THE GREAT WAR
Initially in August 1914 the offer to provide a Seaforth Battalion for
overseas service was not accepted. To answer the call to arms that came on
August 4th, 1914 the Canadian Government formed a new Regiment, the 16th
Overseas Battalion C.E.F., later becoming the Canadian Scottish Regiment.
The Seaforths sent 25 officers and 514 men to the 16th including the Commanding
Officer Lt. Col R.G. Leckie. As a result of such a large contribution, the
Seaforth Colours bear the Battle Honours YPRES 1915, 1917 and FESTUBERT that
precede our mobilization. In addition to the large contribution to the
16th, the Seaforths send an additional 300 to the 231st Battalion, a Vancouver
raised unit that would provide reinforcements to overseas battalions.
The 72nd moved to eastern Canada in April 1915, and in Ottawa they were
inspected by HRH the Duke of Connaught, who requested that the Regiment march
past a second time so that he could see them again. HRH later cabled the
War Office suggesting that it was too good a battalion to be broken up for draft
purposes. Field Marshal Sir John French also inspected the Battalion and
stated that: "What strikes me about this Battalion is that they LOOK like
soldiers!" On July 18, 1915 the regiment was re-designated as the
"72nd Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., Seaforth Highlanders of Canada".
The Seaforths were the only regiment in the Canadian order of battle to retain
their regimental number.
On May 4th, 1916 the regiment arrived in the U.K. On August 12, 1916
the Regiment of 40 Officers and 1,055 men embarked for France. This number
does not include the 150 men sent from the 72nd to reinforce other units.
The Regiment sailed for France as the 72nd Battalion C.E.F. on August 18th,
1916, when it soon distinguished itself in some of the bloodiest battles of the
War. The 72nd quickly gained a reputation among friend and foe for
professional conduct particularly while patrolling and conducting aggressive
trench raids. It was said that the Regiment knew the enemy trenches better
than the men who had dug them!
Of the countless acts of individual heroism two soldiers deserve mention.
Privates Black and deBouchier. These soldiers and a wounded comrade, were
trapped behind enemy lines after a raid. Rather than leave their friend
behind, they drew lots to decide who should return to the lines for help.
Private Black crawled over 600 yards through enemy trenches and no-man's land to
the Canadian trenches where he immediately volunteered to lead the stretcher
party back to where he left his friends. The stretcher party wasn't sent
because of the hopelessness of the task. deBouchier later surrendered to
get medical help for his comrade, who died soon afterwards.
The Seaforths were engaged in the bloody battle of Ypres, the Somme, and Vimy
Ridge. During the final battle for Vimy Ridge, Lieutenant D.O. Vicars and
Private McWhinney (later Lieut. McWhinney, DCM) with Corporal "Hat"
Matthews took, unaided, 400 yards of the German Support Line, nearly the entire
Battalion front! Later in the battle, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant
Colonel J.A. Clark, DSO, with one junior officer, two runners and a Lewis gun
crew, pushed up a mile in advance of the battalion where they met Brigadier
McBrien and two senior officers armed only with revolvers, and promptly attacked
a party of 50 enemy soldiers, driving them off. During the attack on Elev
Spur, the retreating enemy were in such disarray the Sgt. W. Brown, MM, Stepped
into a poker game, which he broke up with his rifle. It is a special
tribute that the German Communiqué referred to the Seaforths as "specially
picked assault troops."
Eight Months after embarkation to France the regiment had lost 655 to
casualties in regular duty at the front, and actions such as the Somme in 1916.
After the next action, Vimy from April 9th - 11th, 1917, the battalion had only
64 all ranks that were not casualties. The battalion soldiered on, and
received many reinforcements, who fought through the next 19 months at
Passchendale, Amiens, Drocourt-Queant, Canal du Nord, Valenciennes and other
battlefields until November 11, 1918.
ARMISTICE
Without knowledge of the impending collapse of Germany, the Battalion moved
from Valenciennes to Anzin on November 6th 1918. The Battalion immediately
resumed training and waited for it's next action. It was on the morning of
November 11th that confirmation of the collapse of Germany was received in a
message that ran:
"Canadian Corps 06:45 - Hostilities will
cease at 11:00 hours on November 11th - Troops will stand fast on the line
reached at that time which will be reported to Corps Headquarters - Strictest
precautions will be maintained - There will be no intercourse of any kind with
the enemy - further instructions follow - Fourth Canadian Division,"
On November 12th the Canadian Corps became part of the Fourth British Army,
and began it's advance towards the Rhine as part of the Army of Occupation in
Germany. On November 20th the Battalion arrived in Mesvin approximately
two miles south of Mons. As it appeared that the stay would be prolonged,
training was resumed. This time the focus was on drill, educational
classes, physical fitness and recreation. The next several months saw many
moves of the Battalion, but it was decided that the Regiment would be presented
it's stand of King's and Regimental Colours from the Corps Commander Sir Arthur
Currie on April 1st 1919.
On April 29th, the battalion finally received it's orders to begin its
embarkation home. It arrived in England on May 1st, and was ordered to
provide a contingent of 150 men and officers for the March past of Dominion
Troops in Hyde Park on May 3rd. On June 20th, 1919 the regiment finally
returned home. The Battalion was received back in Vancouver with full
honours, and the Mayor declared the day a civic holiday.
Of those present on the final parade of the 72nd Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, they made up but a small portion of the 3,791 officers and men who passed through it's ranks. Of those, over 300 had been awarded decorations from Mention-in-Dispatches to DSO's but 2,515 of them had been casualties.