72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

BAPTISM OF FIRE.Lines; moving on again on the 24th to Chippewa Camp,where Ross rifles were withdrawn and Lee Enfields issuedhi their place. The next move was into the line near Kemmel,on the 26th, for a four days tour of instruction, theright half Battalion going in with the 7th Battalion, King sOwn Royal Lancashire Regiment, and the left half joiningthe 7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment.It was in this, its first tour in the line of actual fightingthat the first casualties of the 72nd Overseas Seaforths occurred.They numbered 12, one mJan, 130035 Pte. A. 0. Morris, No. 7 Platoon, was killed. The importance of the gastraining which had been given the troops w T as now proved,for in one night there were three gas alarms, proved afterwards without foundation, each of which caused the hastyadjusting of P.H. helmets. Four days rest at the OhippewaCamp followed these eventful days at the end of August.Freshened by this change, the Battalion on September 3,relieved the Lancashires in the trenches directly in frontof Kemmel. It was the first time in which it found itselfopposed to the enemy in the front line on its own account,and for 17 days it proved equal to the demand. During thistime the Battalion s first raid was carried out on September 16th for the purpose of securing identification,and it may here be recorded with some detail.The raiding party was organized and trained under thesupervision of Major R. K. Johnston, and rehearsals werecarried out behind Kemmel Hill. The total strength of theparty was 40, divided into a raiding party under Lieut. J.W. Smith, and a covering party under Lieut. W. C. Ross,the whole being divided into six squads.The duty of the covering party was to take up a positionhalf way across No Man s Land, and cover by fire the advance and retirement of the raiders.The night was brilliant with moonlight, and after a shortstay at the "Farm," the headquarters of the Battalion,where a brief address was made by Lieut-Col. Clark, the*u O