Lanark and Renfrew Scottish

Maj-Gen. H.W. Foster

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Major-General Harry Foster
4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
Highland Light Infantry of Canada
13th & 7th Infantry Brigades
4th & 1st Canadian Divisions
Foster

He was just as guilty of murder as I was at the time … or any other senior officer in the field during a battle. The difference between us was that I was on the winning side. That makes a big difference.

— Gen. Foster on Kurt Meyer

(Quoted in Tony Foster, Meeting of Generals, 1988)

Born on 2 April 1904 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Harry Wickwire Foster left Royal Military College the in 1924 to take a commission with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse. His father, Major-General Gilbert Lafayette Foster, had been director of medical services for the Canadian army during the First World War. With the outbreak of Second World War in September 1939, Foster was appointed brigade major of the 1st Canadian Brigade in England.

Continue reading →

Lt-Col. W.H. Buchanan

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Buchanan
Lanark and Renfrew Scottish
BuchananWH

Give them our best wishes and tell them that this famous old Regiment has been revived again in a new blaze of glory and every time we look at the new shoulder flash we will think of the wonderful example of courage they showed. Everybody has heard of the Lanark and Renfrews now and are greatly interested in the new flash because of the way the boys put it right on the map of the world again.”

(Buchanan quoted by Padre C.M. MacLean, 15 Jan 1945)

In July 1944, Allied military leaders in Italy had decided to add a new infantry brigade to the 5th Armoured Division in addition to the 11th Infantry Brigade. The 1st Canadian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment converted from artillery to infantry as part of the newly formed 12th Infantry Brigade under Major-General Dan Spry. At the end of August 1944, Major William Herbert Buchanan transferred from the Seaforth Highlanders to become second-in-command to Lieutenant-Colonel W.C. Dick, the officer assigned to reorganize the anti-aircraft unit. Born on 5 August 1913 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Buchanan was a fireman who had originally joined the Calgary Highlanders.

Continue reading →

Lt-Col. W.C. Dick

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant-Colonel W.C. Dick
Lanark and Renfrew Scottish
Dick

By his untiring efforts he obtained the necessary extra officers from infantry units throughout the Corps, personally selected all key personnel from the reinforcement unit and arranged special training for the unit’s reinforcements … The organization and training of a Battalion in forty-one days, in addition to services previously mentioned, adequately demonstrate qualities which are deserving of the highest recognition.

 (O.B.E. citation, 28 Apr 1945)

In July 1944, Allied military leaders in Italy decided that the 5th Armoured Division required additional infantry regiments beyond the 11th Infantry Brigade. As the Allies had achieved air superiority, the 1st Canadian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment was converted from artillery to infantry as part of the newly formed 12th Infantry Brigade. On 20 July, Lieutenant-Colonel William Clement Dick arrived as replacement for Lieutenant-Colonel F.J. Thorne. Born on 10 December 1912 in Toronto, Dick had fought at Dieppe and briefly served as brigade major for the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade in Italy.

Continue reading →