Monument erected by the 48th Highlanders’ 15^th Battalion CEF Memorial Project to commemorate the role of the 15^th Battalion in the September 1-2, 1918 offensive against the Drocourt Queant (D-Q) Line and specifically the attack on the Crow’s Nest.

The D-Q Line was part of the heavily defended Hindenburg Line and the assault on it by The Canadian Corps in late August-September 1918 was part of The Hundred Days campaign. Known by the German Army as the Wotung Stellung, the D-Q Line was one of the most powerful and well organized enemy defence systems.

The approach to the D-Q Line and the need to secure good ‘jump-off’ positions to assault it was made difficult by several defended obstacles forward of the line itself – the most formidable of which was The Crow’s Nest, an strongpoint on a high bluff which overlooked a large section of the D-Q defences.

The 15^th Battalion was assigned the task of securing The Crow’s Nest and on the morning of 1 September 1918, the unit assaulted and quickly captured it and the adjacent Chateau Wood. As at Hill 70, the battalion successfully defended the position against several German counterattacks thereby ‘opening the door’ for the main attack on the D-Q Line in which it also participated.

The Drocourt-Queant Line is one of the twenty one Battle Honours awarded to the 15th Battalion for its service during The Great War and one of the ten emblazoned on the Colours of 48th Highlanders of Canada which perpetuates the 15th Battalion.

Location

• See marked Google aerial view
• See marked Google map
• GPS: Northing (Deg/Min/Sec)                       Easting (Deg/Min/ Sec

                      50 / 13 /140                                      02 / 57 / 286

Date erected: September 2010

Project Manager: Brigadier General (ret) Greg Young OMM, MSM, CD

Funding:  All funds raised through private donations. See ‘Associated names”

Manufacture:  Bronze dedication plaque manufactured by Behrend’s Bronze.  Brick and stone wall stele constructed by site land owner Bruno Marquaille

 Memorial specifications:  See architectural drawings from Behrend’s Bronze

Memorial images: See attached photographs

Perpetual care:  Annual wreaths funded by the 48^th Highlanders Trust. Basic maintenance done by landowner.  In the event of major repairs being required, the Memorial Project would secure the required funding.