72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
Richmond on the eve of Waterloo. That also was at
Brussels when
There was a sound of revelry by night
And Belgium s capital had gathered there
Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright
The lamps shone o er fair
women and brave men.
i
As the booming strokes of midnight rang
out over the
capitol city, the hidden gong behind the illuminated clock
dial in the ball-room struck the hour. As the gong ceased,
the pipe band of the 72nd, which was in readiness, broke
into Scotland the Brave." The swinging kilts and stal
wart figures of the pipers as they marched around the
ball-room formed a most striking tableau, and drew forth
much applause.
Brussels itself, on New Year s Eve and until the early
hours of January 1st, presented a scene which beggars
description. Thousands of civilians and soldiers packed
the ibroad boulevards, and every square held its enthus
iastic crowd. To the music of innumerable bands, every
body danced with everybody else. The cabarets, always
crowded, overflowed into the streets. Processions of
celebrating citizens filled the thoroughfares in all direc
tions. Brussels excelled even her post-armistice reputation
for gaiety.
But the 72nd were still in the sparsely settled farming
area in which the 4th Division had been stationed for
three weeks, notwithstanding untiring efforts on the part
of the Divisional Commander to secure a change. These
were at length successful, and the Battalion left Opprebais
on January 3rd and moved towards the historic field of
"Waterloo. After spending the night of the 3rd at Wavre,
the 72nd marched next day to Ohain on the north
eastern fringe of the area where Napoleon met his fate.
The march from Wavre to Ohain was particularly inter
esting. As the Battalion swung clear of Wavre, crossed
178