Lt-Col. J.D. Macbeth

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Lieutenant-Colonel Doug Macbeth
Canadian Scottish Regiment

But I’d much sooner be dead honorably, than beaten to death in a concentration camp, or have you in one because I wouldn’t take the chance. I’m not going to take foolish risks, but I’m going to do my job for my men, for my unit and for my home. It’s not an adventure. It’s a serious job … I’ll be back this time, too, mum darling. I have to get the lads home too, don’t I? So please don’t worry.

(J.D. Macbeth to Madge MacBeth, 1940)

Born on 28 September 1901 in Detroit, Michigan, John Douglas Macbeth had ancestors and relatives on both sides of his family who fought in every war in North America up to the Fenian Raids, the Riel Rebellion, and the Civil War. “With such a record,” his mother, American-Canadian author Madge Macbeth, wrote, “what chance had I, as a cowardly, peace-loving person, to wean Douglas away from a military career?”

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Lt-Col. R.G.L. Parker

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Lieutenant-Colonel R.G.L. Parker
Canadian Scottish Regiment

Strength, courage, knowledge, these three things
Stand out upon our Athlone crest;
No better man can there be found
To teach us this with all his best

(Athlone school pupil tribute, Vancouver Sun, 14 Feb 1961, 31)

Born on 11 May 1898 in Stockton, Warwickshire, England, Richard Gilbert Lewes Parker was a rugby player, grammar schoolteacher in Duncan, British Columbia and commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Scottish since 1939. He had enlisted with the 48th Battalion in May 1915 and went to France in March 1916 and transferred to the 29th Battalion in May 1917. He was twice wounded in action and ended the war as a cadet with the Royal Air Force.

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Lt-Col. J.R. Kingham

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Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. Kingham
Canadian Scottish Regiment

I must protest against the Canadian army being used in this way for movie publicity … If [actor Richard] Greene really wants to enlist in a Scottish regiment, we’ll take him at once. He is just the age and build we want. But we can’t given him a commission … If he makes good in the ranks, he will have a good chance with others of winning a commission later.

(Kingham quoted in Vancouver Province, 5 Aug 1940, 2)

Born on 24 March 1898 in Victoria, British Columbia, Joshua Rowland Kingham was president of the Kingham-Gillespie Coal Company, a First World War veteran, and colonel of the Canadian Scottish Regiment since 1938. He had enlisted with the 88th Battalion in December 1915 and deployed to France as a private with the 16th Battalion in August 1916. A bullet wound to the skull the next month put an end to his frontline service.

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Brig. D.R. Sargent

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Brigadier Roy Sargent
Canadian Scottish Regiment
6th, 13th & 14th Infantry Brigades

With a last name like Sargent—Brig. Roy Sargent seemed destined to serve in the military, and that is exactly what he did for more than 30 of his 86 years.

(Nanaimo Daily News, 7 Nov 1981, 15)

Born on 8 October 1895 in Campbellford, Ontario David Ross Sargent had commanded the Canadian Scottish Regiment as colonel until 1938, when he retired to the reserves. He had enlisted with the 53rd Battalion as a private and took a commission with the 232nd Battalion in June 1916. He served in France with the 5th Battalion and demobilized at the rank of captain. He continued militia service with the Canadian Scottish, serving as 2nd Battalion commander in 1930 before promotion to colonel of the whole regiment in 1934.

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Lt-Col. E.A. Henderson

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Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Henderson
Canadian Scottish Regiment

But, philosophical as he was, Major Henderson never accepted Canada’s Maple Leaf flag and wouldn’t attend any function where it was flown. To the end he stayed with the Canadian Ensign.

(Times Colonist, 4 Jan 1969, 3)

Born on 4 May 1898 in Vernon, British Columbia, Eric Arthur Henderson was long-time employee of the Bank of Montreal, a First World War veteran, and commanding officer of the Canadian Scottish Regiment since 1938. He had enlisted in the 88th Battalion as a lieutenant in December 1916 and served five months on the front with the 7th Battalion until he was wounded in September 1918.

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Lt-Col. D.C. Howat

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Lieutenant-Colonel Doug Howat
Regina Rifle Regiment

I could not determine exactly where our two forward platoons had gone. There was a lot of noise up on the ridge so my runner and I, along with Captain Howat of “B” Company, tried to go forward. We were met by grenades and bullets, escaping death only by crawling on our stomachs. It was pointless.

(Brown, “Battle of Moyland Wood,” 106)

Born on 7 February 1912 in Norwood Grove, Manitoba, Douglas Carrick Howat was commissioned with the 2nd Armoured Car Battalion in February 1941 and promoted to captain the next year. He joined the Regina Rifle Regiment overseas before being assigned officer commanding an army camp in Surrey. He rejoined the Rifles in Normandy in July 1944 and would take command of the battalion a year later until demobilization.

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Maj. D.G. Brown

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Major Gordon Brown
Regina Rifle Regiment

However, battle conditions place intolerable pressures on people, with unpredictable results. A hero today can fail tomorrow. A great leader last week can suffer from battle exhaustion this week.

(Brown, “Battle of Moyland Wood,” 101)

Born on 27 July 1918 in Manor, Saskatchewan, Douglas Gordon Brown went overseas as a reinforcement officer in June 1942 and joined the Regina Rifle Regiment. He was promoted to captain in January 1944 and received a promotion to “D” company commander shortly after landing on D-Day. Although twice wounded, he remained with the battalion for virtually the entire campaign in Northwest Europe and took temporary command of the Rifles in the final battle of the war at the end of April 1945.

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Maj. R.J. Orr

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Major Bob Orr
Regina Rifle Regiment

Throughout his entire service, Major Orr has shown exceptional initiative, resourcefulness and devotion to duty. His cheerfulness and magnificent sense of humour did much in maintaining the high spirit and morale of the troops under his command. His obvious concern for them was in great contrast to his utter disregard for his own safety.

(D.S.O. citation, 22 Jan 1946)

Born on 1 May 1917 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Robert James Orr was a student at the University of Saskatchewan when he volunteered with the Regina Rifle Regiment in 1940. Overseas, he transferred to the Carleton and York Regiment, serving in the Italian theatre as a company commander from the Battle of Ortona to the Gothic Line. He rejoined the Regina Rifles in Holland in November 1944 as second-in-command.

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Lt-Col. F.M. Matheson

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Lieutenant-Colonel F.M. Matheson
Regina Rifle Regiment

In particular on the night of 8/9 June 1944, when the Battalion Headquarters was attacked by PZ KW Mk V tanks and infantry, the colonel himself led the defence resulting in knocking out five tanks.

(D.S.O. citation, 31 Aug 1944)

Born on 5 January 1904 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Foster Martin Matheson was an accountant and joined the Prince Albert Volunteers in 1923, raising to the rank of major. He transferred to the Regina Rifle Regiment on mobilization for active service in 1940. In England, he succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Sharp in March 1943. “Reports from Canada,” he wrote home, “sometimes lead us to believe that you are gaining the impression that boys over here are getting very ‘browned off’ due to the long wait. The surprising thing is that the men are standing up remarkably well.”

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Brig. H. Sharp

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Brigadier Harry Sharp
Regina Rifle Regiment
11th Infantry Brigade

… just because they have guts enough to step out and fight … Young lads who come of age and enlist here in December will be fighting in France by April. It makes no difference how many older men are taken. All the young fellows as they come of age will go into the firing line while men of 30, the ideal age for fighting, with years of training, hang back.

(Quoted in Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 13 Nov 1944, 3)

Born on 30 April 1895 in Parry Sound, Ontario, Harry Sharp was principal of North Battleford Collegiate and a University of Saskatchewan graduate. As a student he had enlisted with the 152nd Battalion in November 1915 and reverted from the rank of sergeant to join a reinforcement draft to the 52nd Battalion in France a year later. He quick re-earned his stripes but was put out of action with a gunshot wound in May 1917. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and took a commission just before the end of the war.

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