72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

PASSCHENDAELE.even the prisoners brought in displayed an insolent superiority rather than the attitude of beaten men. All thesewere features of the fight which must be borne in mind.We have followed the fortunes of "A"Company; meanwhile what had "B" and "C"Companies been doing?"B"Company, after rounding Deck Wood, a task thenature of which will be comprehended by those who haveread the foregoing, advanced straight north to Crest Farm,thus taking a different route for their objective from thatof "A"Company. This Company overcame all oppositionencountered on the way, established itself through alldifficulties on the crest of the farm, killed at least 40 Huns,took 30 prisoners and captured three machine guns. Oneof the outstanding features of this brilliant operation wasthe work of 472148 Lce.-Cpl. S. Irwin. This N. C. O. wasin charge of a Lewis gun crew. He discovered three Hunmachine guns in position on the crest, which had not yetopened fire, but which were all trained on "A"Companyand ready to enfilade them. With a bravery that wastinged with the uncanny prescience of an Indian scout, heworked in behind the fated Boche gunners, and firing hisLewis gun from the shoulder, killed every member of thecrews who were just going to begin to fire, and capturedthe three guns single-handed. One of the latter was immediately trained on the enemy. "B" Company then moved forward and consolidated. Lieut. R. C. Gillespie (killed)deserves special mention for his great gallantry and splendid handling of the situation and of the troops which heled. Three platoons of "C"Company, after passing Deckwood, moved straight forward with their right flank onPasschendaele road. The fourth platoon went well forwardon the right, then swung to the left and very materiallyassisted in the storming of Crest Farm. The remainingthree platoons encountered heavy opposition, picked Bochetroops swarming out of their defences and fighting witha tenacity that seemed born of a confidence that they could81