72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

INTRODUCTIONportant part in the siege of Quebec in 1759. The regimentremained in Quebec until the summer of 1762 when it joinedthe expedition to retake St. John s, Newfoundland, and theyear following it was disbanded, many of the officers andmen remaining as settlers in Canada.The 78th Highlanders That so distinguished a Highlandregiment as the 78th Ross-shire Buffs (now Second BattalionSeaforth Highlanders) should receive a cordial welcomewhen it came to Canada is only what might have been takenfor granted. This regiment arrived from Gibraltar in July,1867, landing in Montreal. In 1868 new colours were presented to it with great ceremony. The old colours bore thestains and tatters of many a hard-fought field, and the newones had to pay homage to the old, the latter being sent toDingwall, Ross-shire to be there preserved. In May, 1869,the 78th left Montreal for Halifax, companies doing dutyregularly at St. John, N. B., until 1871, when it embarkedfor Britain.Recapitulating, we have seen that the thriving city ofVancouver possessed the materials and conditions for thenew enterprise, a Highland regiment. There were men herewhose inborn military ardour was kept alive by racial memories and characteristics, first and foremost among which islove of country and determination to defend it if assailed.Some of them were descendants of the members of the oldHighland regiments. Some of them had been connected withHighland regiments or companies in other cities. Many ofthem belonged to Scottish societies of various kinds. Amongthem were men prominent in business enterprises and publicinstitutions. We are to see how these elements and conditions combined in the origination of a regiment, and later ofa Battalion which were destined to prove worthy of the history and traditions of the past. The 72nd Highland Regiment came into being at a time of peace. In a few yearsitwas to be tried in the furnace of war.xxlv