Lt-Col. M.S. Dunn

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Lieutenant-Colonel M.S. Dunn
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders

A soldier is just as much a citizen as any other person. He must be a good citizen first. He can’t be a good soldier otherwise. I feel that every person in the Canadian Army has a definite responsibility toward the community where he is stationed. He must not be merely an onlooker.

(Kingston Whig-Standard, 4 Aug 1955)

Born in 1905 in Old Chelsea, Quebec, Michael Stephen Dunn graduated from the University of Ottawa and was a school teacher and vice principal in Cornwall, Ontario. Originally second-in-command of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Dunn reverted to captain to go overseas with the 1st Division headquarters staff in December 1939. Following appointments with Canadian Military Headquarters in London, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and deputy assistant adjutant-general.

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Lt-Col. R.T.E. Hicks-Lyne

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Lieutenant-Colonel R.T.E. Hicks-Lyne
Prince of Wales Rangers
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
HickLyne

Throughout the whole operation, while in command of his company, he displayed marked courage and initiative in handling his men. During the operation north of Cambrai, on September 30th, he personally led his company in the attack until severely wounded. His fine example and leadership were largely responsible for the good work done by his company in pushing on to their objective.”

(M.C. citation, 30 Jul 1919)

Born on 7 July 1892 in Kingston-On-Thames, Surrey, England, Richard Temple Easles Hicks-Lyne was Peterborough, Ontario bank manager and commanding officer of the Prince of Wales Rangers since 1938. First commissioned with the 166th Battalion in January 1916, he served in France with the 75th Battalion and earned the Military Cross. He was invalided due to a gunshot wound at Canal du Nord at the end of September 1918.

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Lt-Col. W.J. Franklin

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Lieutenant-Colonel W. John Franklin
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
Franklin

Hon. Mr. Aseltine: … Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin served his country with distinction in the two World Wars and proved an able administrator in the difficult position which he filled here for so many years. He is a fine gentleman, possessed of what it takes to get along with people, and as a result his retirement prompts all of us to express our appreciation of and personal regard for him.

 Hon. Mr. Roebuck: Why did you throw him out, then?

(Senate Debates, 30 Mar 1960, 472)

Born on 20 June 1893 in Pendleton, Ontario, William John Franklin was commanding officer of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders from 1932 to 1934, having served with the militia since 1909. At the stary of the First World War, he served on St. Lawerence canal guard duty before being commissioned with the 154th Battalion. He served in France with the 2nd Battalion, earning a promotion to captain and the Military Cross. He was invalided home due to a gunshot wound at Canal du Nord in September 1918.

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Lt-Col. Gillie & Maj. Shaver

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Lieutenant-Colonel G.D. Gillie
&
Major J.H. Shaver
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders

After repulsing a counter-attack, he made a most difficult reconnaissance in order to establish an offensive flank, during which he captured three of the enemy. He then entered a and held an enemy trench with a small party for ten hours, defeating two enemy bombing parties. His utter disregard for personal safety was a splendid example to his men.

(Military Cross citation, 26 July 1917)

Born on 17 May 1890 in Cornwall, Ontario, George Douglas Gillie worked for the Department of National Revenue as senior customs official. In March 1916, he enlisted with the 154th Battalion as a lieutenant and joined the 21st Battalion by the end of the year. In April 1917, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an observer and earned the Military Cross in the skies above Vimy Ridge. He relinquished his commission as a flying officer in 1919 and returned home for demobilization.

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Lt-Col. R.D. Hodgins

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Lieutenant-Colonel Ray Hodgins
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

I came to, lying on the side of the ramp. Young Sparks was dead on the other side, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. I had shrapnel wounds in my buttocks which is the best place you can get hit. They just seared through the flesh. I didn’t even realize I had a lacerated rear end.

(Quoted in Snowie, Bloody Buron, 73)

Born on 1 June 1913 in Preston, Ontario, Raymond Dent Hodgins was commissioned in the Highland Light Infantry in 1936 and mobilized as a lieutenant in 1940. He served as a “C” Company commander on D-Day and during the Normandy campaign. During the “Blood Buron” attack of 8 July 1944, he was part of the battalion command group that was struck was an enemy shell. A lieutenant and three signallers were killed while Lieutenant-Colonel F.M. Griffiths was wounded. Hodgins suffered a shrapnel wound to the buttocks, “the best place to get hit.”

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Lt-Col. P.W. Strickland

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Lieutenant-Colonel Phil Strickland
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

Later, on the 12th October, at Driewegen … Lieutenant Colonel Philip Wheaton Strickland again led his battalion with great courage and determination against a strongly held German position which threatened to delay the advance of 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade.

(D.S.O. citation, 27 Nov 1944)

Born on 9 April 1913 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Philip Wheaton Strickland was a manufacturing executive in Chatham, Ontario, having graduated the University of Saskatchewan with a law degree and attended Columbia University. He mobilized with the Highland Light Infantry in 1940 serving as intelligence officer but soon qualified for staff officer duties. He served with First Canadian Army until the early phase of the Normandy campaign when he was appointed brigade major with 9th Infantry Brigade.

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Lt-Col. N. Kingsmill

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Lieutenant-Colonel Nichol Kingsmill
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

Does not feel able to think and has no confidence that he can carry on. This officer in my opinion has an anxiety state which is associated with the handling of men. His chief fear seems to be the responsibility of sending men and officers out on missions from which he knows they are likely not to return. He is afraid of unnecessary casualties through some error on his part.

(Neuropsychiatrist report, 6 Nov 1944)

Born on 22 December 1906 in London, Ontario, Nicol Kingsmill was a Toronto lawyer and graduate of the University of Toronto and RMC. He was son of Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Bernard Kingsmill (1976—1950), commanding officer of the 123rd Battalion in the First World War. The younger Kingsmill served with the Canadian Officer Training Corps and the Royal Regiment of Canada before returning to Canada in January 1942 with an appointment to be a brigade major in the 6th Division.

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Lt-Col. F.M. Griffiths

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Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Griffiths
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

Although all good biographies start with date and place of birth, Nifty would be the most disappointed man in the would if one failed to refer to Niagara Falls. Griff, though small of stature has an enviable record as an athlete … His infectious good humour and endless supply of good jokes has helped us over many a blue day.

(RMC Review, Class of 1931, 30)

Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on 2 October 1909, Franklyn McCallum Griffiths was a graduate of the Royal Military College and an Osgoode Hall-trained lawyer in Niagara. He had belonged to the Lincoln and Weiland Regiment before the Second World War and transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment in late 1939. He completed a course at RMC in 1942 and served as brigade major and staff officer when he went back to England.

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Lt-Col. R.F. Shantz

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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.

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Lt-Col. R.J. McPherson

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Lieutenant-Colonel R.J. McPherson
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

Made of good, solid stuff … would do well despite conservative ideas and limited imagination.

(Bernard Montgomery quoted in English, Monty and the Canadian Army, 68)

Born on 20 March 1906 in Puslinch, Ontario, Robert John McPherson was a prewar member of the Highland Light Infantry in Galt and mobilized as second-in-command in 1940. He succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel J.A. MacIntosh in January 1942. The next month, during his inspection of the 9th Infantry Brigade, General Bernard Montgomery, thought McPherson “good stuff” with promise to do well, although Monty also noted that the newly promoted colonel evidently lacked imagination.

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