72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

ancient Scotland.INTRODUCTIONThe mountains and rivers of British Columbia are seen to have an imaginative and sentimentalconnection with Caledonian heights and lochs. The Douglasfir brings memories of wind-swept trees north of the Tweed;and the seas that break at the foot of our mountains remindthe Scot of the swirling tides that encircle the rocky headlands of his home-land.But if these physical surroundings of nature have theirinfluence, far greater and more essential are those spiritualand racial bonds which unite the Scot abroad to the historyand traditions of the land of his fathers. The memories ofthe religion and the glorious deeds of his ancestors arestrong in him, though they may be overlaid by the moresordid influences which come with modernity and the pursuit of wealth.Here again our investigation takes us back to EasternCanada, where in the course of years several Canadian-Highland regiments had been instituted. The Scottish spiritwhich was at the back of the new 72nd had already beendisplayed in the formation of the Highland Company ofMontreal, the Toronto Company of Highland Rifles at onetime attached to the Queen Own s the 5th Battalion RoyalScots of Canada, Montreal, and several other organizationsof the earlier days. To these must be added the 48th Highlanders of Toronto, in the inception of which an importantaddition was made to the Canadian Militia. This regiment,gazetted on 16th October, 1891, is one which for the publicspirit displayed by the citizens of Toronto in the supply ofthe necessary funds for its formation, the enthusiasm of itsofficers, the perfection of its drill and discipline, and thespirit of its men, had achieved fame in Canada before warwas declared.The Fifth Royal Highlanders of Canada, already mentioned, would be worthy of more extended notice did spacepermit. This regiment was affiliated with the Black Watch,referred to later. On the outbreak of hostilities a battalionand