72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

THE LAST FIGHT.out of every nook and cranny of the railway yards. Atdusk, No. 14 Platoon of "D"Company captured the lastremaining point of resistance, and the night of the 1stfound the 72nd holding a line along the northern half ofthe broad boulevard which skirts Valenciennes on the west,while the left flank of the Battalion extended into theflooded area some 1000 yards north of the town. All wasin readiness to resume the advance as soon as daylightshould make clear the confused maze of streets confronting them.At dawn on November 2nd,"B" and "C"Companiesleap-frogged through and "D" "A", respectively,tinued the advance. "B"Company pushed swiftly throughthe northern half of Valenciennes, while "C"Companydrove the enemy from the northern environs. The work>and conof the cyclists attached to the Battalion for this operation,is deserving of special mention. Pedalling swiftly alongone of the main (avenues, they reached the eastern fringeof the city at about 7:30 a.m. Swinging north-east alongthe miain road to St. Saulve, they had proceeded about aquarter of a mile, when they ran at top speed into a nest ofGerman machine guns. The unexpected fire at close rangetold sadly on the cyclists. Taking cover in the ditches ofthe road they returned the fire. The odds were againstthem, however, until the welcome kilts of our advancedpatrols appeared on the scene. They had come throughthe city at the double, and reinforcing their gallantbrethren of the wheel, they hurled themselves into thefight with true early morning zeal. There was a short,fierce struggle, and three Boche machine guns and theirpersonnel were wiped out.The city of Valenciennes had been taken in the first rush.It was a curious fight, for the civilian population peeredfrom their doorways as the kilted platoons swept throughthe deserted streets. Then, gathering confidence, theyemerged to greet their deliverers in a manner which, under165