72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAthis historic march past to which they were bound, wemay leave the rest of the Battalion at Le Havre eagerlywaiting transport, while we follow the contingent selectedto take part in that function. The Channel passage isproverbially rough, and Britannia did not rule the wavesany straighter than usual on this occasion. Dawn, however,saw the Kilties ship alongside the Southampton pier. Inless than 24 hours they were due, spick and span, in HydePark. But two days and nights in box cars and a night spitching and tossing on the Channel had contributed tomake them more or less dishevelled. It was evident thatthe necessary transformation must not only be thoroughbut accomplished with celerity. Losing no time in entraining, they arrived early in the afternoon at the familiarBramshott camp where quarters had been allotted to them.The kindness of Lieut.-Col. Ralston of the 85th (NovaScotia) Regiment in providing the contingent, on arrival,with necessary cleaning material from the supplies of hisown Battalion, was much appreciated. Then began a process of transformation which would have pleased the mostinexorable martinet. The men flung themselves wholeheartedly into the task. Until late that night, and in somecases till the early hours of morning they worked hard.They were not going to endanger the reputation of theBattalion because the time was short, and the perfectlyaccoutred and polished company which fell into place inHyde Park at 11 :30 a.m. on the following day reflected theresult of this labour.That march past will be long remembered by those whotook part in it, and by the cheering millions who linedLondon s streets. Every contingent of colonial troops wasrepresented in that vast river of steel-tipped khaki whichswept, eight abreast, past King George at BuckinghamPalace. The Mother Country must have realized, particularly, on that day the power and the loyalty of her Dominions.186