Beaty street Drill Hall

Currently the headquarters for the “the Duke of Connaught’s Own,” an elite British Columbian military regiment, the Beaty Street Drill Hall once shared its headquarters with the Seaforth Highlanders. The Seaforth Highlanders established themselves in 1910 out of support from local Scottish communities. Although a reserve unit, the Seaforth Highlanders have been deployed around the world in major military conflicts including both world wars, and more recently, Egypt, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.

Some notable Seaforth highlanders include the young James Cleland Richardson, and war commander Roderick Ogle Bell-Irving. Richardson was a bagpiper with the Seaforth Highalnders during their creation. The highlanders weren’t permitted to go to war until 1916, so, ever eager to support the troops, Richardson left with the 16th infantry battalion (the Canadian Scottish) in 1914. Although he wouldn’t make it back from the war, Richardson’s inspirational piping would be crucial to the morale of his comrades. Posthumously he would be awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery.

Bibliography

Roy, Reginald H. “Bell – Irving, Roderick Ogle” Dictonary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14. University of Toronto. 1998. Bibliogrpahi.ca Web. June 2017.

Roy, Reginald H. 1998. “Richardson, James-Cleland” Dictonary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14. University of Toronto. Bibliogrpahi.ca Web. June 2017.

“About: The Seaforth Highlanders” Retrived from: http://www.seaforthhighlanders.ca/organization/