72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

CHAPTER XVII.AFTER THE ARMISTICE.Battalion ordered to the Rhine Zone system of occupation andenemy withdrawal Orders countermanded Vast enemystores at Fleurus Christmas at Opprebais New Year s ballat Brussels Near the field of Waterloo Sports Battalionwins final Transport Competition Colours presented to theBattalion 72nd leaves for Le Havre March past of Dominion troops in London Battalion sails for England.THE DAYS immediately following theproclamation ofthe Armistice were of necessity a time of reaction,especially to the infantryman. For while commanding officers may forecast events, the future is a subject on whichthe ordinary soldier cannot allow his mind to dwell. Hemust live in the present to the day, the hour, and evenof war wasto the minute. And now, the vast impetussuddenly stopped, and everyone s brain was more or less ina state of turmoil. A great readjustment of the point ofview was necessary, but there was an all-pervading andtremendous feeling of exhiliration. The Hun had beenbeaten by force of arms.His retreating armies were pilingtheir ungainly masses in chaotic confusion across the bridgesof the Meuse. After four strenuous years, the war hadbeen won.On November 12th orders were received that the Canadian Corps was to form part of the Fourth British Army,and as such was to move forward immediately as aninteger of the Army of Occupation in Germany. It wasrumored that Cologne was the bridge-head on the Rhineallotted to the Canadians. Map-studying by172all ranks be-