72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

CAMBRALtimes its own total strength ! It was here in particular thatthe generalship of Lieut. J. R. S. Lough, M.C., the C. 0.of "B"Company, and the skill and splendid disciplineof his men, were displayed. Instead of rushing through thevillage and on again beyond it, intoxicated by their success,the Company methodically routed the Germans out ofevery nook and cranny, yanking them out of cellarsat thepoint of the bayonet. But for this thorough mopping up,the results would not have been what they were, for theGermans, noticing the numerical weakness of the Battalion,were ready enough to hide after the first assaulthad carried a position, iand to come out after theattack had passed over them to open fire into the backs ofthe attackers.On the right of "C"Company, Company had been"A"having a hard time. The battalion on their right hadscarcely been able to advance a yard in the face of thestorm of machine gun bullets from the railway cutting tothe S.E. of Sancourt, and in consequence "A" Company sright flank was completely in the air. Suffering heavilyfrom enfilade fire, they drove the enemy from the southeastern outskirts of Sancourt, and pushing forward, established a strong post at the Halt a railway crossing to theS.E. of the village. This secured the right flank of ourpositions in Sanoourt. Beyond this point it was impossibleto advance owing to the unexpected check on the rightflank. It was during"A"Company s advance that itsgallant Company Sergt.-M,aj., G. H. Soles, D.C.M., won thesecond bar to his D.C.M., thus giving him the distinctionof being one of the six men in the British Armies to weartwo bars to this coveted medal.Company, after clearing Sancourt of the enemy,swung clear of the village and headed for Blecourt. Theyadvanced without check, until the railway embankmentrunning obliquely between the two towns was reached. Onsurmounting this, the men came under intense machine147