72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

HISTORIC GROUND.remarked that the men of the 72nd knew the German frontline better than the Boches knew it themselves!On the night of February 16th the stage was set, and at11:30 p.m. the barrage put up by the 3-in. Stokes mortarsfell in the form of a box around the position to be raided. Outof our line, through our battered wire entanglements, sprangour men and went in perfect order across the maze ofehurned-up shell-holes. Thirty yards from the enemytrench the raiders disposed themselves among the numerousshell-holes, awaiting the moment when the crashing infernoof flame and smoke which was impinging on the enemy frontwould lift clear and allow them to enter. Five minutes afterzero came the lull, and even as the raiding parties, in grimsilence, raced for the German trench, the bombardmentwith lengthened range broke out afresh, coming down onthe enemy s support line.The raiders, splitting into two parties entered the Germanfront line on both flanks simultaneously. Turning inwardsthe men raced along the shallow, evil-smelling ditch towardsthe pre-arranged meeting placein the centre of the objective. Down the steps of the first dugout reached, oneof the demolition party hurled the heavy mobile chargecarried for the purpose, and fifteen seconds later, the wholetrench rocked with the explosion of 60 pounds of ammonal.The German garrison completely demoralized by thebombardment and the fiercely swift action of the kiltedfigures, who seemed to know every twist and turn of theirown trenches, huddled together waiting, they knew notwhat. Taken simultaneously on either flank they surrendered, while those who streamed overland in their effort toescape offered a splendid target for Lewis gun fire, whichwas promptly and successfully applied.Coolly calling the roll of their squads, and finding themcomplete, the officers gave the word to withdraw withtheir prisoners. Seven minutes after entering the Germanfront the whole raiding party were safely back in theirown lines.3 7