72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

FORMATION OF THE REGIMENTdiscussed the question of a commanding officer for the regiment with Col. Peters, D.O.C., and it was decided thatthe Scottish Societies should express their desire to theMilitia Department that Capt. R. G. Edwards Leckie shouldbe the C. 0.A very important item at this meeting was the news thatMr. James A. Macdonell, of the firm of Macdonell Czowski& Co., had offered his services as Chairman of a Committeeto collect subscriptions for the outfitting of the proposedHighland regiment. In this regard Mr. Macdonell, afterwards Honorary Colonel of the regiment, performed yeoman service, and it is not too much to say that the ultimatesuccessful launching of the enterprise, so far as the financialend of it was concerned, was largely the result of his untiring efforts. At this meeting also it was decided that theminimum sum to be raised should be $25,000."A report in the Vancouver Daily Province" of July 15th,1910, indicates that the Militia Department had signifiedtheir approval of the formation of the proposed regiment,and of its official number being the 72nd. It also mentionsthat the uniform would be the same as the Seaforths of theImperial Service, with the Mackenzie tartan.The Vancouver Daily Province" of that date has alsothe following to say about the officers of the new regiment:"The prospective Commanding Officer (Capt. R. G. Edwards Leckie) graduated with highest honours from theRoyal Military College, Kingston; won the sword of honour and one of the Governor-General s medals; later heobtained a commission in the 75th Battalion of which hebecame adjutant; subsequently was transferred to thePrincess Louise Hussars, and later to the Cavalry Reserveof officers; recruited a British Columbia detachment ofHorse for the South African War, and later recruitedthe (B. C.) Contingent of the 2nd Canadian MountedRifles. He served at the front as Commander of a squadron of this regiment; was present at the Hart s River engagement and was mentioned in despatches; received theQueen s medal with two clasps. In 1903 he was presentin Somaliland during the campaign of Generals Manningand Sir Charles Egerton, against the Mad Mullah."Among other officers who have seen service and have