Lieutenant-Colonel R.F. Shantz
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

There are a lot of jobs in England at the present time that could be done by women … I feel that more girls could have been enlisted a long time ago. If that had been the case, the Canadian army wouldn’t need the reinforcement it does today.

(Quoted in news clipping in HLIC War Diary, Apr 1944)

Born in Preston, Ontario on 24 June 1905, Robert Frederick Shantz was superintendent for the family foundry business and member of the Highland Light Infantry since 1924. He joined as drum major, was commissioned in 1925, promoted to captain in 1932, and promoted to major in 1935. He succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel H.W. Foster to take command of the battalion in February 1943.

During Montgomery’s inspection tour a year earlier, he had been unimpressed with the battalion’s company commanders, which presumably included Shantz. He nevertheless commanded the HLI until January 1944. He was medically reboarded and sent home due to ill health. He was replaced by Major F.M. Griffiths, a younger officer recent attached to the HLI.

Back home, he took command of the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Shantz ran as the Liberal-Progressive candidate in the June 1945 provincial election. He placed third in the riding of Waterloo South.

He died in Waterloo on 19 January 1970.