Two 8 inch by 10 inch sepia photos in one dark brown wood frame with glass cover:
- March Past Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, July 1917
The 15th Battalion marching past Sir Robert Borden at Béthemont-la-Forêt, France, July 1917. On 2 July, Sir Robert Borden inspected the 15th Battalion and the 3rd Brigade who were in training to act as “shock troops” to roll back the Germans. While Canadian forces were being readied, the British were struggling to stop the German breakthrough of the spring, which had broken the British line at every point except around Vimy Ridge.
2. The 15th Battalion captures guns, Amiens – 8 August 1918
The use of tanks at Amiens made it possible for the troops to move quickly by suppressing machine guns post on the fly. Private Robert Aitken recorded surprise at how far they were able to penetrate behind German lines: “ After getting rid of this post we walked behind this tank for a bit. We kept going, clearing the fields of these Machine gun posts as they were trying to hold us up. Well, just as we reached the ridge, the Highlanders made a charge. Giving out a great yell we swarmed down on what was left of the Huns and captured their heavy guns, about four in number.” Note the number of Highlanders wearing kilt. Highland units were given permission to wear a kilt in combat other than the trousers or shorts issued shortly after the war began. Many of the 15th Battalion, proud of their battalion’s heritage continued to wear the kilt.
