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72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

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AFTER THE ARMISTICE.<br />

(Rev.) Wilkin, began, the Battalion having formed<br />

into hollow square about the piled drums. Although<br />

for obvious reasons the colours do not take the place in<br />

modern warfare that they did in the wars <strong>of</strong> former<br />

centuries, they still retain much <strong>of</strong> their ancient signifi<br />

cance,<br />

and there was not a man present who did not feel<br />

that they focussed the romance <strong>of</strong> the Battalion s history<br />

and the memories <strong>of</strong> the Battalion s dead. With appro<br />

priate words the Corps Commander placed the colours in<br />

the hands <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>ficers selected to bear them, and to the<br />

impressive strains <strong>of</strong> &quot;God Save the King,&quot; played in<br />

slow march time, the King s and the regimental colours<br />

moved into their position in the centre <strong>of</strong> the phalanx.<br />

The Battalion then marched past the Corps Commander,<br />

its new colors blowing out bravely in the fresh breeze.<br />

An interesting fact in connection with the presentation was<br />

the presence <strong>of</strong> Brig.-General N. A. Thompson, C.M.G.,<br />

D.S.O., now commanding the 1st Battalion <strong>Seaforth</strong> High<br />

landers, and Lieut.-Col. A. W. Turnbull, M. C., command<br />

ing <strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> the 8th Battalion <strong>Seaforth</strong> <strong>Highlanders</strong>.<br />

Close upon the presentation <strong>of</strong> the colours came the<br />

news that the 12th Brigade was to be inspected by H. M.<br />

King Albert <strong>of</strong> Belgium, and on April 8th, the <strong>72nd</strong>, as<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the Brigade, marched past the gallant monarch<br />

who, in common with his people, after four bitter years,<br />

had at last come into his own again.<br />

At this time attention began to be directed to various<br />

matters within the Battalion. Chief among these was the<br />

completion and codification <strong>of</strong> the War Diary which had<br />

chronicled the history <strong>of</strong> the <strong>72nd</strong> during its career in<br />

France. Numerous conferences, particularly among the<br />

original members <strong>of</strong> the Battalion, took place, and the<br />

work <strong>of</strong> compilation was carefully undertaken. The Com<br />

manding Officer, Lieut.-Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick, D.S.O., was<br />

untiring in his efforts in this direction, and convinced all<br />

concerned <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> this memorial <strong>of</strong> a strenu-<br />

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