Canada's Highland Regiments

[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:

[BoldHighlander]

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[BoldHighlander]

Men from the 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada, newly arrived on the siding of Exhibition Station (not the current one; the siding pictured was further west). Having reached Halifax on 7 May 1919, the battalion history tells us that the men entrained for Toronto and after "a gay journey and an unforgettable one," the unit's 782 officers and enlisted men "rolled up to the Exhibition sidings and were clambering out in a hysteria of greetings as half the city crowded the grounds to meet them."

[BoldHighlander]

Lieutenant Wilfred Mavor of the 48th (Canadian) Highlanders arrived in the first Canadian contingent to the Western Front.
Wilfred Mavor was the son of Professor Mavor.