72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

AMIENS.ing of August 8th, it shone down upon a sight which onceseen could never be forgotten. As far as the eye couldreach in either direction were lines of steel-tipped khaki,save to the south, where across the Roye-Amiens road couldbe seen the horizon-blue of the French.in front wereAwaythe tanks, the "whippets" chugging swiftly from one pointof resistance to another, while their big brothers, the MarkV s, plodded more sedately behind them. The cavalry,having once more come into their own, streamed along theroads and across the fields, while above, our planespoured a galling fire into the packed roads in the rear ofthe harrassed enemy. It is interesting to note that duringthe first two days, hardly a German plane was in the air.Now that the stage-setting has been sketched, the chiefactors in the drama the infantry demand some notice.The 72nd leap-frogged through the 78th Battalion justeast of the Black Line, about 2,000 yards short of theAmiens defence line their final goal."B" and "D" Companies flung themselves against Caix Wood and the beforementionedtrench line within the Battalion s objective. Severe machine-gun and rifle-fire was encountered in theWood itself, and beyond, from the trench system, but byresolutely pushing forward by means of covering fire fromthe men lying down while others rushed forward and viceversa, the enemy s resistance was overcome and by 6:15p.m. these two companies had completely evicted the Hun,and were swiftly engaged in consolidating the positiongained.On the right flank ia most interesting situation had developed. In the village of Le Quesnel, a very large bodyof the enemy, surprised by the speed of the advance, werefrantically endeavoring to get their transport loaded andto get away. Menaced by the swiftly-attacking Kilties, theyflung out a very strong rearguard force in front of "A"Company s right flank. Nothing daunted by the sight ofthis force,"A"Company swung to the right and attacked115