72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

AFTER THE ARMISTICE.caine general, and much discussion took place in theBattalion as to the probable route. Geographical knowledge was at a premium.It was with a feeling of pride that officers and menlearned of the capture of Mons in the early morning ofArmistice Day. That this historic town, at which point,so far as the British forces were concerned, the war began and ended, should have been taken by troopsof the7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, commanded by theformer C. 0. of the 72nd, Brig.-Gen. J. A. Clark, was asource of deep gratification to every man in the Battalion.On November 15th the 72nd swung through Valenciennes, and turning north-east along the Mons road beganthe first lap of their 150-mile march to the Rhine. It wasthe progress of a conquering army. Every road leadingeast carried its current of traffic. Guns, lorries, waggonsand troops were pouring unceasingly along.The gigantic advance was arranged according to adefinite time-table. That part of France and Belgium inthe path of the forward move, viz., the area between theAllied front on November 11, 1918, and the Rhine, hadbeen divided into lettered zones some ten to fifteen mileswide. The Germans working from similarly marked maps,completed the evacuation of one zone as our advancedcavalry patrols entered it. Thus the two armies werealways one day apart. Such Boches as our advancingcavalry came across were either stragglers or deserters.As the 72nd took its place in the scheduled march,there was much of interest to observe. The main Monsroad along which they proceeded led straight up into theheart of the advance. Lorry loads of repatriated prisoners jolted past on their way west. Occasional motors,flying huge white flags and containing various membersof the once famous German general staff, passed on their173