This Gramophone belonged to the officers of No. 3 Company during World War I. It was taken up to the trenches when the Regiment was in the line during trench duty. The officers entertained themselves with it when “Heine” behaved himself and kept quiet. It was taken with the Company into Germany when the Regiment marched to Engelskirchen and was subsequently brought back to Canada in May 1919.

When the Regiment got back to Toronto, the question came as what was to be done with the old gramophone. It was decided that cards were to be dealt around the officers of No. 3 Company, and whoever got the highest poker hand was to get the machine. Lieutenant Frederick C.S. French MC. MM drew the highest hand and got the gramophone.

After the War Lieutenant French attended the University of Toronto and while on a survey party with the U of T was drowned near Winnipeg, Manitoba in May 1922. The gramophone along with Lt. French’s effects were passed on to his brother RH French of Meaford, Ontario. Mr. French presented to the 48th Highlanders Museum this interesting artifact along with two of the original records which were played in the trenches in World War I.