72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

singleWATCHFUL WAITING.and rather uncomfortable rest, the Battalion moved to Hill sCamp, Neuville St. Vaast, on January 3rd, Major A. D.Wilson, D.S.O., being in command. On January 9th theBattalion moved into support in the Mericourt sector, relieving the 102nd Battalion. The most noteworthy featureabout this tour was the persistence with which the enemyshelled the batteries in the vicinity of Battalion Headquarters. On January 14th the Battalion relieved the 38th Battalion in the front line. The tour that followed was remarkable on account of the heavy thaw which set in, causing the trenches to slide in and become practically impassable. Under these conditions the work of the BattalionTump Line Party in getting up rations and supplies wasnoteworthy. During this tour the broad No Man s Landbetween Mericourt and Acheville was continually patrolled every night and several encounters ensued. In particular a patrol did excellent work in a clash with twonumerically superior enemy patrols, the official story ofwhich records that a patrol consisting of fifteenother ranks, left our lines about 5:00 p.m., gettingwell over towards the Hun line near Acheville shortly afterdusk. After taking up a defensive position the patrol sawa Hun raiding party, consisting of about fifteen men witha machine gun, leave the Hun line. The officer immediately ordered his patrol to fire on the advancing enemyparty, who at once took cover and returned the fire. Atthe same time a second enemy party worked down theflank of our patrol and got in rear of it, while two enemymachine guns brought fire to bear on the patrol from theHun front line. The officer withdrew his patrol to aflank, and after inflicting severe casualties upon the enemyand absolutely dispersing him, the patrol returned to ourlines without <acasualty. For this action theofficer was awarded a bar to his Military Cross, and1015417 Cpl. A. Ross was awarded the Military Medal.89