Royal Scots of Canada Highlanders - Electric Scotland

72
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ROYAL SCOTS OF CANADA
the Scots he proceeded to Soutli Africa as a Captain in
Lord Strathcona's Horse, being promoted to a majority
at the front and awarded the coveted distinction of D.S.
O. for services in the field. January 25th, 1902, Lieut.-Col.
Cameron was seconded for active service as Major with
the 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles, and the
same day Major John Carson was promoted Lieutenant-
Colonel, and the command of the Royal Scots transferred
to him.
Lieut.-Colonel John Carson, the present commanding
officer of the 5th Royal Scots of Canada, joined the
regiment as 2nd Lieutenant May 22nd, 189 1, and was
promoted Lieutenant August 28th, 1891; Captain, May
19th, 1894; Major, May 4th, 1898, and Lieutenant-Colonel
January 25th, 1902.
During his tenure of command many important
changes have taken place affecting the welfare of the
regiment. In accordance with general orders of June
20, 1902 its establishment was increased from a 6 Company
to an 8 Company Battalion, making its total
strength 376 of all ranks, and as the regiment then had
a full complement of qualified officers and was con.siderably
over strength the 2 additional companies were
raised without any difficulty. The regiment with 8 full
companies, .several of them over strength, took part
in the Montreal Garrison Inspection of June 1903, on
Lafontaine Park, the inspecting officer being major
General The Right Honorable The Earl of Dundonald, C.
V. O. C. B., commanding the Canadian Militia, when it
had the honor of being specially complimented by the
Major - General commanding on its fine appearance,
marching, and drill, a compliment which was highly appreciated
by all ranks of the regiment. The regiment
has now 34 officers on its roll, the largest number in its
history and the largest number of officers attached to
any 8 company regiment in the Dominion of Canada.
By the latest change in the establisments of the Canadian
Militia under date of 23rd February, 1904, the
regimental strength was further increased, and put on a
peace footing of 8 companies with total strength of 419
of all ranks and a war footing of 16 companies with
total strength of 1060 of all ranks.
The regiment is already over its total peace strength.
A determined effort will be made to recruit up to total
war strength before the beginning of next drill season.
By general orders of date. May, 1904, the name of the
regiment was changed to 5th Royal Scots of Canada
Highlanders.
vSince the reorganization, the regiment has had
exactly the same number of changes in the sergeant-majorship
as in commanding officers. The sergeants-major,
with the dates of their appointments have been as follows:—R.
J. Foster, 17.0. 81; J. Fraser, R. P. Niven, 25,
9,84; H. Snelling, ., Robert Allan, 9,5,87; R. P.
Niven {2nd term), 19,12,89; John Currie, 19,11,94;
Thomas A. Gardiner, 14, 7, 98.
The present serg«ant-major holds warrant rank, bleing
one of the first sergeants major in the active militia service
to receive his warrant. Sergeant-Major Gardiner,
has served twenty-five years in the Royal Scots, and
previous to enlisting in the regiment served for .several
years in the old Montreal Troop of Cavalry.
Since its reorganization the regiment has changed
its quarters twice. From the date of the reorganization,
for many years the regiment occupied quarters in the
ujjper flat of the Bonsecours Market—the old City Hall.
After man)' delays, the present Drill
Hall on Craig street
was completed, largely owing to the exertions of Licut.-
Coloncl A. A. Stevenson of the Field Battery, who '.v.-vS
at the time a member of the City Council, in 1888, and
the regiment moved into quarters there that spring. A
rearrangement of quarters took place in
1900 as a result
of the amalgamation of the 1st Prince of Wales Rifles,
and the 6th Fusiliers,
and the present quarters were taken
possession of at that time, being enlarged and completely
refitted during 1902 and 1903, consequence on the
increase of the regiment to an 8 Company Battalion.
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