72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAup strong resistance, and fighting of a vigorous charactertook place, so fierce being the conflict that Cpl. Brown andmost of the remainder of his patrol became casualties.This was unfortunate enough, but in addition, the leftpatrol was discovered and fired upon with such effectthatthey were unable, despite the most determined efforts, toenter the enemy s line and thus carry out their part ofthe arrangement. No shadow lies upon the men who tookpart in this raid. They fought well and did their duty.But the fact was that the instructions for the raid werereceived so late in the day that here was not sufficienttime to properly arrange the details of the accompanyingbarrage. As a result, this, which the circumstances demanded should be ample, was deficient in concentration andvolume. But for this regrettable contretemps, the raidwould have been a conspicuous success. Lieut. Rose wasafterwards reported as a prisoner of war. Corp. Brownwas awarded the D. C. M.An item of the record of the Battalion at this end ofAugust, 1917, shows that working parties which had notpreviously been in great request, were now again calledfor in considerable strength. All available men had to taketheir share of this arduous work, even to the commandingofficer s batman! On the 27th the Battalion relieved the38th Battalion in the front line. On the night of the 29tha hostile stealth raid attempted to enter our lines on theAvion sector at 10:30 p.m. No. 466433 Cpl. S. Findlaterwas in charge of a post at the point of intended entry.He and his comrades threw bombs at the enemy, killingone of the patrol. A hand-to-hand conflict then ensued, inwhich Cpl. Findlater bayonetted and killed the GermanN. C. 0. in charge of the patrol; the remainder of theenemy immediately fled. For this action Cpl. Findlaterwas awarded the D. C. M.So the work of strafing the Hun" continued. Neverwas he given a moment s respite. Even in daylight, in his72