72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

CAMERA!.raged upon the first slopes of the high ground beyond.The crossing of the canal, which though dry in this particular sector, had been rather dreaded by all ranks onaccount of the anticipated artillery fire which it was supposed the enemy would concentrate upon it, was effectedwith scarcely a casualty. Cheered by this good omen, the72nd pressed on to its next assembly position immediatelyin the rear of Quarry Wood. From this coign of vantage acomprehensive view of the attack was obtained. Up anddown the front, as far as the eye could see, stretched thewhite smoke of the rolling barrage. Every switch and liftcould be plainly seen as the curtain of shells bit furtherand further into the enemy s territory, closely followed bythe all-pervading waves of khaki. Close behind the infantry came the guns, swayingat the heels of their sweating teams, as they raced forward to take up new positionsto cover the rapid advance. Already the thick streams ofprisoners were commencing to dribble back, sullen defeatstamped on their faces. The initial stage of the first phaseof the operation had been a sweeping success.On schedule time 8 :35 a.m. the Battalion left QuarryWood, and following closely behind the 38th (Ottawa)Battalion, through whose ranks they were to pass on reaching the Green Line north of Bourlon village,pushed steadily up the slope.From the N.W. outskirts of Bourlon village a deeplysunkenroad stretches northward. Along this road theenemy made a desperate attempt to stem the flood of infantry. The leading platoons of the 72nd, seeing that thebattalion in front of them (the 38th), was being held upin places by this resistance, launched into the fight beforetheir time in order that the barrage might not be lost.Fighting stubbornly, the Boche was driven out of. theroad, and these leading platoons assisted the 38th Battalionin their struggle for the Green Line. During this fighting,Lieut. J. McK. Knight, M.C., and Pte. C. C. Graham, notic-141