72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

had toGERMANY S INNINGS.be taken into consideration when deciding the policy of the British Armies during the late spring and earlysummer. The common object of the French and ourselveswas to tide over the period which must elapse untilthe arrival of Allied reinforcements placed the opposingforces once more on a footing of equality."We now go back toSo much for the general situation.the part the 72nd bore in the great operations that werethen decided upon. On Julj 11 the Battalion entrained forMaroeuil and marched to Balmoral Camp near Neuville St.Vaast. Although the enemy resorted to occasional longrangeshelling, no casualties were suffered here, and onJuly 19 the Battalion relieved the 1st Canadian Battalionin the front line in the Fampliax sector. During this toura stealth raid was carried out under the command of Lieut.J. McDonald. Leaving the 72nd lines at 5 :10 a.m., thisofficer and six other ranks proceeded south-east down asunken road to the Boche lines. An enemy post had beenpreviously located, and on arriving at the barricade infront of it the 72nd party was fired upon. Under cover ofa return fire, Lieut. McDonald climbed over the barricadeand, finding the sentry dead, cut off his shoulder straps andremoved his rifle, cap and Iron-Cross ribbon. After searching for other Boches and finding none he withdrew hisparty and returned to our lines at 5 :17 a.m. It was quickand useful work, and Lieut. McDonald was awarded theMilitary Cross, while No. 688272 Pte. A. E. Cox and645508 Lce-Cpl. M. G. H. Harris were awarded the MilitaryMedal. In the night of July 25 the Battalion was relievedby the 85th Battalion and moved back into support, takingover the dispositions of the 78th. On July 31 the 72ndwas relieved by the 216th King s Liverpool Regiment,Headquarters and "C" and "D"Companies moving abouta mile to the left to quarters in Hell Fire Valley, and "A"and "B"Companies moving back to Anzin. On the night107