Canada's Highland Regiments

[BoldHighlander]

John MacMorran "Padre Jock" Anderson Chaplain to the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. Landed at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Received two Military Crosses for courage and initiative in evacuating casualties under heavy enemy fire.

[BoldHighlander]

BETWEEN THE WARS

LCol Colin Harbottle, who had taken command of the battalion soon after the death of LCol Beckett on 1st March 1917, had been lobbied by a number of former officers and men to have the 75th become a permanent unit in the Canadian Militia. In May 1920 the government authorized the forming of the Mississauga Regiment to perpetuate the traditions of the 75th Bn CEF. The Mississauga Regiment was re-designated The Toronto Scottish Regiment on 1st September 1921, becoming a permanent unit of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. After becoming The Toronto Scottish Regiment, LCol Harbottle sought and was granted affiliation with The London Scottish Regiment in England and adopted the London Scottish tartan, Hodden Grey. The tartan had been selected by the London Scottish's founder Lord Elcho in 1859. He opted to dress his soldiers in the muted heather tones of Scotland. In 1937 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth consented to become the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief. On 22nd May 1939, during the Royal Tour of Canada, Her Majesty presented new Regimental Colours to The Toronto Scottish Regiment on the campus of the University of Toronto.

Escorted by LCol Christopher Thompson, Her Majesty inspects The Toronto Scottish Regiment before presenting new Colours in Toronto 1939


WORLD WAR II

The regiment was mobilized on 1st September 1939 and after work up training left for England, arriving at Tournay Barracks at Farnborough on 18th December 1939. The Toronto Scottish was the first complete Canadian unit to land in Britain after War was declared.


Camera crews records Her Majesty being greeted by the Pipe Major in 1940


LCol Chistopher Thompson sees their Majesties to their car after visiting the Officers' Mess in 1940. Holding the car door is Sgt Fred McKeena.


SINCE WORLD WAR II

The active unit of The Toronto Scottish Regiment was disbanded on 31st December 1945 reverting to an Infantry Militia Regiment. A large number of the members from the war remained with the regiment attending Tuesday night parades at Fort York Armoury. Highlights in the history of any regiment are periodic visits by their Colonel-in-Chief and the Toronto Scottish has been fortunate to have been visited often. Her Majesty's first visit after the war was in 1962.

Escorted by LCol Donald Learment (R) and LCol Robert Hilborn (C) Her Majesty's Canadian Equerry, the Colonel-in-Chief talks to a member of the 1965 Guard


Assisted by Maj Fred McKenna, Her Majesty presents the new Queen's Colour to Capt. Bill Bell


After the parade Her Majesty mingles with Her troops in 1965

[BoldHighlander]

This NCO was a member of one of Canada's most famous regiments, The 48th Highlanders of Canada. The 15th battalion of the C.E.F. was recruited from the 48th which was a Toronto based militia regiment already in existence prior to WW1. The distinctive cap and collar badges of the 48th were incorporated into the 15th Battalion's badges.

The 15th was part of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and arrived in France on 15 September 1915. Over the next three years the unit was engaged in many of the war's most famous battles such as Vimy, Passchendaele, Festubert, Mount Sorrel, The Somme, Hill 70, Arras, Amiens and many more.

An unsteady hand has written the name "Jimmy Bryce, 15th Can. Bn. 1918" on the reverse of this RPPC taken in The Wykenham Studios, 304 High Holborn.

[BoldHighlander]

Reginald Arthur Blyth
67th Battalion (Western Scots) C.E.F.
August 10, 1916

[BoldHighlander]

James (Jimmy) Cleland Richardson VC (25 November 1895, Bellshill, Scotland - 8 or 9 October 1916) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 20 years old, born in Scotland and a resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and then Chilliwack, BC. He was a Piper in the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (he is shown wearing a Seaforth uniform above) and he proceeded overseas as part of the large Seaforth contingent of the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

During the Battle of the Ancre Heights on 8 October 1916 at Regina Trench, Somme, France, the company was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire. Piper Richardson, who had obtained permission to play the company 'over the top' strode up and down outside the wire playing his pipes, which so inspired the company that the wire was rushed and the position captured. Later the piper was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and some prisoners, but after proceeding some distance he insisted on turning back to recover his pipes which he had left behind. He was never seen again.

for more, including the discovery of Richardson's missing pipes, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cleland_Richardson

[BoldHighlander]

Pvt D. Dunnett
enlisted with 16th Bn Canadian Scottish




C.G.G. MacInnes

enlisted Nov 1914 with the 30th Reserve Battalion & 16th Canadian Scottish.
Present at Ypres, Festubert, & Givinchy.
Invalided to hospital July 1915.
Discharged from the army Jan 1916.
Re enlisted in the 225th April 1916.




Pvt Harold Kennedy
16th Canadian Scottish

notes:
gunshot wounds in head & arms.

[BoldHighlander]

I don't have much in the way of information regarding this set of photos, so instead I'll post some info from their pipe band's website:

Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) is Vancouver Island's infantry unit. Its origin dates from 1912, when the 50th Regiment (unofficially the Gordon Highlanders of Canada) was created.

During the First World War, the 50th Gordons was one of four highland regiments that combined to form the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force. The other units included the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, the Cameron Highlanders of Canada and the 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders. This particular battalion quickly became famous, winning numerous battle honours during the campaign.

In the First World War pipers regularly played the troops "over the top". The 16th Battalion featured four Victoria Cross winners, including Piper James Richardson, VC, the only Canadian piper to have ever received this, the highest Canadian military honour.

In 1920 the Canadian Scottish Regiment was formed with headquarters in Victoria. In 1927 an alliance was created with The Royal Scots. From that alliance the Canadian Scottish adopted Hunting Stewart as the regimental tartan, with uniform patterned after "the Dandy 9th", the Territorial Army Highland Battalion of The Royal Scots.

The 1st Battalion Canadian Scottish Pipes and Drums served with the regiment throughout the Second World War. Until 1949 that pipe band wore Lennox tartan, which was the band tartan of the old 16th Battalion in the First World War. Today one Lennox tartan ribbon is retained in the full dress uniform of Canadian Scottish pipers, with the Hunting Stewart kilt and plaid.

The 30 member Pipes and Drums are an authorized band of the Canadian Armed Forces. Members comprise both serving personnel and civilian volunteers. They present the most visible element of the Regiment, performing in many of Victoria's major public events.

Over the last few years band members have performed outside of British Columbia in Hawaii, California, Washington State, New Orleans, Memphis, Calgary and Ottawa. The most recent international performance highlights were appearances at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Netherlands National Tattoo.

Official site of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)

Regimental Museum







Two of the most remarkable action shots I've ever seen from the Great War: