Passchendaele was a massive catastrophe for the 85th. The high losses saw the remainder of the troops from the 185th transferred to the continent. The men spent the winter recuperating, training, and spending time taking watches in the line. With the influx of American troops, the Canadians spent less and less time on the defensive and more time resting and training behind the line. This carried on quite uneventfully until June of 1918, when after 3 years of waiting, the battalion received their kilts. Every man was issued an Argyll and Sutherland plaid. After receiving the kilts, the men were informed that BEF regulations stated that the wearing of plaids in combat had been suspended for the duration of the war, and would not be permitted.
On August 8th, the battalion joined the British in their advance on Amiens, leading the brigade through 8 miles of the German line just south of the city. The battalion, against orders, wore their plaids in the battle, and once again lived up to their name, the Neverfails. The Germans had taken notice to, as a few nights before the advance a German raid had identified the regimental patch of the 85th, and had called for reinforcements out of panic. This proved to no avail, and the combat effectiveness was noted by British high command. As the 85th Marched out of the line, they were visited by Field Marshall Haige, supreme commander of the BEF. He praised the 85th for their combat effectiveness, and noted their reputation as storm troopers.
A few weeks later, was the battle of the Scarp, where, once again, the 85th led the brigade in cutting through the German lines. On September 2nd, the 85th relieved the Duke of Wellington battalion and proceeded to advance through the Drucourt-Queant Line. The first 300 yards saw over 50% of the total operation casualties, as there were multiple machine gun positions along the front line. However, when the battalion broke through the front line, the advance through the trenches saw the Germans either surrender or route as the Canadians advanced. In the end, the German line was broken through, and the battalion advanced to the rear German lines, where siege guns were captured.
The battalion fought it's last major battle in late September into October of 1918. The battalion worked helped capture and cross the Canal du Nord, which the Germans were using as a natural barrier. After taking the Canal, the Canadian corps, which had been in action in some way or another every day for close to 2 months, was permitted time to rest. They were put in a quiet section of the line close to the channel, and allowed to rest until the spring offensive would come in early 1919.
On August 8th, the battalion joined the British in their advance on Amiens, leading the brigade through 8 miles of the German line just south of the city. The battalion, against orders, wore their plaids in the battle, and once again lived up to their name, the Neverfails. The Germans had taken notice to, as a few nights before the advance a German raid had identified the regimental patch of the 85th, and had called for reinforcements out of panic. This proved to no avail, and the combat effectiveness was noted by British high command. As the 85th Marched out of the line, they were visited by Field Marshall Haige, supreme commander of the BEF. He praised the 85th for their combat effectiveness, and noted their reputation as storm troopers.
A few weeks later, was the battle of the Scarp, where, once again, the 85th led the brigade in cutting through the German lines. On September 2nd, the 85th relieved the Duke of Wellington battalion and proceeded to advance through the Drucourt-Queant Line. The first 300 yards saw over 50% of the total operation casualties, as there were multiple machine gun positions along the front line. However, when the battalion broke through the front line, the advance through the trenches saw the Germans either surrender or route as the Canadians advanced. In the end, the German line was broken through, and the battalion advanced to the rear German lines, where siege guns were captured.
The battalion fought it's last major battle in late September into October of 1918. The battalion worked helped capture and cross the Canal du Nord, which the Germans were using as a natural barrier. After taking the Canal, the Canadian corps, which had been in action in some way or another every day for close to 2 months, was permitted time to rest. They were put in a quiet section of the line close to the channel, and allowed to rest until the spring offensive would come in early 1919.