72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

CHAPTER XII.AMIENS.The general idea Zero hour The first day s attack Attack continued Battalion captures Maucourt and Chilly Counterattacks Exploits of Lieut. H. C. Whittaker Sidelights onwar Move North.IN THE WAR histories, the victorious engagements fromAugust 8th to August 13th are comprehended underthe general title of the "Battle of Amiens." To the Canadians, however, they were the "Llandovery Castle operation," connecting them in this way with the atrocities committed by the enemy on our hospital staff on that vessel.The culmination of the arduous preparations of past weekswas now to take place. It was to be seen whether the carefully thought-out plans of the best military brains wouldeventuate in success. As the 72nd took its part as a component of the Fourth Division, it will be well to devotesome attention to the general work of that Division, inrelation to others, before narrating the special services ofthe Battalion which the present writers attempt to chronicle.The Fourth Division was concentrated near Boves Woodat dawn on August 7, and in Gerutelles Wood by dawnon the 8th. At 4:20 a.m., on the 8th the 3rd Canadian Division in the centre, and the 2nd Canadian Division <on theleft, together with the First French Army on the right andthe Australian Corps on the left, comtmenced the attack.The Fourth Canadian Division followed the 3rd CanadianDivision down the Roye Road, crossing the River Luce atno