72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

AFTER THE ARMISTICE.between that village and Incourt, about a mile and a halfaway. And the billets were as poor as the villagers. Bothhamlets were the centres of small farming communitiescomposed for the most partof littleabodes that clusteredalong the narrow, cobble-stoned streets. The sudden invasion of this peaceful neighborhood by the sweeping advance -of British troops, and in kilts at that, was at firstdisconcerting, but when the surprise of the inhabitants hadworn off they became very hospitable, and did what theycould to make the cramped quarters more eligible.The third Christmas in France and Belgium for theoriginal members of the Battalion was approaching, andeverybody was wondering how a Yuletide celebration couldbe held at Opprebais. Elaborate preparations in the wayof getting turkeys had been made, and all the other adjuncts of the feast had received attention; the difficultywas the finding of a place where a dinner for the wholeBattalion could be held. But everything turned out well.The turkeys, it is true, arrived a day late, so that thefeast was postponed till the 26th, but the lack of a largedining room mattered not a whit. The scattered platoonsand companies enjoyed themselves to the full. The officersheld what was probably the most remarkable Christmasdinner on record. Not one of those who sat down to itin the H. Q. mess at Opprebais, is likely to forget thatfestive opportunity.Christmas over, it soon became apparent that the officersof the 4th Canadian Division were not going to allowthe victorious year 1918 to depart, nor the peaceful periodof 1919 to arrive, without fit and proper celebration.This took the form of a grand ball in the magnificent Hotelde Ville at Brussels. The brilliant assembly whichcrowded those spacious halls on December 31st wasstrangely reminiscent of the ball given by the Duchess of177