As most Highlanders know, The Regiment’s Memorial at the north end of Queen’s Park was erected during the summer of 1923, and was officially unveiled and dedicated on Armistice Day (now Remembrance Day), 11 November 1923.

Photographs taken during the dedication ceremony in November 1923 highlight how fundamentally the area around the Memorial has changed in the past 103 years. Indeed, in 1923 private residences were located to the west of the Memorial, and Victoria College, which is now hidden from view from the Memorial, stood prominently to the northeast. The photograph below, taken during the 1923 dedication ceremony, helps with an appreciation of the very significant transformation of the Memorial site over the ensuing years.

It’s not just additional buildings that have been added to the landscape around the Memorial. In 1923, Queen’s Park Crescent did not (as it does today) encircle Queen’s Park. In fact, in 1923 Queen’s Park Crescent consisted only of a roadway running along the east side of Queen’s Park, and carried both northbound and southbound traffic. (This is, indeed, the reason that the street is named Queen’s Park “Crescent”; the shape of the roadway, as it curved around the southeast and northeast sides of Queen’s Park, formed a crescent shape.) Wellesley Avenue did not at that time bisect Queen’s Park as it does today. The west side of Queen’s Park consisted merely of parkland extending all the way to St. George Street and including various University of Toronto buildings, complete with a ravine and a now-buried creek, then known as “Taddle Creek”.

The bucolic environment in which the Memorial stood was significantly disrupted in 1949, when the City of Toronto decided to install a southbound roadway skirting the west side of Queen’s Park, naming the new roadway “Queen’s Park Crescent West”. The original Queen’s Park Crescent, skirting the east side of Queen’s Park, was renamed “Queen’s Park Crescent East” and was altered so as to carry only northbound traffic. To this day, the eastern roadway continues to carry only northbound traffic, while the western roadway continues to carry only southbound traffic.

Over the ensuing years, traffic patterns in the vicinity of the Memorial became increasingly chaotic and dangerous. In particular, pedestrians crossing Queen’s Park Crescent just north of the Memorial had to navigate crossing not just one three-lane roadway of fast-moving traffic (i.e., Queen’s Park Crescent East), but also had to cross a second three lane stream of traffic moving at high speed on Queen’s Park Crescent West. The curved nature of both roadways in the vicinity of the Memorial increased safety-related risks given the reduced visibility for both drivers and pedestrians. Traffic signals were first installed in the 1950’s, but these served merely to facilitate the transfer of northbound traffic on Queen’s Park Crescent East which chose to enter a “roundabout” feature at the north end of Queen’s Park (i.e., immediately north of the Memorial) so as to continue to the west on Harbord Street or to reverse direction and head back south on Queen’s Park Crescent West. Pedestrian safety concerns persisted.

The pedestrian safety concerns were eventually addressed by way of the installation of pedestrian-specific traffic signals immediately in front of the Memorial in 2020. These were approved as part of a City of Toronto initiative to improve pedestrian safety around the Ontario Legislative Precinct generally.

While the traffic and pedestrian control measures which have resulted from the installation of vehicle and pedestrian traffic signals immediately north of the Memorial offer significant benefit in terms of access to the Memorial, they do come with their drawbacks. In particular, the utilization of modern traffic signal systems has necessitated the installation, on the sidewalk in the immediate vicinity of the Memorial, of a large solid-state traffic signal controller cabinet, replacing a much smaller cabinet housing much simpler electromechanical relay equipment. The current controller cabinet appears in the photo below.

We all need to move with the times, and it was probably never realistic for the Regimental Family to expect that the park-like, bucolic and pastoral landscape that the Memorial was first constructed in would be preserved. New buildings in a denser setting, as well as heavier traffic patterns, were inevitable. Perhaps there’s even some symbolic value in the Memorial serving as a bastion of defense to the memory of our Fallen as fast-moving traffic is diverted away from the tall, imposing stone Memorial, standing strong and true in tribute to those who, having made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom, are worthy of the utmost respect.

The traffic signal control box, though, has struck many as an unfortunate adjunct to the Memorial, protruding as it does as a dichotomous intrusion on the intended symmetrical appearance of the Memorial, its plinth and the steps leading to it. The fact that the control box stands less than 15 feet from the base of the Memorial and serves as an obstruction for wreath-laying and other purposes of our Services of Remembrance underlines the importance of somehow finding a solution to the adverse visual impact and interference constituted by the control box.

In an effort to address the negative impacts on the Memorial site presented by the presence of the control box, The Regiment has been working closely with the City of Toronto, through the City’s “Outside the Box” program, on the transformation of the control box to a piece of art, created by a local artist and addressing the close proximity of the control box to the Memorial. Since 2013, over 600 traffic signal boxes across the City have been hand-painted or wrapped by local artists, transforming the boxes into what are often extraordinary works of art. Thankfully, the traffic signal box beside the Memorial has been selected for inclusion in the “Outside the Box” program with the intention that a piece of art be created which serves not to detract from, but rather to actually enhance, the sense of space, purpose, history, tradition and sacrifice which the Memorial evokes.

To that end, on June 25, 2026, representatives of the City of Toronto and of The Regiment, together with Mr. Jim Bravo, toured the Regimental Museum and Moss Park Armoury. Jim Bravo is the artist who has been commissioned by the City to create the artwork which will adorn the Queen’s Park traffic control box. Representing the City of Toronto were Ms. Catherine Campbell and Mr. Michael Hutchinson (who are, respectively, the StreetARToronto Project Manager and the StreetARToronto Project Lead). The Regiment was represented by HLCol von Hahn throughout the Museum tour and the subsequent visit to Moss Park Armoury. During the course of the day (including during a lunchtime roundtable discussion hosted by LCol Wentzell in the Officers’ Mess), various representatives of The Regiment were able to spend time in conversation with Mr. Bravo so as to convey to Mr. Bravo their thoughts, views and perspective regarding the Memorial and what the area surrounding the Memorial means to them as Highlanders. This included insight provided by BGen Young (ret’d) and HCol Beal (ret’d) at the Museum and by the CO, Captain McLean and WO General during the lunchtime roundtable. Fortunately, a number of active unit members were conducting weapons training at Moss Park Armoury that day, and Mr. Bravo was able to hear from those soldiers not only what The Regiment means to them but also about the importance of tradition in creating the identity of an active serving Highlander. Mr. Bravo will be relying on the input from all Highlanders with whom he was able to speak, as well as his thoughts stemming from his own attendance at the Memorial in developing a concept and theme for the Queen’s Park traffic control box artwork. He will then create the artwork which will ultimately adorn the control box. It is hoped that Mr. Bravo’s artwork will be completed early this fall, transforming what most consider to be an item which detracts from the power of the Memorial as a tribute to our Fallen into an urban landscape feature which strengthens the commemorative effect of the Memorial site. We look forward to Mr. Bravo’s contribution to the enduring function of the Memorial site as a tribute to our predecessor Highlanders and the sacrifices they have made for the benefit of all. We hope that the control box artwork will have been created in time for the upcoming annual Service of Remembrance at the Memorial on November 8, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be held by the family of Major George Pearce at St Andrew’s Church (60 Simcoe Street in Toronto, on the southeast corner of King and Simcoe Streets, immediately west of University Avenue on the south side of King Street West) on Wednesday August 19. The service in the church will begin at 1100 hrs and conclude with the Sash Ceremony. Highlanders are reminded to bring glengarries and medals for the ceremony. The Service will be followed by a reception with light refreshments in the Great Hall of the Church. The Museum will be open for visits by family, guests and Highlanders before, during and after the reception. All 48th Highlanders are welcome to attend and pay their respects to the family for the long and significant service of Major Pearce to The Regiment.

Major Pearce served as an Officer in the 48th Highlanders of Canada and, upon his retirement as an officer with the active unit, continued his contributions to The Regiment as a member of the Officers’ Association. Major Pearce served in the Parachute Regiment during his stay in England 1960-61. He represented the 48th Highlanders at Buckingham Palace and later spearheaded the Canadian Military Musical Contingent’s assembly at Wembley Stadium. He planned and directed the Royal Salute to her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at CNE stadium in 1984. He received 3 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Commemorative Medals: Silver in 1977; Gold in 2003; and Diamond in 2013. His depth of knowledge of military protocol and traditions was deep and was most evident on television broadcasts of Remembrance Day Services. For twenty-two years, he made significant contributions to national television broadcasts of Remembrance Day Parades and Ceremonies from Ottawa, reporting for the CBC.

Major Pearce was also deeply knowledgeable about the 48th Highlanders’ traditions, uniforms and history of service to Canada and the defence of freedom. An article by Major Pearce in the Winter/Spring 2014 issue of The Falcon dealing with the history of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Colonel-in-Chief of The Regiment, the Trooping of the Queen’s Colour by The Regiment and the presentation of new colours to The Regiment by the Queen on July 1, 1959 assists with gaining an appreciation for the depth of Major Pearce’s knowledge and expertise; you will find that issue of The Falcon at: Falcon June 2014.  Scroll to Major Pearce’s article on page 19.

Major Pearce leaves behind a sister, four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

We encourage all Highlanders to pay tribute to Major Pearce’s legacy of honour, commitment and service to The Regiment by attending the celebration of Major Pearce’s life at St. Andrew’s Church on Wednesday, August 19 at 1100 hrs

In 1956, an American inventor, Norman A. MacLeod, filed a patent for what he described in the patent application as an “anti-personnel fragmentation weapon”. The prototype directional fragmentation mine which MacLeod had originally designed was referred to as the “T-48”. MacLeod’s patent was eventually granted by the U.S. Patent Office in 1961. MacLeod, who had been trying to come up with a name for his patented mine and who was particularly proud of his Scottish heritage, eventually named his product the “Claymore Mine”.

The U.S. Army, which for about a decade had been trying to develop an anti-personnel explosive device which could be used to halt the kind of “human wave” assaults which had been launched against United Nations Forces (including Canadian troops) by Chinese troops during the Korean War, seized on MacLeod’s design but worked on improvements to it. These improvements eventually led to the U.S. Army’s M18 mine, which in turn led to the development of the M18A1 mine. It was the M18A1 mine, also known as the Claymore, which was eventually extensively used by the U.S. in military operations throughout the Vietnam War and which continues in use today.

But where did MacLeod’s “claymore” moniker come from? The answer, it turns out, is Scottish Gaelic.

Traditional Gaelic warfare tactics made use of both light infantry, known as ceithearn, and heavy infantry, known as gallòglaich. Unlike the ceithearn, who were lightly armed foot soldiers, the gallòglaich were typically suited up in chainmail armour, were often fielded as heavy cavalry, and were typically armed with heavy weapons, including in many cases a claidheamh-mòr (“claidheamh” being the Scottish Gaelic word for “sword”, and “mòr” being the Scottish Gaelic word for “big”). Claidheamh is pronounced “Klay-uvh”, and mòr is pronounced “mohr”, or simply as “more”. So the “claidheamh-mòr” was simply the “Big Sword”, or “Giant Sword”, carried by a traditional heavy infanteer in a Scottish Clan armed force.

Within The Regiment, of course, the claidheamh-mòr (or ‘claymore”) is the basket-hilted sword carried on parade by officers. The somewhat smaller, basket-hilted form of the claidheamh-mòr was developed within British Army Highland regiments during the 19th century, as a method of differentiation from the more “refined” swords carried by the officers of English regiments; the Highland regiments were keen to retain signs of the aggressive gallòglaich traditions and heritage of their forebears.

An officer’s claymore sword and a soldier’s claymore mine … they both reflect Highland military weaponry in the form of the claidheamh-mòr … the “klay-uvh mohr” … the Great Sword. Be proud of your Scottish Gaelic warfare heritage and, with your fellow Highlanders, make it a part of your esprit de corps.

* Please see Dileas Despatches Issue #2606 for further detail regarding the upcoming Warriors Day Parade at the CNE on August 22. Please also note that free admission tickets to Warriors Day for members of the Regimental Family will be available on site at the form up location in the parking lot across from Fort York Armoury from 0930 hrs to 1030 hrs on August 22. Please speak to Sgt Al Kowalenko (Ret’d) who will be on site with the tickets. For further detail please contact Sgt. Al Kowalenko (Ret’d), Vice President of the Association, at [email protected] or at cell number 416-219-4967.

** The 17-Oct Sgts’ Mess Dinner will commence with cocktails at 1700 hrs, with dinner served at 1800 hrs. Details re: pricing to follow in an upcoming issue of Dileas Despatches.

All 48th Highlanders – both present and retired – should bear in mind the potential for advantageous pricing and benefits which comes with obtaining and holding a Government of Canada-issued ID card confirming present or past service.

For serving Highlanders, the CF1 Card is a must have. Any CAF member can join, any family member can join with ‘proof’ of the service member’s service and any DND member including Cadets can also join. The CF1 Card triggers good discounts on a wide range of services. Go to

https://cfmws.ca/about-us/cfone-registration for further detail.

Retired Highlanders should note that the Government of Canada officially recognizes as “Veterans”- for public recognition purposes only- those former members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have successfully completed Basic Military Training and have been released from the Canadian Forces with an honourable discharge. Veterans may also include a Peace Officer who served in a Special Duty Area or on a Special Duty Operation with the Canadian Armed Forces or NATO. These requirements apply equally to those Canadian Forces members who have served in the Reserves. Any veteran can request a Record of Service Card – an NDI 75 or CAF 75 – through Veterans Affairs. Go to https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/transition/service-card.html for further detail.

Please note that both serving and retired Highlanders can use MetroLinx and GO travel without charge. You need to have a NDI20 (permanent ID), NDI 10 (Temporary ID) or a NDI 75 (Veterans Card). Go to https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-on-go/veterans-and-caf for further detail.

Most Highlanders will know of the crossing of the Lamone River in December of 1944 as one of The Regiment’s finest combat achievements. Indeed, the crossing of the Lamone resulted in the award of The Regiment’s Lamone Crossing battle honour. As well, the Regiment’s commencing officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Donald MacKenzie, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the crossing. The operation has become a textbook example of a successful opposed river crossing.

The crossing of the Lamone was an important task faced by Allied Forces in northern Italy in late 1944. After successive German defensive lines, including the Hitler Line and the Gothic Line, had been breached by Allied Forces, the German commander in Italy, Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, adopted a strategy of delaying the Allied Forces’ northward advance by defending each of the rivers which flowed in a northeast direction towards the Adriatic Sea. The Lamone, which runs for about 88 km from the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano mountains to the Adriatic, was a critical element in Kesselring’s defensive strategy. The Lamone River was a particularly significant barrier to the Allied Forces in December of 1944 due to heavy rains which had resulted in a swollen river, steep and muddy banks, and well-prepared German defensive firing positions which offered excellent observation of attacking forces and which had established preregistered artillery and machine gun fields of fire.

The Regiment’s crossing of the Lamone occurred just south of the hamlet of Boncellino, about 65 km southeast of Bologna. Today, the site of the Lamone Crossing is surrounded by carefully manicured vineyards and well-tended fields and orchards. Not so much in December of 1944. Here is the entry in The Regiment’s war diary describing the nighttime crossing and the subsequent day’s bridgehead consolidation efforts:

11 December 1944

Place: ITALY, SHEET 1/50,000 100 III MR 416346

Weather – Cloudy with a slight frost

Shortly after midnight “C” Coy was reported across the LAMONE and “A” Coy had reached LIPITS(411350), “B” Coy was on GORODETS (414352) and reported hearing an SP gun moving toward them from the north. The gun ran down the road right through the coy position and apparently turned around and came back up. By this time Capt LEADBEATER’S men were ready for it and it was fired on and hit by a PIAT bomb which failed to stop it immediately and the gun disappeared up the road. At 0200 hrs Brig BERNATCHEZ came up to TAC. He seemed pleased with the progress of the brigade and arranged then to pass one coy of the WNSR [i.e., the West Nova Scotia Regiment – Ed.] through our bn, followed later by 2 coys of the R 22é R. On it being reported to him that the P.W. Interrogation had revealed the location of a Bn HQ and 3 SP guns at 403356, the Brigadier himself arranged to have medium guns shell the area, following which a red flame was seen which was believed to be one of the guns burning. At 0300 hrs 2 of our Mk III boats were sunk by shell fire, but despite this loss, the one coy of the WNSR was clear of our crossing site, and “D” Coy was ordered to prepare to cross and move to 409357 – at the time “B” Coy had reached SECTION (412355) and sent its extra platoon to “A” Coy at LIPITS (411350). By 0500 hrs the confusion of the initial crossing had died down and the coys having formed up in the bridgehead, sent guides to 415352 to bring up the 2 pdr anti-tank guns, or Little Johns as they were known, which had crossed on a Mk 5 FBE bridge built by the R.C.E. At 0600 hrs “C” Coy having taken up firm positions at 414353 and 414351 was ordered to move forward to the left of “B” Coy to area 406360. At the same time, the original plan of the coys was altered and Capt MURDOCH was ordered to move his men into the position vacated by Capt MCCUTCHEON. By 0730 hrs move was well under way with “D” Coy in position and “C” Coy at SECTION (411355) and moving towards its final objective. At 0830 hrs a Class II Raft was functioning and the Little Johns were carried across. “C” Coy had reached 40953580 and “B” Coy was ordered to move to 405355 – “A” Coy and “D” Coy were remaining firm at 411350 and 414351 respectively. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the 2 pdrs over the river, and although one was ditched, by 2000 hrs “C” Coy had 2 of the Little Johns in the Coy area. The raft site was under constant shell and mortar fire making the operation so difficult that eventually it ceased. During the remainder of the morning there was little change in the bn area. By 1400 hrs “A” Coy was advancing cautiously beyond LIPITS (411350), “B” Coy was in area SECTION (412355) and moving toward 406355. “C” Coy was also on the move to a point beyond SECTION at 407358. “D” Coy was still firm at the rd jc 414353. At 1440 hrs Brigade ordered that the bn clear up the line of the railway to the power line at 408363. The WNSR were to cross in part of “C” Coy and clear along the road to SINGLE (403362) while the R 22è R went to DUKORA (404375). However, before the plan could be put into effect it was changed , and instead, “A” Coy was ordered to push on to BONCELLINO 401343, and “B” Coy was ordered to take CASA LUGATTI 399349, leaving “C” Coy standing fast at 407356. The WNSR were at the same time to pass one coy through “C” Coy to SINGLE (403362) where it would consolidate, and a second coy was to go to the rd jc OCTAGON (399356) and firm there. “D” Coy would then move to area LIPITS (411350). At 2100 hrs Lt-Col MACKENZIE moved TAC across the Lamone to 411350 with Major PROCTOR as Battle Adjt. At this time Major BANTON remained behind and later returned to “X” area. The area was very quiet with sporadic fire to the south and heavy Arty barrages on the 5th Corps front. Capt. W.G.BURKE-ROBERTSON and the Signal Officer remained behind to maintain the Rear TAC HQ. As a result of working under comd 3 CIB great stress was laid on line comm. It was decided that wherever possible not only would TAC be on line to Bde, but the Rifle Coys would be in telephone communication with TAC. This somewhat radical change in policy meant considerable work for the Sigs pl who were kept continually busy maintaining lines across the river to TAC and beyond to “A” Coy which was the only coy at that time that had line. Another casualty due to sickness in this operation was the Medical Officer Capt MacINTOSH who had only recently succeeded Capt CANTELON. He had held off an attack of jaundice to the last possible moment, but was forced to go out eventually and Capt POLLACK took over as RMO in the midst of the crossing of the LAMONE.

Dìleas gu bràth

There are many ways in which our active battalion can measure its success. Number of personnel on deployments, number of courses completed, quality of training exercises, leadership capabilities of our senior and junior leaders, and the general level of esprit de corps, discipline and battle readiness are all legitimate barometers by which our success can be measured.

There is one measure, though, that effectively encompasses all of those other barometers. That measure is our growth. When we grow, we inevitably improve on many fronts. Growth in our ranks increases our ability to send personnel on deployments and on courses. Increased numbers provide us with greater leadership opportunities for all ranks and allow for better and more realistic training exercises which further develop our potential as a fighting force. And strength in numbers leads to strength in our morale, our spirit, our commitment, our discipline, our pride and our overall fighting capabilities.

Thankfully, our growth record is strong. Indeed, in the past year we have moved from a strength of 150 to a strength of 250. We are unique in the Canadian Armed Forces in demonstrating a one year 66.7% current growth rate. No other CAF unit can lay claim to that kind of growth. Even better, all indications are that our growth is continuing.

The growth we are experiencing aligns nicely with the CAF’s overall modernization program and the anticipated significant role which Primary Reserve units are expected to play in the modernized CAF. Given the recent pattern of consolidation/amalgamation of Primary Reserve units, including some within 32 Brigade, it’s positive and inspiring to see continuing significant growth within our own active unit.

Of course, this is no time to rest on our laurels. Yes, our growth provides us with opportunity for increased resilience, flexibility, overall effectiveness and staying power. But we need to always maintain focus on our traits that have resulted in our growth in the first place. Presenting our soldiers with leadership opportunities, effective and meaningful training, ensuring a high degree of fighting unit pride and commitment, and a continued emphasis on our Highlander esprit de corps and morale need to continue as foundational strengths as we anticipate and lead into the future.

And don’t ever hesitate to tell anyone who is interested of the adventurous, valuable, meaningful, fulfilling … and fun … experience that comes with being a 48th Highlander!

As noted on The Regiment’s website, the Pipes and Drums are at the heart of our regimental life. The Pipes and Drums maintain the daily cadence of our traditions. They are the guardians of The Regiment’s soul, marking the passage of time through duty calls, mess dinners and the “Lament” played to honour fallen comrades. The music of the Pipes and Drums defines The Regiment’s identity, whether they are leading The Regiment on the march, providing entertainment at a mess dinner or providing the solemn atmosphere required for ceremonial occasions, including our annual Service of Remembrance parade.

In our next few issues of Dileas Despatches we intend to strengthen our collective awareness as Highlanders of the rich heritage of pipe music and tradition from which we all benefit and to which we can all contribute through our own knowledge and appreciation of the pipe music to which we are all exposed through parades, special occasions, reunions and mess functions.

We thought we could start with two tunes: first, our Regimental March, Highland Laddie, and second, a superb 4/4 march composed by one of our very own.

Highland Laddie (also referred to as “Hielan’ Laddie”) is actually a traditional popular Scottish folk tune. At some point after 1796, when Robert Burns wrote his famous poem Highland Laddie, the lyrics of the poem were set to the traditional folk tune, and the tune became known by the name of the poem, “Highland Laddie”. The lyrics of the poem celebrate the courage and loyalty of a Highland soldier while also expressing support for the “lawful King”; this last reference may be reflective of the fact that, at the time Burns wrote his Highland Laddie poem, only 50 years had passed since the 1745 rebellion of the Highland Scots against the English Crown; Burns may have been expressing support for the Jacobite cause which had sought to instal Charles Stuart (the grandson of King James II of England) as the rightful King of Scotland and England in preference to King George II. A detailed outline of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion to overthrow the English Crown is, no doubt, well beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that the lyrics to Highland Laddie are well-endowed with the spirit of aggression, loyalty, commitment and principled perseverance which is so valuable in a fighting Highland unit.

Although Highland Regiments of the British Army chose various tunes as their regimental marches during the 18th and 19th centuries, by 1881 virtually all of those units had adopted Highland Laddie as their regimental marches. Following British Army tradition, when the 48th Highlanders of Canada were established in 1891, British Army procedure was followed and Highland Laddie was selected as the new regiment’s march. In particular, the selection of Highland Laddie as the regimental march aligned nicely with the status of Highland Laddie as the regimental march of the Gordon Highlanders, with whom The Regiment formed an official formal alliance in 1904.

In any event, here is a link to an audio recording of Highland Laddie. Strict regimental tradition mandates that, except when on the march, all Highlanders stand to attention whenever Highland Laddie is played.

https://youtu.be/OMa20F5kh5M

A second tune, this one with a much closer and direct connection to The Regiment, is “The 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums”. This tune is also a 4/4 march (meaning that there are four beats in each bar of the music, with one beat per quarter note) and appears to have been composed in 1981 by Angus J. MacDowell (1937-2018), who joined the Pipes and Drums in 1981 as a volunteer drummer and piper after a lengthy career as both a piper and a drummer with each of the City of Montreal Pipe Band and the CFB Rockcliffe Pipe Band. It appears likely that the tune was first written to commemorate the Pipes and Drums’ participation in the 1981 Military Musical Pageant at Wembley Stadium in London. Although Angus MacDowell’s time with The Regiment was short (after a brief sojourn with the 48th Highlanders, he returned to his hometown of Montreal in 1983), he has left behind a wonderful four-part tune which the Pipes and Drums play regularly. Here is a link to an audio recording (played on a practice chanter rather than on the pipes themselves) so that you will recognize the tune when you hear it:

https://pipetunes.ca/tunes/48th-highlanders-of-canada-pipes-and-drums/

Of special interest to Highlanders is the fact that Angus MacDowell’s father, Colonel Thane W. MacDowell, was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the 38th (Ottawa) Canadian Infantry Battalion (now perpetuated by the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa) during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.

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