Legends of the Fall kilt scenes

[macwilkin]

Right.
However, I don't know how common it would have been to have two different Bns mixed together, even within the same division. That is why I am trying to figure out if the 10th CEF had any Kilted members. Of course it also could have been Hollywood just trying to Dress up the scenes, and since they had all the reenactors available..who were already kilted...why not? I just like to try and make sense out of certain things...like why would they be one of a few non kilted soldiers surrounded by all the other kilted ones?
Chad

Please see my post above; the 10th Bn., CEF was composed of the Calgary Highlanders and the Winnepeg Light Infantry.

I really wish the article on canadiansoldiers.com was up; the author, who was a member of the Calgary Highlanders at the time of filming, gave some very detailed information regarding the historical accuracy of the film.

T.

[puddlemuddle]

According to the Calgary highlanders website, tehy did not become the Calgary Highlanders until the 1930's. Before that they were known as the Calgary Regiment, and then before that, the 10th CEF took its drafts primarily from the Calgary Rifles, and teh Winnepeg Light Infantry.
From the Wiki site: "The Provisional 10th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was created around cadres of Militiamen from two existing units; the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) and the 106th Regiment (Winnipeg Light Infantry). The unit was assembled at Valcartier in Quebec, and sailed for the United Kingdom with the first Canadian contingent in late 1914. Their commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Russ L. Boyle, a veteran of the war in South Africa and in 1914 the commander of the 15th Light Horse, an Alberta cavalry unit.[1]"

and from the Clagary highlanders website:
:History of the 10th Battalion

The 10th Battalion, or "Fighting Tenth" as it became known, was created in 1914 as a war-service infantry battalion; it was populated heavily by men from the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles), saw extensive service with the 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders, and was later perpetuated by The Calgary Highlanders."

Cheers,
Chad

[puddlemuddle]

sorry,
One more thing from the Calgary Highlanders website:



Timeline

*

1 April 1910: 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) authorized
o

September 1914: 10th Battalion, C.E.F. created
o

15 September 1920: 10th Battalion, C.E.F. officially disbanded
*

15 March 1920: Redesignated The Calgary Regiment
*

15 September 1921: 1st Battalion becomes 1st Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders, The Calgary Regiment
*

15 May 1924: reorganized as The Calgary Highlanders
o

1 September 1939: The Calgary Highlanders, C.A.S.F. mobilized
o

1940 redesignated 1st Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders
o

1940 Militia unit redesignated 2nd Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders
o

15 December 1945: 1st Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders disbanded
o

2nd Battalion redesignated The Calgary Highlanders

Also when the regiment was re designated The Calgary Highlanders in the 1920's, they formed an official allegiance with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders over in Scotland, and adopted their uniform with the exception of the cap badge, which was a culmination of the new regiment and that of the 10th Bn Cef.
That may clear some things up.
Cheers,
Chad

[macwilkin]

According to the Calgary highlanders website, tehy did not become the Calgary Highlanders until the 1930's. Before that they were known as the Calgary Regiment, and then before that, the 10th CEF took its drafts primarily from the Calgary Rifles, and teh Winnepeg Light Infantry.
From the Wiki site: "The Provisional 10th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was created around cadres of Militiamen from two existing units; the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) and the 106th Regiment (Winnipeg Light Infantry). The unit was assembled at Valcartier in Quebec, and sailed for the United Kingdom with the first Canadian contingent in late 1914. Their commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Russ L. Boyle, a veteran of the war in South Africa and in 1914 the commander of the 15th Light Horse, an Alberta cavalry unit.[1]"

and from the Clagary highlanders website:
:History of the 10th Battalion

The 10th Battalion, or "Fighting Tenth" as it became known, was created in 1914 as a war-service infantry battalion; it was populated heavily by men from the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles), saw extensive service with the 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders, and was later perpetuated by The Calgary Highlanders."

Cheers,
Chad

Again, I wish the article on canadiansoldiers.com (the webmaster there is also the webmaster for the Calagary Highlanders) about the filming was up, as he went into some detail regarding this very subject.

I may have to e-mail him and ask him to re-post it and/or clarify.

Regards,

Todd

[macwilkin]

Eureka!

This is a version of said article. I quote:

No specific Canadian unit was being portrayed in the film, though the main characters were said to be from Montana. One line in the film, a voiceover, informs the audience that the three brothers portrayed by Aidan Quinn, Brad Pitt and Henry Thomas went to Calgary to enlist. By coincidence, in 1993 the real-life Calgary Highlanders had just adoped a sporran badge that was identical to the collar badge adopted by their predecessor unit, the Tenth Battalion, CEF, which was formed from a Calgary regiment in 1914. It was therefore suggested that some of these badges be provided to the principal actors and extras. The time period for the film was early 1915, and research indicated the C over 10 badges that were adopted may or not have been in general issue at that time; but the change was made. Henry Thomas shows up on film clearly wearing the Tenth Battalion badges.

The Highland Company, wearing Cameron of Erracht tartan, found that one company of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) did in fact come from the Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg.

--http://www.canuck.freeservers.com/legends.htm

And yes, you are correct about the Calgary Highlanders being raised after the war, however the author seems to imply that the Highland Company's presence in the film was a tributes of sorts to them and Cameron Highlanders of Winnepeg.

Regards,

Todd

[McMurdo]

Here is a clickable link:
http://www.canuck.freeservers.com/legends.htm

[puddlemuddle]

ok,
Checked out the site. I remember reading that at one time. I am not denying what unit they are supposed to be portraying (on a very thin line), just trying to figure out who the "Kilted soldiers" are supposed to be. Now this kind of confuses me:

The Highland Company, wearing Cameron of Erracht tartan, found that one company of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) did in fact come from the Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg. Some of the cadre were able to bring old black glengarries from Calgary Highlanders stores onto the set, and several pipers brought instruments out. Modern Legato drums were converted to resemble rope tension drums, but unfortunately the anticipated "pipe band" scene never materialized.

Is he saying that they used extras from the Canadian Scottish, or were they supposed to be portraying the Canadian Scottish? He calls them the "Highland Company", so I will need to dig a little tomorow and see if there was a Highland Company that would have been part of the 10th Bn CEF.
Thanks for the link.
Cheers,
Chad

[macwilkin]

ok,
Checked out the site. I remember reading that at one time. I am not denying what unit they are supposed to be portraying (on a very thin line), just trying to figure out who the "Kilted soldiers" are supposed to be. Now this kind of confuses me:

The Highland Company, wearing Cameron of Erracht tartan, found that one company of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) did in fact come from the Cameron Highlanders of Winnipeg. Some of the cadre were able to bring old black glengarries from Calgary Highlanders stores onto the set, and several pipers brought instruments out. Modern Legato drums were converted to resemble rope tension drums, but unfortunately the anticipated "pipe band" scene never materialized.

Is he saying that they used extras from the Canadian Scottish, or were they supposed to be portraying the Canadian Scottish? He calls them the "Highland Company", so I will need to dig a little tomorow and see if there was a Highland Company that would have been part of the 10th Bn CEF.
Thanks for the link.
Cheers,
Chad

It's entirely possible that there was a Highland company with the 10th CEF; the Hong Kong Defence Corps, for example, had a Scottish company, as well as the Straits Settlements Defence Force of Mayala.

But, I think the answer to your question was answered in the quote I cited:

"No specific Canadian unit was being portrayed in the film..."

T.

[puddlemuddle]

OK,
I think I figured it out...
All of the Non Kilted members shown in the movie are those of the "hinted at" 10th Bn CEF.

All of those Kilted members shown are supposed to be members of the 16th Bn (Canadian Scottish) CEF....Now, why they decided to put them together in the same trench I guess we will never know...maybe like I said, just Hollywood dressing the scenes up a little, who knows...but that at least straightens things out. WOW who thought Hollywood could be so confusing....anyway...despite everything, there are some great scenes in there! Another good movie about the 10th cef is the new (about a year old) movie "Paschendale" which after watching it the other week, I remembered that there weren't any kilted members in the movie, which is what sparked this interest in me...
Cheers,
CHad

[puddlemuddle]

It's entirely possible that there was a Highland company with the 10th CEF; the Hong Kong Defence Corps, for example, had a Scottish company, as well as the Straits Settlements Defence Force of Mayala.

But, I think the answer to your question was answered in the quote I cited:

"No specific Canadian unit was being portrayed in the film..."

T.

You're right there mate...I think overall they are a bit o "Fantasy" units that are loosely based on actual regiments.
pppptthh....Hollywood....
Cheers,
Chad