Many current and former Highlanders have not visited the Regimental Museum. Now you can explore it from wherever you are — and discover far more than a quick walk-through could ever provide.

Have you visited the 48th Highlanders Museum?

For many current and former members of the Regiment, the honest answer is probably no. Work, school, family commitments, distance, and museum hours all get in the way. Some may not know exactly where the museum is. Some may not realize how much is there. Some may not even know that we have a Regimental Museum.

That is a shame — because the 48th Highlanders Museum is one of the Regiment’s real treasures. It did not build itself. Generations of Highlanders and volunteers have given thousands of hours to collect, preserve, organize, and interpret thevRegiment’s story. The result is a remarkable museum that reflects service, sacrifice, tradition, and regimental pride from 1891 to the present day.

The Digital Guided Tour App

Now there is an easy way to explore it properly, whether you are across the city or across the Country (or, for that matter, overseas). The 48th Highlanders Museum Digital Guided Tour App lets you visit the museum using your phone, tablet, or computer. It is not just a website or a list of artifacts. It is a guided experience that takes you from one display to the next, then from a display case to the artifacts inside it, and on to the related people, photographs, and stories behind them.You can use the Tour to focus on what interests you most — weapons, uniforms, war service, UN or NATO service, notable Highlanders, and more. You do not have to follow the same path as everyone else. You can build a tour that matches your interests. For those currently serving, this is more than a look into the past.

It is a way to better understand the regiment you serve today and to become a more informed, more professional Highlander. The uniforms, weapons, traditions, and experiences preserved in the museum are part. For former members, the app offers a way to reconnect with the Regiment through the equipment, stories, and memories that still matter long after service ends.

One example of a good place to begin (there are many others!) is the display “Field Uniforms: 1914–1975”. This display shows how the appearance, equipment, and experience of Highlanders changed across generations. It includes uniforms, weapons, equipment, posters, and related material from the First World War, the Second World War, and the post-war era.

⛶

Among the featured artifacts are the Bren Gun, Mk 1M, the flag marking the limit of advance at Vimy Ridge, and the Lewis Gun Mark 1. On the list of artifacts, select any of these to dive deeper. Each leads into a much larger story. The Bren connects to the realities of twentieth-century warfare. The Vimy flag marker connects directly to one of The Regiment’s defning battlefeld achievements. The Lewis Gun shows an earlier generation of firepower and the Highlanders who used it. Several striking posters and other items add colour and context.

This is also why the Tour has become more useful over time. When the virtual tour app was launched, we discovered that people often did not want to stop after only one display. They followed one trail, and then another, then another … never running out of interest but often running out of time. That is why the app now includes a “Resume Tour” feature. If you need to stop your virtual tour, you can come back later and continue where you left off.

The museum is too good, and the work behind it too substantial, to be left unexplored. Take a proper look.

⛶

Go to https://museum.48thhighlanders.ca/install-web-app/ on your phone, tablet, or computer.

• • • Follow the directions to add the bookmark that opens the app.
    • Open the app and click Start Tour to go to the display list.
    • Click Field Uniforms: 1914–1975, or use filters such as Weapons
      and equipment or 1939–1945 World War 2 to narrow your search and customize your tour.
    • Need to stop? Next time you visit, tap Resume Tour — it picks up
      where you left off.

No login required. No app store. Works on any device. Virtually no storage space required

One of the great things about being a Highlander is that you carry with pride the legacy of generations upon generations of people imbued with the Highland spirit … resolute in defence, aggressive and determined in the attack, principled in victory, and defiant in defeat. That spirit is captured in many Scottish Gaelic expressions, maxims and proverbs. In this month’s Gaelic Corner we introduce one of them to you:
A ’Bhiast as mutha ag ithe na beiste as lugha. Due to the idiosyncrasies of Scottish Gaelic grammar, this translates literally to “The beast biggest eating of the beast smallest”. Its meaning, though, is clear, and can take many forms: The biggest beast eats the smallest beast. The bigger beast eats the smaller beast. The stronger beats the weaker. The better trained prevails over the poorly trained. The more motivated defeats the poorly motivated. The better led outsmarts the poorly led. The committed succeed over the uncommitted.

How is it pronounced? Fairly easily, as follows: A’bhiast (Uh vee-ahst) as mutha (ahs moo-ah) ag ithe (ik uh) na beiste (nuh besh-tuh) as lugha (ahs loo-uh). Practice it a few times and you will find that it will start rolling off your tongue. It’s a great way to start your next conversation with a person who is lacking in the Highland Spirit which we are proud to call our own and which we carry into action in doing all that we do.

06 April 1917

A raiding party, composed of 1 N.C.O. and 8 men, attempted an entrance of enemy trench at about A.16.a.95.50. Party formed up on far lip of crater 4 of PARIS GROUP which point they were able to reach without being observed by the enemy. The point aimed at was an apparent gap in the German Wire at the above map location. The party reached thispoint without interference and got through the old high wire, but were unable to enter the trench owing to new wire (gooseberries two and a half feet high and six feet broad , and which were close up to his parapet). This wire is new and patrol saw that it extended for at least 100 yards but could not see further plainly. Two of the enemy were seen approaching from the left along the front line, and two from the right. Our party immediately started to bomb the parties and disposed of two of the enemy. The Huns retaliated with bombs and were reinforced by two more. Our party then retired and we suffered one light casualty. As our party retired, a few rifle shots were fired but there was no Machine Gun fire. One light breaking into two green, was sent up and the enemy opened a light barrage of Whizbangs lasting about 15 minutes. The new wire found is quite impassable in its present condition. The enemy attitude is alert and determined. Throughout the day our artillery and T.M.s were active but the enemy did not retaliate to any great extent.

C.E. Bent
Lieut-Col., Commanding,
15th. Battalion,
48th. Highlanders of Canada.

(Editor’s Note: During the First World War, Canadian and British unitsused large-scale map sheets of battle areas which were first divided into a grid of lettered squares and which were then further divided into numberedsubdivisions. The diary entry above references an enemy trench “at about A.16.a.95.50”. The specific map sheet to which that grid reference applies isnot specified in the war diary entry, presumably because the map sheet of the area in which the 15th Battalion was operating on 06 Apr 17 was well-known and easily established. On that map sheet, the enemy trench would have been located in a large lettered square (ie, square “A”), in a numbered sub-square (ie, sub-square 16), and in smaller lettered and numbered subdivisions within that sub-square (ie., a.95.50). The pin-point accuracy which this grid reference system permitted was important in the context of WWI trench warfare given the close-quarters nature of the fighting and the resulting risk of friendly-fire incidents during artillery barrages. Pin-point accuracy of grid references wasalso important given the very limited gains and losses of controlled ground which were possible in the context of trench warfare.)

22 July 1943 ASSORO, SICILY

Shortly after midnight “B” and “D” Coys. launched their attacks on the heights of ASSORO to relieve the pressure on the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment who had been holding the town itself for 24 hours and were in bad shape “B” Coy. took up a position on a high ridge ½ mile SOUTH WEST of the Town.

⛶

“C” Coy. occupied the Town. “D” Coy. SOUTH EAST of the Town, while “A” Coy. captured four trucks, one 88 mm gun and took 60 Italian prisoners who surrendered as soon as they knew we were there. During the whole of this operation the Bn. lost one man killed and seven wounded as the result of M.G. fire. Bn. dug in and waited. Light shelling continued throughout the day. In the evening the Bn. ordered to move forward and take the road junction N.W. of LEONFORTE. “B” and “D” Coys. were in the process of forming up in the Bn. H.Q. area when the Heavie of the Germans opened up on the position killing four and wounding ten. Advance elements moved forward at midnight. Weather – hot and dry.

(Editor’s Note: The word “Heavie” was used in Canadian and British accounts of WWII combat to informally refer to a German heavy weapon, heavy tank, or heavy artillery piece. The war diary entries above have not been selected due to their particular content. Rather, they serve to illustrate typical events in the life of The Regiment and its people during war. Interestingly, the entry above for April 6, 1917 was written shortly before The Battle of Vimy Ridge, which according to most historians raged from April 9 to April 12, 1917)

Each Summer, our 48th Highlanders veterans participate in two important
parades that take place each July and August. This year, the parades will be
held as follows:

83rd Anniversary of The Landing in Sicily/Pachino Day

Parade: Friday, July 10, 2026 @ 7:00 pm, Belleville Armoury
The “Landing in Sicily/Pachino Day Parade” is an annual event held in Belleville, Ontario to recognize the Allied forces landing in Sicily on July 10, 1943, as part of “Operation Husky” and the start of the WWII Italian Campaign. The fighting lasted for two years throughout Italy culminating in the final surrender of German and remaining fascist Italian forces in Caserta, Italy on 02 May 1945.

The July 10th date is significant for the 48th Highlanders because The
Regiment was deeply involved in the Italian Campaign and won 25 of its 27
WWII battle honours during several major engagements in Italy, all the while
advancing across Sicily and subsequently north up the Italian peninsula before being transferred from the Italian theatre to Northwest Europe to participate in the liberation of The Netherlands.

⛶

This year is the 83rd anniversary of the Landing in Sicily. Hosting the Parade will be the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, along with participation by The 48th Highlanders of Canada and The Royal Canadian Regiment. All three regiments landed together in Sicily in July, 1943, and have been marking the anniversary of the Landing together every year since then. This year’s celebration will be the 83rd in a row!

For those 48th veterans and their families/friends (and active unit members) who would like to march or participate in the “Landing in Sicily/Pachino DayParade”, here are the details. Please note that the timings this year differs somewhat from the timings in years past.

DATE: Friday, July 10, 2026
TIMES: Parade/Service 1900 hrs (7:00 pm); Spaghetti Dinner 1930 hrs (7:30
pm).
LOCATION: Belleville Armoury, 187 Pinnacle Street, Belleville, Ontario. Directions From Toronto: Highway 401 East to North Front St exit Belleville, then south to Pinnacle St.
DRESS CODE FOR 48TH VETERANS MARCHING IN THE PARADE: 48th badged glengarry, white short-sleeve dress shirt, grey slacks, black dress shoes. Medal ribbons (if you have them) to be worn above the left shirt pocket. All 48th Active Battalion members are welcome to participate in the parade with our veterans in dress as specified by the Commanding Officer.
DINNER: This year the dinner will take place at 1930 hrs in the Armoury. The dinner is open to all and will be a traditional Italian style dinner with spaghetti and meatballs, bread, wine and desserts. The cost of the dinner will be $20 per person (the cost of the dinner to 48th veterans will be covered as in previous years).
PARADE: Veteran members of the 48th, the RCR and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment will form up on the Armoury parade square at 1900 hrs (7:00 pm) and march outside to the cenotaph for a memorial service. In the case of inclement weather, the service will be held inside.
GUESTS: All members of the 48th Regimental Family are welcome to attend the Parade and memorial service. Seating is available. Local free parking is plentiful near the Armoury location.
TRANSPORTATION: Participants are responsible to provide their own transportation to Belleville. If you can assist with car pooling that would be appreciated.

WARRIORS DAY PARADE, – 105th ANNUAL

10:30 am, Saturday, August 22, 2026
Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Toronto

This year, the Warriors’ Day Parade will celebrate its 105th
Anniversary. The Parade began at Toronto’s CNE in 1921, three
years after the end of WWI. It is the largest parade for CAF
veterans in Canada, with several thousands of participants and
spectators each year.

Our parade contingent will again be led by our 48th Drill
Team, a guard commander, and the 48th Pipes and Drums/
Military Band. We are looking for a good turnout of our 48th
veterans to help support the event and maintain The Regiment’s
well deserved profile in Toronto and Canadian society.
Our active unit members will be marching as part of the 32
Brigade contingent. This year special recognition will be given
to the Royal Canadian Legion which is celebrating its 100th
Anniversary (1926-2026).

For those 48th veterans who would like to march in the
Warriors Day Parade, here are the details:
DATE: Saturday, August 22, 2026 Time: 1030-1200 hrs
LOCATION: Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Toronto,
across from Fort York Armoury, 660 Fleet Street (form up in the east parking lot
by the Princes’ Gates, CNE, by 1015 hrs)
DRESS CODE FOR 48TH VETERANS MARCHING IN THE PARADE: 48th-badged
glengarry, white short-sleeved dress shirt, grey slacks, black dress shoes. Medal
ribbons (if you have them) to be worn above the left shirt pocket.
GUESTS: All members of the 48th Regimental Family are welcome to attend
the parade. Admission to the CNE on August 22nd is free to all Canadian
Forces (Regular and Reserve) current and past members. You must show your
CF identification (Active or Veteran) card to gain free admission to the CNE. If
you don’t have an ID card, you may also use your CF release certificate.
PARKING: There is free parking for veterans at the CNE underground lot of
the Enercare Centre by the Princes’ Gates (north side underground entrance).
Military ID will be checked.
VIEWING STAND: Located just inside the Princes’ Gates, there is a large,
multi-tier viewing stand for those who would like to see the Parade from the
best possible vantage point.
POST PARADE: Various Messes will be open at Fort York Armoury for post
parade participants and guests. Drinks and light snacks are usually available
for purchase.
More information on the Warriors’ Day Parade may be obtained on the
parade’s official website at https://thewarriorsdayparade.ca/

VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA (VAC) – UPDATES

The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) website at www.veterans.
gc.ca provides extensive information on a number of areas
related to support of our Regular Force and Reserve veterans, as
well as Canadian military history topics of interest.
VAC agents are available to answer your questions during
regular business hours at 1-866-522-2122. There is also a 24-hour
emergency line for veterans requiring counselling with a Mental
Health Professional at 1-800-268-7708.
If you wish to set up a VAC account with an agent regarding
disability support, please remember to have your military service
number and CF documentation available.
Note: If you have completed your CAF service and have
sustained an injury during duty, you may be qualified for
disability benefits. Contact our 48th Veterans Services Team for
more information or to discuss your options.

⛶

Extract from video by unknown videographer

MILITARY DISCOUNTS FOR 48TH VETERANS

The website below provides an extensive list of discounts for veterans and active service members across Canada. The site is titled: “Canadian Military & Veteran Discount Guide: The Ultimate List” (Dealhack Guides). You can access the Guide at the following internet address:
https://dealhack.ca/blog/canadian-military-discounts
There are literally scores of places that now accept veterans’ cards for discounts. Wherever you go, always remember to check if the establishment recognizes military discounts. It may save you hundreds of dollars per year!!

48TH VETERANS INFORMATION CONTACT

Sgt. Al Kowalenko, OMC (Ret’d)
Veterans Services Coordinator & Vice-President
48th Highlanders Regimental Association
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 416-219-4967 (message service 24/7)

The annual e-version of The Falcon is coming out soon, but if we don’t have a valid email address for a former Highlander, they won’t receive it. As well, former Highlanders for whom we do not have a current e-mail address are missing out on the monthly Dileas Despatches, updates on regimental events, and the simple comradeship of knowing what their old unit and friends are up to.

Add to our contact list

We want to bring more Highlanders back into the loop, and we need your help to do it. Your 3-Step Mission (for Today or as Soon as You Can Get To It):

1. Log into the Member Dashboard: Go to 48thHighlanders.ca and log in using your registered email address. (While there, you can also grab free eBook versions of our regimental histories).
2. Check the Directory: Search for the guys you served with to see if they are already registered.
3. Get Them on the Roll: If a buddy is missing, reach out to them to register.

Following are some random photos from 2006 – 2009. Many of the guys in this gallery are not registered. Can you help?

Let’s make sure that no one gets left out of the loop for the coming issue of The Falcon or for future monthly issues of Dileas Despatches.

Lost Touch: Do You Have a Current Email for These Members?

We have, unfortunately, lost contact with many former members of The Regiment. When we send communications to their email addresses on file we simply receive bounce-backs. Because their system login to the regimental website is tied to an old e-mail address, they have been inadvertently (but completely) cut off from the Regimental Family. We have set out below the names of ten of the former Highlanders with whom we have lost touch. We will include lists of other former Highlanders who we cannot contact in future issues of Dileas Despatches. Our hope is that, by providing regular lists of such names, the Regimental Family writ large will assist us in gradually tracking former Highlanders down so that we can indeed keep more people in the loop and strengthen the ties that bind all of us together as Highlanders, both present and past.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you are in touch with any of the former Highlanders listed below, please log into 48thHighlanders.ca using your email address, and use the dashboard form to submit their current email addresses.

HAVE THEY PASSED ON? If you know that any of these members are deceased, please notify the webmaster directly so we can update our regimental records correctly and honour their memories by way of an announcement to the Regimental Family.

ARE YOU ON THIS LIST? If you see your name below, please send an email directly to the webmaster with your current email address. We will get you right back on the distribution list so that you don’t miss the upcoming Falcon, the next Dileas Despatches, or invitations to upcoming regimental events. Let’s get you (and the people below) reconnected!

Please note that this list will change with each monthly issue of Dileas Despatches as we work to get back in touch and connected with every former Highlander who wishes to be back on the roll.