72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAmans felt that they had met their match. Many of themwere killed, twelve additional prisoners were taken andanother machine gun was captured. Two of the capturedmachine guns were used against the enemy by this Company which now proceeded to consolidate the positions theyhad taken. It goes without saying that this brilliant workwas not accomplished without a price in casualties beingpaid. Here and there were instances of special heroism.No. 827096 Lce.-Cpl. G. W. Thompson (later lieutenant)and No 130248 Pte. P. M. Gillis (killed) proceeded in advance of the barrage and attacked and captured amachine gun which was enfilading his Company. Nomore inspiring example was given than that of No.688022 Sergt. E. G. Gentle (killed) who, though severelywounded, continued to lead his section to victory. Normust No. 1015951 Pte. B. H. Richardson, a brave stretcherbearer,be forgotten. This devoted soldier did splendidwork in dressing the wounded under heavy shell-fire, andwas killed on the objective in the performance of his nobleduty.No conception of the area in which this operation wasproceeding can approach accuracy that does not includesome idea of the muddy desolation that characterized it.It was one vast quagmire of shell-holes and of the debris ofwar. Roads were practically non-existent and had had to.be replaced by "duck mats" -sparred pathways of woodlaid on the yielding surface. Let it be remembered toothat there had been no time to build defensive gun emplacements. Moreover, the Germans had every spot registered and kept it under continual shell-fire. The Canadians had been asked to do an almost impossible task.That they accomplished it shows their superiority to thepicked troops brought against them. The German armywas in a different temper from what it had been in thespring. There was a spirit of confidence in its ranks, bredof recent successes in Italy and Russia. In many cases80