72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
marches being undertaken at Calgary, Alberta, Fort Wil
liam, Ontario, and Campbelltown, New Brunswick.
Shortly before arriving at Ottawa, word was received that
the Battalion would be inspected by H. R. H. the Duke of
Connaught. Ottawa was reached on the morning of Good
Friday, April 21st, and the Battalion marched past the Gov
ernor-General who was accompanied by Sir Robert Borden.
The Duke afterwards came to the railway station where the
Battalion was carefully inspected by His Royal Highness and
the officers presented to him. Both he and his staff made
most complimentary remarks regarding the smartness,
steadiness and physique of the Battalion. On completion
of his inspection he requested that the men should again
march past him, in order that he might see them again be
fore leaving. This was done on the station platform.
The following extracts from a private letter received by
one of the officers of the Battalion from a staff officer who
was present, and accompanied H. R. H. during the inspec
tion, bear witness to the favourable impression created
by the Battalion on this occasion, and though written
confidentially at the time, the C. G. S. and the writer have
kindly concurred in granting permission for its publica
tion in these pages.
"The C. G. S. saw the 72nd when it
marched through Ottawa, and he told me that he had
never seen a finer looking battalion. He watched it en
train, and remarked how well the officers bore themselves.
Also he told me that the Duke was so struck by its ap
pearance, that he cabled to the War Office suggesting that
it was too good a battalion to be broken up
for draftgiving
purposes."
The Battalion again entrained, and on the morning of
Easter Sunday, April 23rd, Halifax, Nova Scotia, was
reached and the men embarked on H. M. Transport Empress
of Britain. This ship also carried the 76th Battalion, the
87th Battalion, a draft for the Forestry Battalion, and a
draft for the Canadian Field Artillery.
In addition to the