Camp Flooded but RMR capbadge is saved!

Friday, December 4, 1914

In Camp, West Down South, Salisbury Plains

The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “Rain all day. Lt.-Gen. Alderson met officers of 3^rd Brigade at Bde. H.Q. and stated he proposed to do away with all distinctive badges of the battalions of the Division, and substitute numerals only for them. Strong protests from all C.O.’s. Lt.-Col. John Currie of the 15^th Bn. told him that if he took any such step he “would be up against public opinion in Canada.” Proposal was abandoned.” [1]

THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY: Duguid tells us – “On 4^th December, a sudden gale once more flattened much of the canvas, scattered beyond recovery correspondence in office tents, and blew away the treasury notes of a pay parade. Next day there was rain, hail and frost.” [3]

Under the headline “Highlanders Flooded Out,” The Globe’s correspondent, William Marchington wrote: “Salisbury Plain, Dec. 4. – A big rainstorm has so flooded the camp of the Highland Brigade* of the Canadian expeditionary force that the men have been sent to the nearest town for shelter. Fifteen thousand of the Canadians will be given leave for the Christmas holidays and the remainder of the force of 32,000 will get a holiday at the New Year.” [4]

* Note: Marchington and others frequently referred to the 3^rd Brigade as “the Highland Brigade” because three of the four battalions in the brigade (13^th, 15^th and 16^th) were highland regiments, while the 14^th Bn, Royal Montreal Regiment, was not.

[1]   War Diary, 14^th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, Dec 4, 1914.  Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089681.jpg

[2]   “Highlanders Flooded Out,”  William Marchington, The Globe(1844-1936), Toronto, Ontario, Saturday, December 5, 1914, pg. 1, col. 1.

[3]    Col. A.F. Duguid, “Official History of the Canadian Forces in The Great War 1914-1919, Vol. 1, Part 1, King’s Printer, Ottawa, 1938, pg. 129.

[4]   “Highlanders Flooded Out,”  William Marchington, The Globe(1844-1936), Toronto, Ontario, Saturday, December 5, 1914, pg. 1, col. 1.