Fort Fraser Despatches - May 2016 On 01 May, 1707, Great Britain was created. The union of England and Scotland completed the union which had included Wales since the 1500's, soon to be followed by the partition of Ireland and the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the union. So much for the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath – but for the efforts of many Scots who today favour the idea of taking Scotland out of the Union. The United Kingdom today consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Other May events of interest: Ever wondered why 05 May is celebrated in Mexico as Cinco de Mayo? It is a national holiday in remembrance of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, in which Mexican troops under General Ignacio Zaragoza, outnumbered three to one, defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon III. Now you know. On 07 May 1945 in a small red brick schoolhouse in Reims, Germany, General Alfred Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of all German fighting forces, thus ending World War II in Europe. Russian, American, British and French ranking officers observed the signing of the document which became effective at one minute past midnight on May 9th. “The month of May was named for the Greek goddess Maia” 1 The Royal Regiment of Scotland: As part of restructuring in the British Army, the Royal Regiment of Scotland's creation was announced by the Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon in the House of Commons on 16 December 2004, The regiment consists of a total of seven battalions: one of these was formed by the amalgamation of the Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers, while the others are each formed from one of the remaining single-battalion regiments of the Scottish Division. Along with The Rifles, it is currently the largest infantry regiment in the British Army. There is however a common regimental cap badge, TRF, tartan, belt and Glengarry headdress but distinctively coloured hackles are also worn by each separate battalion on the Tam o' Shanter headdress to maintain their individual identity and the pipes and drums of each battalion continue to wear the ceremonial uniforms and tartans of their former regiments. The creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland encountered considerable opposition amongst former soldiers, conservatives and nationalist groups. It has been argued that the establishment of large regiments in the British Army during the 1960s, such as the Royal Green Jackets, The Light Infantry, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and Royal Anglian Regiment, quickly led to a loss of separate identity amongst the constituent battalions as personnel were posted back and forward. The new regiment is also primarily a kilted one and there are concerns that the much older Lowland units, which traditionally wore trews, will be effectively absorbed into a Highland tradition. (and about time too!) A variety of hackles: 2 A brief history of the 78th Fraser Highlanders: The 78th Frasers spent their first Christmas in North American, that of 1757, in Connecticut. In spring of 1758, the regiment joined the force being assembled for the assault of Louisbourg that led to the surrender of the fortress in July 1758. Fraser's Highlanders then moved to New York, where they were to pass the winter, but were transferred first to Boston and then, as a result of the disaster at Ticonderoga, to Albany. Fraser's Highlanders joined General Wolfe's Quebec expedition in the spring of 1759, and served with distinction throughout the campaign. They were the only Highland troops present, and they formed the largest Regiment in Wolfe's main battle line at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The Regiment remained in Quebec during the trying winter of 1759-60, and took part in the Battle at Sainte Foy on 29 April 1760. Subsequently, a detachment of the 78th accompanied General Murray's force in the advance on Montreal, where it met with the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment (The Black Watch) and the 77th (Montgomerie's Highlanders) Regiment, both of Amherst's force. Here, for the first time, the three Highland Regiments serving in North America during the Seven Years' War came together. The regiment was disestablished in Quebec City in December 1763, and its soldiers received parcels of land as compensation. Many of them married French Canadian women and worked their land. Others became gentlemen farmers overseeing expansive estates and took up important public administration duties. Still others went on to make their fortunes in business, primarily in the fur and timber trades. The descendants of these Scotsmen travelled the continent, leaving lasting reminders of their explorations and notably giving their names to the Fraser and Mackenzie Rivers. The modern 78th Frasers are a North-America wide historical society whose primary mission is the preservation of the memory of the original Regiment, their commanders, comrades-in-arms and their adversaries. With its headquarters in Montreal, the modern 78th Frasers have Garrisons located in Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, British Columbia, Vancouver, Washington and Atlanta, Georgia. 3 The Highland Games Fort Fraser Display Unit will once again dazzle the crowds at both the Victoria and Vancouver Games sites. It is reported in numerous Highland games programs, that King Malcolm III of Scotland, in the 11th century, summoned contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich (overlooking Braemar). King Malcolm created this foot race in order to find the fastest runner in the land to be his royal messenger. Some have seen this apocryphal event to be the origin of today's modern Highland games. There is a document from 1703 summoning the clan of the Laird of Grant, Clan Grant. They were to arrive wearing Highland garb and "also with gun, sword, pistol and dirk". From this letter, it is believed that the competitions would have included feats of arms. Fort Fraser continues that tradition. The modern Highland games are largely a Victorian invention, likely fostered after King George IV visited Edinburgh in 1822 to be part of Walter Scott’s “Highland” extravaganza. Join us in Victoria the weekend of 21 May, and in Coquitlam on 18 June. 4 Not to be missed: 21 May – Fort Victoria Informal Dinner; Victoria Highland Games all weekend Fort Fraser Gun Crew will open the Games with a cannon demonstration 11 June – Battle of The Somme Dinner in the Mess 18 June – BC Highland Games - Fort Fraser will open the Games with cannon demonstration 01 July – Canada Day at Port Moody Station 09 July – Garrison BBQ in honour of the Taking of Louisbourg, 1758 24 September – Plains of Abraham Commemorative Dinner 26 November – Feast of Saint Andrew Mess Dinner Be kind to one another, these are troubled times. 5 .