72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

CHAPTER V.HISTORIC GROUND.The march northward General scheme of Spring campaign TheVimy Ridge country Christmas Eve New Year s Day Araid prepared for The raid eventuates Fourth Division gasraid.BATTALION commenced its marchTHE northward bymoving to Albert. From this point the billeting townswere as follows:November 28 29 HarponvilleNovember 30AmplierDecember 1 BonnieresDecember 2 EcoivresDecember 3 OstrevilleDecember 4 21 HaillicourtThe march from the Somme will be long remembered bythe men of the 72nd. Considering the time of the year theweather was phenomenally fine ;clear days being succeededby nights that were frosty enough to be exhilarating. Themud of the Somme sector was forgotten, amid the good going of the northward way. When Haillicourt was reachedthere seemed to be a continuation of good luck. The stayin that typical French mining village stands out in the memory of the Battalion as one of the most pleasant incidentsin the campaign. The townspeople were hospitable; an atmosphere of good feeling prevailed. During the seventeendays at Haillicourt a programme of training was carriedout, in the course of which the Battalion was inspected bythe Corps Commander while on the march. It was duringthis rest also that the first transport inspection in France32