48th Highlanders

Lt-Col. J.R. Counsell

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Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Counsell
48th Highlanders of Canada
Counsell

Let us not forget the men we left behind in Sicily, in Italy and Holland … Had it not been for them, you would not be giving us this great reception. Their courage and sacrifice has let us come home, just as they have preserved our wonderful civilization for us.

(Counsell quoted in Kim Beatte, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929-1956, 782)

Born in Niagara, Ontario on 7 July 1904, James Ronald O’Dell Counsell went overseas as a reinforcement officer in 1940 and became adjutant for the 48th Highlanders in England. He would be one of the few officers to serve with the battalion throughout the campaign, from the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 to the final hard fighting in Northwest Europe in spring 1945.

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Lt-Col. D.A. Mackenzie

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Lieutenant-Colonel Don Mackenzie
48th Highlanders of Canada
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For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 12 April 1945 … Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie, realizing that this was the turning point of the battle, went forward fearlessly in the face of heavy enemy fire to make a personal reconnaissance in preparation for the second phase of the attack. His plan of attack, based on the information he gained, was eminently successful, and his unsurpassed leadership and daring resulted in the complete rout of the enemy.

 (D.S.C. citation, 27 Sept 1945)

Born in Kincardine, Ontario on 9 July 1914, Donald Alexander Mackenzie was a bank clerk and member of the 48th Highlanders since 1935. He was regimental transport officer during the battalion’s brief service in France in June 1940. He was soon promoted to captain then major and served as an aide to Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery in early 1942. He returned to Canada later that year for a staff officer course before being posted back to England for instructional duties in July 1943.

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Brig. I.S. Johnston

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Brigadier Ian S. Johnston
48th Highlanders of Canada
11th Infantry Brigade
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As a result of the courage and initiative shown by their Commanding Officer/Lt Col I.S. Johnston by his coolness under direct fire and his determination personally to lead his men. the 48th Highlanders of Canada succeeded in penetrating the enemy positions to a depth of one thousand yards, this making possible the further planned destruction of the enemy. By his conduct throughout his action Lt Col I.S. Johnston more than upheld the highest tradition of the Canadian Infantry.

 (D.S.O. citation, 18 December 1943)

Born in Toronto on 12 August 1908, Ian Strachan Johnston was a lawyer and graduate of the Royal Military College. A prewar member of the 48th Highlanders, he joined the 1st Battalion on mobilization and assumed command from fellow Toronto lawyer Lieutenant-Colonel J. Edwin Ganong in December 1942. One officer praised Johnston’s promotion, writing, “He is a wonderful man, grand to work for, a slave driver it is true, but he works himself twice as hard as anybody else.”

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Brig. J.E. Ganong

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Brigadier J. Edwin Ganong
48th Highlanders of Canada
4th Infantry Brigade
GanongEd

After we broke through Falaise, about D-plus 70, the Canadian soldier showed extraordinary fortitude and endurance. Troops seldom could be relieved; but they stood up under the most violent strain the war had produced. No matter how much training a man has, he is a novice until he is under fire. But the Canadians quickly became veterans. They were wonderful.

(Ganong quoted in Windsor Star, 22 Dec 1944, 9)

Born on 30 Dec 1903 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, James Edwin Ganong Jr. was a Toronto lawyer who had attended the Royal Military College and Osgoode Hall. He was adjutant in the 48th Highlanders on mobilization and served as a company commander during the aborted Second British Expeditionary Force to France in June 1940. In March 1942, although he had already been promoted to the Canadian Corps headquarters staff, Ganong reverted to replace Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Hendrie.

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Lt-Col. W.B. Hendrie

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Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Hendrie
48th Highlanders of Canada
Hendrie

This is the worst and most ignorant C.O. I have met in my service in the Army. He is completely ignorant of how to train a battalion. He does not train his officers. He does not train his N.C.Os. His individual training is badly organized and men are bored with it; he admitted that this was so.

(Gen. Montgomery, “Notes on Inf. Bdes of Canadian Corps,” 3 Feb 1942)

Born in Hamilton on 6 March 1902, William Brown Hendrie was son of Colonel William Hendrie (1863—1924) who had commanded the 48th Highlanders from 1911 to 1913. He worked for the family transport business, Hendrie & Co., and had served with his father’s regiment since the 1920s. He was a company commander during the aborted Second British Expeditionary Force to France in June 1940. That November, he married Betty Scale (1916—2009), daughter of a British Army colonel, who he had met some months before while stationed in England.

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Brig. W.W. Southam

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Brigadier Bill Southam
48th Highlanders of Canada
6th Infantry Brigade
Southam

His voice was exceedingly cheerful throughout … There wasn’t a quiver in it and occasionally he would make some wisecrack. He was the same old boy through it all. We kept in contact with the brigadier all the time and between 1 and 2 o’clock he sent a message saying he could see some troops surrounded and out of ammunition down the beach and they were surrendering.

(Quoted in The Province, 24 Aug 1942, 22)

Born in Toronto on 11 September 1901, William Wallace Southam was a graduate of RMC and grandson of prominent Canadian newspaper publisher William Southam. He joined the family business as vice-president and managing director. Having belonged to the 48th Highlanders since 1922, he became second-in-command of the 1st Battalion on mobilization in September 1939. He participated in the aborted Second British Expeditionary Force to France, which ended in the battalion making a desperate escape by train in June 1940.

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Brig. E.W. Haldenby

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Brigadier Eric Haldenby
48th Highlanders of Canada
9th Infantry Brigade
Haldenby

The people are simply magnificent. They do not complain. They realize that they are the front line of British defences and it was amazing the way they sprang into action when the air attack on Britain started. There is no panic or alarm … Germany will never succeed in breaking the spirit of the British.

(Haldenby quoted in Globe and Mail, 11 Oct 1940)

Born in Toronto on 5 June 1893, Eric Wilson Haldenby was an architect and First World War veteran. He had been commissioned with the 48th Highlanders and enlisted with the 92nd Battalion in August 1915. He served on the front with the 15th Battalion, earning a promotion to captain and the Military Cross for gallantry at Vimy Ridge and Hill 70.

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Lt. Col. Chisholm

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Lieutenant Colonel George T. Chisholm
92nd (48th Highlanders of Canada) Battalion
Chisholm

I might inform you that your department is getting a tremendous lot of popular disfavor through not supplying your regiments with actual necessities … Now this all gives the ordinary man on the street the impression that the department is not attending to the business for which it is in existence.

(G.T. Chisholm to Militia Department, 25 Sept 1915)

While fighting at St. Julien during the second battle of Ypres in late April 1915, the 15th Battalion was decimated as hundreds were killed, gassed or taken prisoner. Most of the soldiers had belonged to the Toronto-based 48th Highlanders Regiment. In order to replace the casualties, Toronto militia leaders were authorized to raise two new highlander battalions, the 92nd and 134th. George Thomas Chisholm, a Toronto stockbroker, was appointed commander of the former in August 1915.

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Lt. Col. Miller

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Lieutenant Colonel Armour Miller
134th (48th Highlanders of Toronto) Battalion
Miller

A reliable and conscientious Officer. He has always been keen and anxious to acquire new ideas. His work here, both theoretical & practical, has shown that he possesses sound military knowledge with the capacity of imparting it to others. He has a cherry disposition.

(Senior Officers School report, 15 Dec 1917)

Along with the 15th and 92nd Battalions, the 134th was the third overseas unit organized by the 48th Highlander Regiment in Toronto. Initiated by Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Donald, the battalion began recruiting in November 1915 to replace the losses suffered by the 15th at St. Julien. Born on 17 December 1869, Donald was a Toronto barrister and commanding officer of the 48th Highlanders. He had served for over twenty-three years in the militia regiment. After Donald stepped down due to illness in July 1916, Armour Adamson Miller assumed command of the 134th.

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The Clerk

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Major John P. Girvan
15th (48th Highlanders) Battalion

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He personally attacked and captured an enemy machine gun, shooting the gunner and turning the gun on the enemy. He went on and assisted in capturing Chapel Corner and the village of Marquion, and then gained his final objectives. His courage and dash were a fine example to his command.

(Bar to D.S.O., 4 Oct 1919, 12218)

Born in Kingarth, Scotland on 27 November 1887, John Pollands Girvan was a champion rower and mail sorter in the Toronto general post office. He enlisted with the 15th Battalion as a private and rose through the ranks to end the war as a major and second-in-command.

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