15th Bn Canadian Infantry
Location
This memorial plaque is easily reached by taking the main road from Ieper to Brugge (N 313). Having entered Sint Juliaan you will see the church and immediately before it the local civic centre.
There are speed cameras in the town.
You have been warned !
The Highlanders’ plaque sits is on the wall of the centre : OC Hazebrug, Hazeweidstraat 24.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.889455 | 2.937212 | Map |
Background
For three days after the first ever major gas attack on 22nd April 1915 Sint Juliaan (at the time St Julien) witnessed heavy fighting and suffered significant damage as the Canadian defenders fought to retain their hold on the village.
On the 24th April a second gas attack was launched against the Canadians holding the sector to the north of Sint Juliaan. During this attack the 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry suffered the highest casualty rate amongst the defending units.
Although most of the 700 casualties were amongst Nos 1,3 and 4 Companies fighting on the hillside, significant numbers from No 2 Company were involved in the fighting for the village itself.
3rd Brigade Canadian Infantry
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade was made up of four battalions :
- 13th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
- 14th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Royal Montreal Regiment)
- 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry (48th Highlanders of Canada)
- 16th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Canadian Scottish)
Many of the Canadian Infantry Battalions were sponsored by Militia units back in Canada and it was from these units that they took their secondary titles and traditions. The soldiers from the three ‘Scottish’ battalions wore the kilt.
The 16th Battalion were also involved in the fighting at Kitcheners Wood on the 22nd April 1915.
The Memorial
The inauguration
This monument to the 48th Highlanders of Canada (15th Battalion CEF) was dedicated on the 24th April 2010 by members of the 15th Battalion Memorial Project in the presence of Brigadier General Greg Young, serving and veterans of the Regiment, local officials and villagers.
Brigadier General Young, Belgian and Scots Representatives
The 15th Bn CEF were sponsored by the 48th Highlanders of Canada a militia unit from Toronto. The regiment has demonstrated its continuing interest in commemorating its First World War combatants by the raising of plaques across the Western Front.
The lament was played by a member of the Passchendaele pipe band
After a second short ceremony in which Mr Douglas Henderson speaking for the Scottish Government spoke of the close ties that bound the regiments of both countries. Ironically, following the many amalgamations within the British Army some of the famous old regimental names are now only found represented in the militia of the Canadian Defence Forces
Exchanging gifts
During the reception that followed the Highlanders made a number of presentations to those who had assisted in arranging the emplacement of the plaques and the organisation of the ceremonies.
A young Canadian fascinated by old photos
The plaque is complimented by another on the Gravenstafel Ridge which commemorates the events of the gas attack on the Battalion on the 24th April 1915.