72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

WATCHFUL WAITINGand Quartermaster. Another outstanding feature of thisperiod was the dinner given by the Battalion officers atthe Ecurie Club on the evening of April 9th, 1918, thefirst anniversary of the victory at Vimy Ridge. It was amemorable occasion. The Corps Commander, Lieut.-Gen,Sir A. W. Currie, the Divisional Commander, Major-Gen.Sir David Watson, and the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. J. H. MacBrien, together with many other guests,were present, the total number of officers attending approximating 90. Sir A. W. Currie s speech at this dinnerwill be long remembered. While reminiscent of the pastit was rousing and invigorating for the future.On April 10th the Battalion moved into support in theBailleul sector, relieving the 75th. On the 12th a redistribution of the Canadian Corps necessitated the 72nd sideslipping to the north, being relieved by the 46th Battalion,and relieving the 54th in the front line in the Arleux sector. During this tour several encounters with the enemytook place. On the night of April 16th one of our postscommanded by 129319 Cpl. R. G. Gordon, was raided bythe enemy. Gordon had previously taken the precautionto establish a block a short distance down the trench fromhis post with concertina wire. The enemy approached thisblock and a fight with bombs ensued, during whichthe Boches were completely repulsed. Cpl. Gordon waswounded during the encounter, but continued to fight untilthe enemy was finally routed. He was awarded the Military Medal which was well earned. Again on the night ofthe 17th, or in the early morning of the 18th, Lieut. J.R. S. Lough commanded a patrol which raided the enemy sfront line trenches. With 1015184 Cpl. H. A. Mitchell andsix other ranks he left the line at 9 :45 p.m. and proceededto Antelope Alley, where the patrol left the trench and proceededoverland with the object of exploring and dealingwith an organized shell-hole at some distance. This wasfound to be unoccupied, and the party went on and pene-95