72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

CHAPTER IH.THE WAR STARTS.Proclamation of war Services of Regiment offered as a unitDetachment goes to Valcartier Offer to furnish an OverseasBattalion Offer accepted Name of Battalion decided Training at Hastings Park, Vancouver Reviews of Battalion Musketry training Battalion leaves for Overseas Is reviewed byH. R. H. the Duke of Connaught Sails for England BramshottCamp Inspection by Field Marshal Viscount FrenchThe King s review Inspection of Division by Rt. Hon. LloydGeorge Musketry achievements First draft for the front.PROCLAMATION of war with Germany on August4th, 1914, was to change the entire aspect of militaryaffairs in Canada. Nowhere was the significance of theevent more vividly realized than among the citizen-soldiersof Vancouver. There was more than one German in Vancouver who from time to time had boasted that "The Day"was coming. The men of the 72nd rose to the occasion anddetermined that nothing should be wanting on their partto make that boast of none effect.Lieut.-Col. R. G. Edwards Leckie immediately telegraphedto the Militia Department at Ottawa offering the servicesof the regiment as a unit.This offer was not accepted, buta detachment consisting of 25 officers and 514 men proceededto the training camp at Valcartier, Quebec, and was incorporated in the 16th Battalion under the command ofLieut.-Col Leckie. These, after severe training in that camp,proceeded overseas and rendered such valiant service ina battalion which subsequently established a war recordsecond to none, and as a fighting unit covered itself withglory.12