72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

INTRODUCTIONof the Fifth was mobilized at Montreal in August, 1914,where, by the 25th of the month, 1,004 recruits had beenaccepted and on that day the battalion entrained for" Valeartier.Here, when a division for overseas was being organized, the battalion became the 13th Canadian Battalion,Royal Highlanders of Canada, under the command successively of Brig.-Gen. F. 0. W. Loomis, C.B., C.M.G.. D S.O.,Lieut.-Col. V. C. Buchanan and Lieut. -Col. G. E. McCuaig,D.S.O. The gallant deeds of this Battalion were such as tojustify the early associations of the regiment from which itsprang.THE OLD HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.We must, however, look further back than these comparatively modern organizations, and in doing so we areindebted to Dr. Alexander Fraser, who, in the introduction to his admirable"History of the 48th Highlanders,"gives the succinct sketch of the old Highland Regimentswhich have served in Canada, from which the followingitems are taken :The Black Watch The first of these to be establishedwas the celebrated "Black Watch," the 42nd, regimentedwhich were formedfrom six companies of military police,in 1729, to keep the peace in the disturbed portions of theScottish Highlands. These, and four additional companies,were formed into a regiment of the line in 1793, and thefirst muster took place in 1740. With the formation of theBlack Watch into a regular regiment came the introductionof the Highland uniform into the British Army. This uniform is a modification of the national costume of Scotland,suited to the arms and accoutrements of the soldier.A description of that worn at first by the Black Watchcannot fail to be of interest to the Highland soldier of today. The uniform was a scarlet jacket and waistcoat, withbuff facings and white lace, tartan plaid of twelve yardsplaited round the middle of the body, the upper part beingfixed on the left shoulder, ready to be thrown loose andxxii