Canada's Highland Regiments

[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]

[BoldHighlander]

[BoldHighlander]

[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.

[BoldHighlander]

Corporal John Cannon Stothers

John Cannon Stothers joined the CEF with his younger brother, Carman Edmund Stothers, in 1916. They joined the 170th battalion (Missisauga Horse) and went overseas in October of 1916. John remained in England with a reserve battalion until November 1917 when he was transferred to the 15th battalion (48th Highlanders) and was part of the Army of Occupation until 1919. Carman left for France with the 75th battalion in December 1917 and was at Vimy Ridge in April of 1917. He was wounded in a trench raid in June of 1917 and returned to Canada by December.
He fully recovered from his wounds.

John Cannon Stothers in England:



John Cannon Stothers and Jim Paterson, 15th Battalion, 1916:


post war photo:
Note the "service at the front" badge on the front pocket.
This was given to all returning soldiers


post war picture, JC Stothers, 15th battalion, 48th Highlanders:

[Wompet]

Terry, I have to ask - where did you get these pictures of the Regiment with what I'm assuming is their mascot?

[BoldHighlander]

Terry, I have to ask - where did you get these pictures of the Regiment with what I'm assuming is their mascot?

Well, I still can't recall where I found the war time photos of Wallace, the mascot of the Canadian Scottish, but I did find his story here:

WALLACE

During WWII, in June 1940, Wallace (a St. Bernard puppy), the Regimental Mascot 'enlisted'. A year later, the 1st Battalion boarded ship for England along with them Wallace (who got smuggled on board by troops). The ship docked at Glasgow at the beginning of September when HRH Princess Mary inspected the Regiment on September 23, 1941. Friendships were struck up with The Royal Scots, who adopted and kept Wallace in Edinburgh Castle for the duration of the war. After the war ended Wallace was reunited with the remaining troops and returned home to Canada with them.

Since then, it's been a unit tradition to have a St Bernard for the Regimental Mascot.
In 1989, HRH Princess Alexandra gifted a puppy to the Regiment during her visit to Canada. Today we have Wallace VI. who lives in Victoria with our Regimental Sergeant Major. He is six years old and weighs over 200lbs. He accompanies the Regiment on parades, field exercises and traditional ceremonial events. He has become quite the local celebrity being featured in several newspapers, TV news casts, he even had an audience with the Mayor of Victoria and he is a frequent guest at the Lieutenant Governor's house, as the two of them are good friends.


Wallace the 1st as a pup:








Wallace VI:


Master Warrant Officer Charles Middleton of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) leads regimental mascot Wallace VI in the Victoria Day Parade. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 21 May 2007:

[Andrew M. Stewart]

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:

Absolutely terrific photos of the piper going over the top thanks! I have a relative that served with them in the first world war that didn't make it back. I'm a piper in The Toronto Scottish Regiment but being born and Raised on Vancouver Island and grew up mostly in Victoria I've always wished that I could have played in the Can Scots band. My first piping instructor, Steve Kelly sr was Pipe Major before P/M McGuire. Unfortunately I've ended up living in Toronto due to lifes unpredictabilty. I'll always call the island home though.