72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAof "A" echelon of its transport section. After a hot meal,the men, numb with fatigue, rolled into their shelters andinto the firstreal sleep for six days.Daylight on October 2nd showed the waking men BourlonWood again, but under greatly changed conditions. Nolonger was it torn with shell fire and its branches whippedby machine gun bullets. It stood well behind the Canadianlines, while away to the N.E. and E. the heavy bombardment showed that the attack was now hammering at thevery gates of Cambrai.The Battalion s casualties had been heavy eleven officers and 376 other ranks but the fighting had been severe,and best of all, of a decisive nature. The captures by the72nd amounted to eleven field guns, 55 machine guns, 20officers and 755 other ranks a truly wonderful total, almost double that of any other action in which the Battalionwas ever engaged. To all ranks and detachments of theBattalion the highest encomiums are due for their performance at Cambrai. The work of the signallers was, asalways, perfect. No matter what the shelling or conditions their "lines" and visual stations kept the commanders in touch with the situation. A party of signallers withthe advanced posts along the railway embankment turnedinfantrymen during those critical hours of the counterattacks and rendered, as was to be expected, a most gallant account -of themselves.And no praise can be too laudatory for the work of theM.O., Capt. J. H. Blair, and his stretcher bearers. Thosewho were there will long remember the gallant M.O. goingabout his work. The outstanding fearlessness of the newC 0., Lieut-Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick, D.S.O., also calls forspecial notice. This was the first occasion on which hehad complete command of the Battalion in an action, andhis courage and coolness were an inspiration to all ranks.For Canada, Cambrai must forever be a glorious name.As has been remarked, the enemy had been determined to150