72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

IN THE HINDENBURG LINE.hour. No. 16 Platoon,"D"Company, was detailed for thispurpose, and in the early dawn the operation commenced.Despite heavy casualties, No. 16 Platoon fought gallantly,and a post was planted well in advance by 1015903 Opl.J. Carson and his men. During this minor but intensefighting, Ptes. A. F. Selwood and J. R. Ryan were woundedand captured by the enemy, but were rescued by theirown company on the following morning.During the morning of September 1st, Col. Clark movedhis Battalion H. Q. into the front line, on the right flankof the Battalion, and began to make his dispositions forthe great attack on the Drocourt-Queant switch of the Hindenburgline. So far as direction was concerned, the taskwas comparatively simple. From the positions which itoccupied the Battalion was to advance due east on a 600-yard front, and, crossing the Arras-Cambrai road, justsouth of the Hendecourt-Dury cross-roads, was to carrythe attack to the forward and eastern slopes of MountDury a total distance of 4,500 yards. The 1st CanadianDivision as has already been stated, was on the right,while the 72nd s old stand-by, the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion,was on the left. Carefully the plan was gone over withthe Company Commanders. It all sounds simple, but itmust be borne in mind that the circumstances under whichthe plans are drawn up, alter cases. The Boche had beenshelling heavily all morning, and the trenches of the Visen-Artois switch line which held the Battalion, were receiving a maximum of attention from his gunners. That thiswas a prelude to something was inevitable, and at 11 a.m.a German counter-attack was launched across the Dury-Hendecourt road against the battalion on our right.Fighting its way stubbornly forward in the face of frontal firefrom the attacked battalion and such enfilade fire as the72nd could bring to bear, this attack succeeded in re-takinga considerable portion of the front line (Orix Trench) onthe flank of the 72nd, thus becoming a very near and un-127