72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAway to the various British headquarters, there to receiveorders from the "contemptible little army." The tableswere turned.On the evening of November 15th, the Battalion, afterpassing through the scene of its last fight,Onnaing, arrivedat Quievrain on the Franco-Belgian border, where it spentthe night. On the 16th it moved to Warquignies, wherea stay was made until the 20th.While at this latter village more specific instructionswere received. Marked maps, as previously described,were received and studied. On November 20th the Battalion moved again to Mesvin, a village about two milessouth of Mons. On arrival, orders were received to theeffect that an alteration had been made in the composition of the Army of Occupation. By this change the 1stand 2nd Canadian Divisions were transferred to the SecondArmy and proceeded to the Rhine, while the 3rd and 4thCanadian Divisions remained with the Fourth Army. The72nd therefore were not to partake of the natural gratification of entering, as victors, the country of an enemy theyhad fought for years. On the other hand they escaped along and arduous march, where the retreating foe hadsystematically wrought destruction. Also it was to beconsidered that winter was at hand.As it became evident that the stay at Mesvin would bea prolonged one, training was actively resumed. A cessation of hostilities does not lessen the necessity of keepingarmies up to the mark in discipline and fitness. In thelong period of "markingtime" which followed the armistice, the greatest foe was inaction. And against this foeevery commanding officer pitted his brains. The effortswhich had hitherto gone towards making the Battalioneffective in the field were now concentrated on smarteningdrill, educational classes, sports and recreation. TheBrigade Guard competition, which had been inaugurated174