greatest trouble in compelling their men
to fight, as the latter wished to surrender and so end the
war.
On the evening of November 3rd, orders were received
that the attack was to be resumed on the following morn
ing. In accordance with these instructions and in con
junction with the flanking units, the Battalion moved off
at 5:15 a.m. on the 4th, headed by a light skirmishing
force of advanced patrols;
"A" and "B"
Companies being
in the van.
Astride the Mons-Valenciennes highway the Battalion
headed for the village of Onnaing, some two miles along
the road. No enemy was encountered until the village itself
was reached. Our leading patrols established contact with
the Bodies at the church in the centre of the village, and
a brisk fight ensued. A few minutes of intense fighting and
our patrols swept past the church and over the resistance,
taking several prisoners.
Picture the advance. The kilted figures working from
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