– Documents

Photo of War Memorial to be Erected by The 48th Highlanders of Canada, In Queen’s Park, Toronto 1923 48th by Mathers & Haldenby Architects

Description of the 48th Highlanders War Memorial

The Memorial consists of a tall shaft, seven feet square at the base, and six feet square at the top, mounted on a broad platform with steps on all sides, and surmounted by a Scottish Crown, similar to those on St. Giles, Edinburgh and King’s College, Aberdeen (erected 1497). The entire Memorial is to be built of a light grey granite, quarried at Stanstead, Quebec. The top of the Crown is forty feet above the ground level and the width at the base of the steps is thirty feet.

The foundation consists of a solid concrete block, reinforced with steel, and built to a depth of five and a half feet below the ground.

On the base of the shaft, on each of the four sides, are placed large blocks or buttresses, which will be marked as follows-

The main tablet on the north side will have the badge of the 48th Highlanders and below it a plate with the words, “15th Canadian Battalion” both in bronze. Below these, cut in the granite, will be the main inscription as follows –

1914-1918

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED, AND TO THE UNDYING HONOUR OF THOSE WHO SERVED, THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY THERIR REGIMENT, THE 48TH HIGHLADERS OF CANADA, DILEAS GU BRATH.

The tablet on the east side will bear the bronze badge of the 92nd Battalion.

The tablet on the west side will bear the bronze badge of the 134th Battalion.

The tablet on the south side will bear the badge of the 48th Highlanders with an inscription stating that in addition to numerous enlistments, drafts were sent to the 19th, 35th, 58th and 74th Battalions.

On the front elevation of the shaft, a Sword of Sacrifice is carved in relief, and on each side of this the Battle Honours will be carved in two vertical lines.

The top of the shaft terminates in a series of buttresses forming the supports for the Crown.  A copper box contains the records of the Regiment will be placed in one of the stones at the base.