15th Bn CEF
Hendecourt lès Cagnicourt
27th April 2010
Following a fruitful visit in November 2009 the Regiment had gained the help and participation of local landowners, Bruno Marquaille and Patrice Boulanger, regarding the possibility of erecting a small monument to the 15th CEF.
In the intervening few months M Marquaille had offered the land and organised the construction of a brick plinth to support a commemorative plaque.
Canadian historian Michel Gravel engaged the interest of M and Mme Topart de Moriame the owners of the Château de Hendecourt, the ruins of which had been captured during the Canadians attack. They in turn very kindly offered to allow the party to use their grounds for the reception.
The monument at the Crows Nest
Making friends
On a glorious spring afternoon a small gathering of local villagers, dignitaries and military representatives of the Canadian and French forces gathered at the Crows Nest with Brigadier General Greg Young and a party of the 48th Highlanders of Canada.
M Mannie Opigez, porte drapeau of Croisilles
An impromptu bonus was a fly-past by fighter aircraft of the Armée de l'air base at Cambrai. A few seconds and they were gone again but they were accidentally recorded during Lt Colonel Marcel Cloutier's speech (Look behind him in the photo below).
Aumônier Gabriel Legault
Aumônier Gabriel Legault spoke during the consecration of the monument of the Highlanders' motto: Dileas Gu Brath, forever faithful, and how it applied to us all today.
Playing us out
Music for the occasion was provided by the Ecole de musique de Marquion and the Somme Battlefield Pipe Band. Pipe Major Yves Holbecq proved to be one French piper who knew the popular tune of the war: The Maple Leaf Forever.
The inauguration ceremony
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Bruno Marquaille and Patrice Boulanger with the Highlanders
The Canadian representatives
The reception at the Château
The Crows Nest 1918
Sint Juliaan, Belgium
The 48th Highlanders of Canada also have a memorial plaque at Sint Juliaan, a short drive from Vancouver Corner Canadian Memorial.
It commemorates their action during the gas attack against the Canadian Division on the 24th April 1915. The 15th Bn CEF suffered the highest casualties amongst the Canadians that day as they took the full force of only the second great gas attack to be launched during the war.
Sint Juliaan