72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAmaining officer in "C" Company, conceived the brilliantidea of blocking the trenches leading into his front lineby burying a German "stick" bomb in either wall of thetrench and connecting the igniter buttons by means of astring stretched tautly above the floor of the trench. Aboutmidnight, the German bombers began working up thetrenches leading into "C" Company s front, relying, nodoubt, upon surprising the defenders and overcoming theirresistance by a swift night attack. Straight into the trapsset for them the astute Boches crept. Only with the stunning detonations of the bombs right amongst them did theyrealize their fatal error, with the result that the attack,thrown into confusion, failed to reach our lines, althougha severe bombing fight took place all along the left flank.All through the afternoon and evening of the 10th anduntil the afternoon of the llth, the 78th Battalion hadgallantly hung on to the village of Hallu. With their flankshopelessly the "in air,"and menaced by the enemy fromevery direction except directly behind them, they had stubbornly fought off successive counter-attacks. When, however, it was seen that their flanks could not possibly besecured, they were ordered to fall back on the line held bythe 72nd. This was accomplished, and during the night ofthe llth the 78th moved into the gap existing on the leftof the 72nd Battalion, thus relieving the heroic flank Companics of the 72nd from some of the pressure which theyhad endured for almost two days without giving an inch.The 12th of August passed without incident. The enemy,discouraged in his attempt to budge the Kilties from theirtenacious hold upon Chilly, ceased his attacks, and thesituation quieted down along the front of the Brigade.Special mention might be made of the splendid work ofLieut. H. C. Whittaker,and the scouts who accompaniedhim. While the work of all officers and men was beyondpraise, this particular case stands out even amongst suchexamples of conspicuous valour. As has been detailed122