Sir Robert Borden watching parade march past 2 July 1918. 48th Highlanders wearing balmorals and kilts. On 2 July, Sir Robert Borden inspected the 15th Battalion and the 3rd Brigade, who were 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 around Vimy Ridge, held by the Canadians. P1159