Seaforth Highlanders of Canada to receive new Regimental Colours

[BruceBC]

Thank you for the information - I look forward to attending the event.

[Seaforth Piper]

Ardbeg Supernova; Highland Park 21 Year Old (single cask bottled to commemorate the Seaforth 100); Glen Grant 1958 51 Year Old; Littlemill 16 Year Old 57.3%; Dalmore Mackenzie Limited Edition Port Finished; Glen Scotia 17 Year Old; Brora 30 Year Old. I've completely forgotten the eighth. Somebody help!

Glenroths 1994.

[Seaforth Piper]

The Seaforth Highlanders are possibly the last unit of the Canadian Army to have the Union flag as it's Queen's Colour.

What makes this ceremony particularly poignant is that for over 40 years the Regiment had respectfully declined (read: "Flatly refused") to carry the 'new' Canadian flag as it's Queen's Colour - because we had fought and died under the old flag and we would continue to carry it until such time as we fought and bled for the Maple Leaf.

Now, as we have sustained casualties in this the 4th Afghan War in the Regiment's history, that proviso has been met...

Perhaps HRH Prince Albert said it best to the 2nd Bn of the 72nd in 1846:

"Receive these Colours; one called the Queen's. Let it stand as a pledge of your loyalty to the Sovereign, and of obedience to the laws of the country. The more especially the Regimental one; let that be a pledge of your determination to maintain the honour of your Regiment. In looking at one you will think of your Sovereign; in looking at the other you will think of those who fought, bled, and conquered before you."

[Seaforth Piper]

Flash! Into my mind's eye comes a picture of a Glendronach 15 Year Old, the eighth we tasted and very, very fine. My personal favourite was the Brora 30. It was described as having a "gripping stranglehold of smoke, malt and peat." A superb whisky from sadly, a dismantled distillery. United Distillers closed it down and we were told the other night that the whisky community now recognises this was one of the greatest losses of the past 50 or maybe 100 years.

Obviously this one is becoming shorter in supply; the price must be well up there, I think.

Rex

Which was the ghastly one that tasted of boiled sweets steeped in grain alcohol?

[rtc872]

Wow Seaforth Highlanders will be celebrating their centenary when I celebrate my quarter centenary. haha No colours for me though

[ThistleDown]

Which was the ghastly one that tasted of boiled sweets steeped in grain alcohol?

The Glenrothes '94 was removed at the eleventh hour and replaced with that superb Glendronach. The one that was boiled-sweet-like with a hand-full of grass thrown in was the Littlemill 16 Year Old. That distillery was mothballed years ago, too, and then just when it looked like a new group of investors was on board to bring it back to life the place burned to the ground.

[Seaforth Piper]

That distillery was mothballed years ago, too, and then just when it looked like a new group of investors was on board to bring it back to life the place burned to the ground.

Presumably by person or persons unknown who'd actually tasted it...it DID improve the other malts by contrast though...

Incidentally, this is the Centenary of the Regiment in Canada.

The Seaforth's (the apostrophe is correct - the Regiment was first called "Seaforth's Highlanders" and the campaign to revert to the old name remained on the Regimental Agenda until the Amalgamation with the Camerons in 1962. This is preserved in the brass "SEAFORTH'S" shoulder-title worn on the 'Service' and 'Full Dress' Jackets, and also by the Regimental custom whereby the Colonel [and he alone] addresses the Battalion as "Seaforth's" )...

Back to my point: The Seaforth's were raised as the 72nd Foot in Ross-shire in 1778, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada were raised in 1910 and from the first parade on 27 November 1910 until the Seaforth Highlanders (72nd the Duke of Albany's, 78th The Ross-Shire Buffs) amalgamated with 1st Bn The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders the Canadians were regarded as the Canadian Battalion of the Regiment as opposed to an 'affiliated' regiment.

This was due in a large part to the large number of 2nd Bn Seaforth veterans -both those who had settled in Vancouver before 1910 (service pensions went a hell of a lot further in Canada) and those who flocked to the new battalion after it was raised - this included Pipe Major John Gillies MSM who transferred directly from 3rd Bn Scots Guards and who later became Senior Pipe Major of the British Empire.

[Seaforth Piper]

Here are a few of several videos of yesterday's Trooping:

The Seaforth Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums performed before the Trooping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxKaxEi8Y6E

Pipes and Drums march on (with our recently-recovered mace): http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/...59839147392279

The Troop in Slow Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M1Sb...eature=related

...and Quick Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzWqkfu1XEw

The Right Flank and the Old Colours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1uI1zSUcU8


Form Square! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ItVE...eature=related

The Royal Salute (the Advance in Review Order hasn't been uploaded yet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txa8LAoiSJU

March Off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZSnBh34wcQ

Attendance looks sparse in the vid, but the seats behind the reviewing stand were packed solid.

[English Bloke]

Tremendous stuff. Very well executed and I enjoyed watching every minute, thanks. Takes me right back to bashing the square meeself. Is Canadian Drill and British Drill the same? Certainly looks very similar.

[BoldHighlander]

Here are a few of several videos of yesterday's Trooping:

Thanks so much for posting these links!

Though I live not far across the border, it wasn't possible for me to attend. I wish I could've.