72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAAbout four days later, the enemy, faced by an alternativecompared with which Sedan sinks into a mere affair ofoutposts, began his gigantic withdrawal. By these tactics he admitted defeat, and the troops which poured forward against his huge rearguard actions were fired by thetacit admission.On October 13th, the 72nd received orders for its firstmove after the retreating foe, and on the 15th entrainedat Agnez-lez-Duisans and proceeded to Marquion, marchingthe same evening to Sauchy-Lestree. At this time MajorJ. Hamilton, M.C., was in command of the Battalion, asLieut.-Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick, D.S.O., was absent on leave.At Sauchy-Lestree a further draft of reinforcements wasabsorbed, and everything kept in instant readiness for asudden move. Let it be here said that the work of thetransport section of the Battalion, always excellent, nevershowed to better advantage than in the long series offorced marches and sudden changes of destination withwhich the 72nd were soon to be faced.Three days at Sauchy-Lestree put the Battalion intocapital shape for an advance, and it moved up to Aubencheul-au-Bacon the south bank of the Canal de la Senseeand into the first phase of the general advance.A few words explanatory of the tactics of the 4th Canadian Division may be of interest.In an action such aswas impending, it was unnecessary to have a large forceof men engaged in the actual attack, for at no time duringthat week of fighting did the Germans attempt to makea definite stand. It was merely a question of thrustingaside rearguards left by the enemy. Fighting there was,and enough, and volumes might be written on the brilliantand spirited actions fought by the advanced troops as thestubbornly-resisting enemy rear-guards were ejected fromtown after town, and driven from advantageous positionson the slag-piles which form a feature of the countrythrough which the pursuing armies advanced.164