72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAPherson, commenced what will always be an outstandingexample of courage and initiative in the annals of the 72ndBattalion. Working their way forward, the gallant trioadvanced some 400 yards and effected an entry into theheavily defended road. Turning along it, the three setabout clearing it of the enemy.Despite the odds against them, the trio, fighting theirway up the road with splendid courage, shook the nerveof the defenders. Pressing home their advantage at thepsychological moment, the three men actually drove theGermans out of the road, taking no fewer than 50 prisoners.On the right, the advance had not met with quite suchan intense machine gun fire, but, overcoming heavy resistance, had pushed forward to their final objectives. So itwas that comparatively early in the forenoon of September2nd all the Battalion s objectives were well in hand.In reviewing the attack the 72nd had every reason to beproud of its work. It had advanced between two and ahalf and three miles, had carried the famous HindenburgLine on a frontage of 600 yards, had stormed Mount Duryand had captured 448 prisoners, one field gun and 23 machine guns a truly handsome total. The casualties, thankstc skilful handling, had not been high considering thenature of the operation,14 officers and 254 other ranks being the total.With the Drocourt-Queant line safely behind our positions the night of September 2-3 came down. The front linecompany was relieved by the 102nd Canadian InfantryBattalion. It was not, however, until the 5th that thewhole Battalion was relieved. On that date they movedback to the trenches west of Triangle Wood, over groundover which they had fought so bitterly but a short threedays ago ina famous battle which had already passed intohistory.After arrival at Triangle Wood there occurred one of the132