72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
way to the various British headquarters, there to receive
orders from the "contemptible little army." The tables
were turned.
On the evening of November 15th, the Battalion, after
passing through the scene of its last fight,
Onnaing, arrived
at Quievrain on the Franco-Belgian border, where it spent
the night. On the 16th it moved to Warquignies, where
a stay was made until the 20th.
While at this latter village more specific instructions
were received. Marked maps, as previously described,
were received and studied. On November 20th the Bat
talion moved again to Mesvin, a village about two miles
south of Mons. On arrival, orders were received to the
effect that an alteration had been made in the composi
tion of the Army of Occupation. By this change the 1st
and 2nd Canadian Divisions were transferred to the Second
Army and proceeded to the Rhine, while the 3rd and 4th
Canadian Divisions remained with the Fourth Army. The
72nd therefore were not to partake of the natural gratifica
tion of entering, as victors, the country of an enemy they
had fought for years. On the other hand they escaped a
long and arduous march, where the retreating foe had
systematically wrought destruction. Also it was to be
considered that winter was at hand.
As it became evident that the stay at Mesvin would be
a prolonged one, training was actively resumed. A cessa
tion of hostilities does not lessen the necessity of keeping
armies up to the mark in discipline and fitness. In the
long period of "marking
time" which followed the armis
tice, the greatest foe was inaction. And against this foe
every commanding officer pitted his brains. The efforts
which had hitherto gone towards making the Battalion
effective in the field were now concentrated on smartening
drill, educational classes, sports and recreation. The
Brigade Guard competition, which had been inaugurated
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