72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADAintimated their willingness to take commissions, is Lieut.Guy H. Kirkpatrick, son of Sir George Kirkpatrick, whoserved in the Strathcona Horse and 2nd Canadian MountedRifles in South Africa."The list of officers is being quickly filled up ....For the remaining commissions Major Leckie will be gladto receive and consider applications from those desiringto serve."The Committee continued theircorrespondence with theMilitia Department at Ottawa, and authorization was finallyobtained on November 24th, 1910. The movement to havethe regiment affiliated with the Seaforth Highlanders wasalso carried on with the result that the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Imperial Seaforths gave their consent to theVancouver regiment using their name in a letter writtenfrom India, and dated April 5th, 1911, which reads in partas follows :"The officers of this Battalion have been informed thatthose interested in raising the 72nd Highlanders of Canada were in favour of the name Seaforth being used inconnection with the title, and desired that the regiment beaffiliated with the Seaforth Highlanders.They are entirelyin agreement with the scheme, and are honoured by theproposals made therein."Among the items of interest at this time was a reportpresented to the Committee by the C. 0. of the regiment,Capt. R. G. Edwards Leckie. Some passages of this document, which is dated April llth, 1911, are as follows :"At the last meeting of the representatives of the Scottish Societies of Vancouver, a Finance Committee to raisethe necessary funds for the Highland regiment was formed,with Mr. Macdonell as Chairman. The idea was that thiscommittee, with the co-operation of the Scottish Societies,would endeavour to raise the sum of $25,000 for the purpose of equipping the new regiment with Highland uniforms, etc. Mr. Macdonell has practically taken all thiswork upon his shoulders, and has been successful to datein securing half the desired amount. We are very gratefulto him for his untiring endeavours in this work."I had been requested, previous to this meeting, by theDistrict Officer Commanding, to go ahead and select theofficers for the regiment .... In selecting the officers,my first consideration was efficiency, as it is my desire to make this regiment one of the best in the Dominion; and without efficient officers, such a thing is impossible. Nationality came next in consideration; and as