72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAmarching that afternoon to Thienne. On October 13th itmarched through the rain to Wallen Capelle where the billeting area was very scattered. Training and sports were resumed. It became generally known that the Corps hadcome north to take part in the Flanders operations, andon October 17th 50 officers and other ranks travelled toPoperinghe to study a largerelief model of the new battleground, the task allotted to the 72nd being the capture ofthe Crest Farm near Passchendaele. But with this fatefulexploit looming in the distance, the Battalion enjoyed somerecreative breaks. On October 20th a successful Transportcompetition was held, the Brigade Commander being oneof the judges. And on the 22nd H. R. H. the Duke of Connaught,accompanied by the Corps Commander, inspectedthe Brigade, and the 72nd marched past the Duke. OnOctober 28rd the Battalion moved to the Brandhoek area,travelling by bus to Scot camp, which was in the near vicinity of Erie camp, thus bringing to mind the first daysof the Battalion in France. Here the positions were againtaped out and practice was proceeded with.The country in which the Battalion was now located wasnot only historic ground in a military sense but itpresented features which made the German position a very strongone. Their line consisted of a series of ridges, hog s-backsand spurs. To a depth of from a mile to a mile and a halfit was made up of ridge after ridge, and spur after spur,But the position hadinterspersed with copses and valleys.more than a merely local significance. The big ridge ofwhich it was a part dominates largely the northern part ofBelgium, starting as it does from Messines in the south,continuing northward to the series of spurs and ridgesto the east of the village of Passchendaele, and from theredeclining towards the coast. In Napoleon s day it was saidthat the army which controlled Passchendaele Ridge dominated northern Belgium. From the top of the ridge, onfine days, the belfries of Bruges, 25 miles away may bepicked out with a good glass.