72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAbeing the "Pimple" on the Battalion s left. The takingof this hillock relieved the 72nd of the galling and costlyenfilading fire to which they had been subjected duringthe previous day. Reconnaissances carried out during the9th and 10th found the enemy to be holding in force aposition along Claude Trench, a line roughly parallel toand about 250 yards in front of the Battalion. Reportsfrom the Division on the right were most favourable, andindicated a break-through. Everywhere the attack hadbeen a complete success, and along the whole front theallotted objectives had been gained. For three days thefighting smouldered along the entire front, while unitsgathered themselves for a final effort, and the guns, terribly hampered by the enveloping mud, were moved forward to cover a fresh advance. How these guns weremoved at all will always be a thing to be wondered at,but by means of tremendous effort and the use of horsesand tractors the arduous work was accomplished.For the 72nd the fighting flared into flame again on themorning of April 13th. Led on this occasion in person bytheir Commanding Officer, the Battalion flung itself againstClaude Trench. The enemy s left flank and centre had beenshattered by the fighting of the previous four days andhe now collapsed under this spirited attack. The Kiltiesswept down the eastern slope into the promised land beyond. Here may well be mentioned the outstanding workof Lieut.-Col. Clark, D.S.O. Accompanied by Lieut. Grey,one or two runners and a Lewis gun crew, he outdistancedthe more heavily-encumbered Battalion and entered thevillage of Givenchy, well in advance, and almost treadingon the heels of the now thoroughly-routed enemy. Pushing rapidly through the streets he entered the VimyAngres trench system beyond the village almost a milein advance of his Battalion and in imminent danger ofbeing cut off by stray parties of the enemy, the gallantC. 0. and his few men, fired by their first taste of open52