72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADACambrai area, flung into the scale as counter-attackingtroops with orders to re-take Bourlon Wood. Instead,these troops found themselves called upon to resist freshattacks. Swiftly the men of the 72nd worked their waytowards these strong points, and to Lieut. W. G. Decker,M.C., and his men is due the credit of organizing and carrying out a bayonet charge unique in the history of theBattalion. Seizing upon the psychological moment, whenthe enemy sresistance seemed on the verge of collapse, thisofficer and his men flung themselves at the German positions in a wildly cheering bayonet charge. One sight ofkilts and cold steel was too much for the Huns. The lastvestige of fight forsook them, and the Highlanders gatheredthem in as prisoners.The last objective was now in the possession of the 72nd.Along that hotly-contested crest no fewer than 200 prisoners and many machine guns were taken. The fact thatthe prisoners were from six different regiments speaks eloafter diquently of the prodigal manner in which divisionvision had been hurled against the Canadians on that memorable day.Immediately after the capture of the objective, outpostswere pushed out. These captured three additional enemyfield guns. At about 7 p.m. an enemy counter-attack commenced from the direction of. Raillencourt and the line ofthe Arras-Cambrai road, but failed to develop to any extent.The 72nd had excelled themselves, 319 prisoners andeleven guns being the magnificent total of the day s work.The Battalion s casualties, though numerically high, werenot excessive when the work done is considered. Theyamounted to five Officers and 228 other ranks.So the night of September 27th came down. Along thewhole front the objectives had been gained. The naturalfortress of Bourlon Wood had fallen. The enemy, despitehis determination to hold to the last, had been beaten. He144