72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADADuring the first week of March, the Battalion washonoured by a visit from their former commanding officer,Brig.-Gen. J. A. Clark, C.M.G., D.S.O., who with his wifewas making a tour of the battle fields. Needless to saythat this was a time of mutual felicitations.March must not be dismissed without some mention ofthe last and most keenly contested of the 12th Brigadetransport competitions. During the two and a half yearsin France, the 72nd had never lost their enviable reputation of having the best transport section in a Brigadenoted for the excellence of its transport.. Could the 72ndestablish yet another victory and thus complete an unbroken string of successes? Interest was at fever heatnot only in the transport section but throughout theBattalion. The new transport officer, Lieut. L. G. Reitchel,his transport sergeant, Sergt. Davidson, the N. C. O. s andmen of the section worked literally day and night. Onthe morning of the inspection, when that portion of theBattalion s transport scheduled for the competitionmoved off, it had never been in finer shape. And from,a long, gruelling inspection, in which every piece of leatherand metal was minutely examined, the 72nd Battalion stransport section emerged victorious. The rosettes marking the Brigade s championship were in the keeping ofthe Battalion for good.At about the end of March it was arranged that theBattalion should have their colours presented to them bythe Corps Commander Sir Arthur Currie. This was themost important event of the period following the armistice,and much preparation was made for it.April 1st, thedate set for it, dawned beautifully, and at about 11a.m. the Battalion was formed up, drums piled in front, inreview order on the parade ground. As the Corps Commander walked on to the parade, the long line of bayonets"flashed into the Present" and the always impressive ceremony of consecration, conducted on this182occasion by Capt.