72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

THE WAR STARTS.Hankley Common. As the King rode on to the paradeground 15,000 infantry drawn up in mass formation, withfixed bayonets, crashed as one man into the "present,"the flash of bayonets in the sun transforming the commoninto a glittering expanse. After the inspection, each unitmarched past the King in column of half-companies, theswinging kilts and spats of the Vancouver Highlandersshowing up to great advantage.Later in July, the 4th Canadian Division was inspectedby Right. Hon. Lloyd George and Lieut.-Gen. Sir SamHughes. At the conclusion of the inspection, the BritishPremier (then Minister of War) delivered a stirring address to the officers of the Division. In reference to thislast inspection a most interesting letter was received byCol. Clark, under date of August 11, 1916, from a verydistinguished Vancouver officer who accompanied the Minister of war during the inspection. The following extractwill be read with interest: "While in conversation withMr. Lloyd George yesterday morning, discussing the review of the Canadian troops, not knowing that I knewyou or your regiment, he told me that he was very muchimpressed with one particular battalion the VancouverHighlanders, that they were the finest body of men hehad ever seen, and that officers and men were fit for anything. He spoke particularly of your pipe-major. Hethought him a fine specimen of a Highlander. He was alsotold, he said, that many of your men could speak Gaelic.You certainly made a great hit with the Minister of war.You can imagine how pleased I was to be able to say tohim that I had the houour of being your Honorary Colonel."On the occasion of His Majesty the King s visit to Aldershotin July, 1916, the Battalion was distinguished by beingselected to furnish a guard of honour of three officers and100 other ranks. Early in June the 72nd Battalion hadbeen notified that the G. O. C. 4th Canadian Division, had19