72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

AFTER THE ARMISTICE.
the canal and took the road, one was struck with the fact
that more than a century before it was the troops of
Blucher who had taken the same road, and with the
same objective before them. It was Blucher s divisions
which arrived at about 2 :30 on the afternoon of the fate
ful day, in the little village of Ohain, and pushing through
the tangle of woods to the southwest had fallen upon Na
poleon s right flank at the critical moment.
Owing to a scarcity of billets in "B"
Ohain, and "C"
Companies were moved, a few days after arrival to the
neighboring village of Ransbeche. The 72nd had made its
last move but one in the countries over which the war had
swept. They were now in billets which they were to
occupy until the wished-for hour of their departure for
England arrived.
Ohain, a small farming village, lies amid rolling, wooded
country about 20 kilometers to the south of Brussels.
Less than two miles away are the ruins of Hougomont, the
farm house forever famous in the annals of the great
fight in which Napoleon s dream of world domination was
shattered.
As may be imagined, many of the 72nd men took
advantage of their unique opportunity of studying the
historic field, realizing a little more fully, perhaps, as
they walked over the peaceful farm lands, that within
a year tourists would be inspecting in a similar manner
the bloody fields which they themselves had not long
quitted.
The comparative nearness of Brussels was a decidedly
pleasant feature of this period in contrast to that spent
in Opprebais, and "Brussels leave"
began almost imme
diately. Each day a certain number of men were allowed
to spend a day or two in that gala place. The throngs
of khaki-clad men which poured daily from the Gare du
Nord was sufficient evidence that this leave was enjoyed
to the full.
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