The War Diary of the 72nd Battalion, CE January - December 1917 Also attached is a map of Quebec Road to Lens, September, 1917 SCANNED and ATTACHED.TO MEDIA SUMMARY January 1, 1917-- Battalion dinner. Brig.-Gen. J. H. MacBrien spoke. January 5, 1917- Battalion moved into front line again. January 11, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th. January 17, 1917- Battalion moved back to front line to snow-covered trenches. January 23, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th Battalion, CEF. January 29, 1917- Battalion moved back to front lone. February 5, 1917- Battalion was relieved by 38th Battalion, CEF. Reserve at Verdrel for training. February 12, 1917-- Battalion moved back to front line trenches, relieving the 38th Battalion, CEF. February 12, 1917- Lieut.-Col. J. A. Clark left the Battalion to proceed, as the sole Canadian representative on the British mission to Italy. Battalion moved into front line, relieving 38th. February 16, 1917- "B" Company's phenomenally successful raid. February 18, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th and moved to Verdrel. Lieuts. G. Reid, J. Acheson, A. G. Mackie, A. H. Finlay and M. M. Townley reported for duty, having obtained commissions from the ranks. February 25, 1917- Battalion moved back to the front line, relieving 38th. March 1, 1917- Divisional gas raid took place. March 3, 1917- Two German officers (carrying white flag) proposed an armistice to bury the dead. Battalion relieved. March 4, 1917- Lieut.-Col. J. A. Clark returned from Italy. March 7, 1917- Battalion moved to Bouvigny Huts. March 8, 1917- Preliminary practices for the attack on Vimy Ridge commenced. March 10, 1917- Brigade sports held at Château de la Hale. March 11, 1917- Battalion moved back to front line, relieving 102nd Battalion. March 15, 1917- Battalion relieved by 73rd Battalion and marched to Niagara Camp, Château de la Haie. March 19, 1917 Battalion relieved the 47th Battalion. March 29, 1917- Battalion relieved by 73rd Battalion and moved to Brigade Support In Arras Alley and Bajolle Support line. March 30, 1917- Battalion relieved 73rd Battalion in front line trenches. April 4, 1917- Battalion relieved by 73rd Battalion and moved back to Brigade Reserve at Château de la Hale. April 7, 1917- Battalion held a Decoration Parade. Decorations presented by Major-General Sir David Watson. April 8, 1917- Attack finally rehearsed and Church Parade held.in the evening the Battalion moved into Gobron Tunnel on Vimy Ridge. April 9, 1917- Vimy Ridge falls before Canadian attack. April 13, 1917- Battalion makes final sweep over north end of Vimy Ridge, capturing the northern heights and driving the enemy some two miles out into the fiat country beyond. Battalion relieved and moved back to Chateau de la Haie. SUMMER OF 1917 April 17, 1917- Lieut.-Col. Clark took over command of the Brigade in the absence of Brig.-Gen. MacBrien, who had been wounded on April 13th. April 24, 1917- 72nd Battaliion moved Into Brigade Support in the Vimy Angres Line. April 28, 1917- Battalion took over front line, relieving 38th. Lt Col. Clark resumed command of Battalion. May 2, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th Battalion and moved to Brigade Support in Zouave Valley. May 6, 1917- Battalion went forward and relieved 38th Battalion. May 9, 1917- Battalion relieved by 85th Battalion and moved into Brigade Support at Tottenham Caves on Vimy Ridge. May 12, 1917- Brigade relieved and Battalion moved to Comox Camp. May 16, 1917- Battalion moved forward to Zouave Valley. May 20, 1917- Battalion moved forward to front line. May 22, 1917- Enemy reported to be vacating their positions. Block in Cyril Trench raided. May 24, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th Battalion and moved back to Givenchy. May 28, 1917- Battalion relieved by 44th Battalion and moved back to Chateau de la Haie, where first of 231st Battalion reinforcements were awaiting them. June 4, 1917- Brigade parade held, decorations presented, and sports held. 72nd Battalion winning. In the evening the Battalion moved to a tent camp near Berthonval Wood, and the same evening was bombed by hostile aeroplanes while in camp. June 5, 1917- Battalion moved for cover to Berthonval Wood, and camp was named Seaforth Camp. June 6, 1917- All available officers of the 4th Division 'went to Chateau de la Haie to bid goodbye to Sir Julian Byng. June 13 and 14, 1917- Divisional sports held-Battalion won. June 14, 1917- Battalion moved to front line, relieving 38th. June 19, 1917- Battalion relieved by 44th Battalion and moved back to Château de la Haie. June 21, 1917- Corps sport~ held. June 24, 1917- A Brigade practice for an attack on La Coulotte was inspected by Corps Commander; a joint Church Parade held with 85th Battalion and decorations were presented. June 25, 1917- First Army Horse Show held at Chateau de la Hale Duke of Connaught being present. In the evening the Battalion moved forward to front line, relieving 44th and 47th Battalions. June 26 to 28, 1917- Battalion attacked and captured Quebec and Avion trenches, Saskatoon Road and Eleu trenches. July 1, 1917- Dominion Day. Salvoes from guns. In the evening the Battalion was rel1eved. July 2, 1917- A further draft of 150 received from the 231st Battalion. July 20, 1917- 72nd Tug of war team went to Paris to compete in sports and won the championship of the Allied Armies. July 25, 1917- Tug of war team returned victorious. The Battalion relieved the 43rd Battalion on the Avion front and commenced the longest tour in its history. July 30, 1917- Battalion was relieved by 38th and moved back to support in the Red Line. August 4, 1917- Battalion relieved the 38th Battalion in the front line. August 9, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th and moved back to support in the Red Line. August 10, 1917- Two patrols sent out with ammonal tubes to destroy enemy's wire. August 13, 1917- Battalion relieved the 38th Battalion in the front line. August 16, 1917- The Canadian Divisions north of the Souchez captured HilI 70, and attacked the defenses of Lens. August 18, 1917- Sgt 129878 M. K. McLennan "held up" while supervising a working party in No Man's Land by a member of a German patrol. The latter died for his Fatherland. August 19, 1917-· Raiding party under Lieut. J. B. Rose carried out a most gallant raid against the Red Chateau in Avion. August 20, 1917- Battalion relieved by 38th and moved back into support in the Red Line. August 27, 1917- Battalion relieved 38th in front line. August 29, 1917- Enemy attempted to raid Battalion in the Avion sector, but were repulsed with losses by the courageous action of No. 466433 Cpl. Sam Findlater. September 2, 1917-- Battalion relieved by 50th Battalion and moved to Chateau de la Haie, completing its longest tour. September 6, 1917-- Inter-Battalion sports held and dinner in evening to Major W. A. J. Marshall. September 7, 1917-- Battalion moved to Alberta Camp near Souchez Corner. September 11, 1917- Battalion moved forward into support, reIievlng 50th Battalion in the Red Line and Partridge Trench. September 14, 1917- Battalion relieved the 38th Battalion in the front line, with headquarters at "Piano" dugout. September 19, 1917-- Battalion relieved and moved back to Chateau de la Haie. September 23, 1917-- Battalion took part in a Brigade Church Parade and march past before the Brigade Commander, who presented decorations. September 24, 1917-- Practices held for an attack on Sallumines Hill, planned for October 15th. Sports also held during this rest. September 29, 1917-- Corps championship sports held at Villiers-au-Bois. October 3, 1917-- The Sallumines practices were discontinued indefinitely. October 4, 1917- Sallumines operation cancelled. PASSCHENDAELE OPERATIONS October 5, 1917-- Brigade began to move north to Steenbecque, but 72nd Battalion quarantined for diphtheria. . October 10, 1917- Battalion and quarantined men moved to Bruay to take their place in the Brigade for the northward march. October 12, 1917-- Battalion entrained for Steenbecque and marched from there to Thiennes. October 13, 1917-- Battalion marched to Wallon Cappel. October 17, 1917-- Fifty officers and other ranks went to Poperinghe to see a model of the ground covered by proposed operations. October 20, 1917-- A transport competition was held. October 22, 1917- The Duke of Connaught inspected the Brigade, and the Battalion marched past. October 23, 1917- Battalion moved to the Brandhoek area. October 28, 1917- Battalion took over the front line. October 30, 1917- 72nd captures Crest Farm. November 2, 1917- Battalion relieved by 21st Battalion. November 3, 1917- The fighting troops reached the transport lines at Potizje, and Battalion marched to Ypres, took train for Caestre and marched to billets at Pradelles. November 5, 1917- Brigade Inspected by the Corps Commander. November 11, 1917-- Church Parade disturbed by approach of bombing plane. November 17, 1917- Brigade began to march south. November 19, 1917- Reached Auchel. November 27, 1917- Battalion platoon marching and firing competition held. November 30, 1917- Battalion marched to Pernes, inspected en route by the Divisional Commander. December 15, 1917- Brigade sports and competition in marching and firing. December 17, 1917- Battalion marched to Canada Camp, Bois de la Haie. December 18, 1917- Battalion moved into support, relieving 1st Canadian Battalion in Glvenchy. December 20, 1917- Battalion moved forward t2 trenches in neighbourhood of La Coulotte with Battalion headquarters in Piano Dugout. December 23, 1917- Divisional marching and firing competition took place at Pernes in which No. 14 Platoon participated. December 25, 1917- Battalion's second Christmas in the field. December 29, 1917- Battalion · relieved by 50th Battalion and went to Vancouver Camp, Château de la Hale. December 31, 1917- New Year's dinner served to men of the Battalion and Theatre visited.