THIS DAY IN HISTORY – 02 September 1914 – “By the end of August thousands of troops had poured into Valcartier and organization of a Canadian division was in process. After one or two tentative formations had been abandoned, the Royal Montreal Regiment, which for some time had been known as the 1st Battalion, R.M.R. was given the title 14th Battalion, and placed in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, under the command of Col. R.E.W. Turner, V.C., D.S.O., a veteran of the South African War, who had won his primary distinction at Komati River, on November 7, 1900. With the 14th Battalion, Royal Montreal Regiment, in the 3rd Brigade were the 13th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, from Montreal; the 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders, from Toronto; and the 16th Battalion, Canadian Scottish, composed of units from the Seaforth Highlanders (Vancouver), the Gordon Highlanders (Victoria), the Cameron Highlanders (Winnipeg), and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Hamilton).
These units commanded respectively by Lieut.-Cols. F.O.W. Loomis, J.A. Currie, and R.G.E. Leckie, caused the formation to be spoken of as the “Highland Brigade” and at one time it was suggested that the 14th should doff trousers and don the kilt. The incongruity of Grenadiers, Riflemen, and French-Canadian Infantry in kilts was pointed out, however, and the proposal definitely rejected.” [1]
[1] R.C. Featherstonhaugh, The Royal Montreal Regiment 14th Battalion C.E.F. 1914-1925, Montreal, The Gazette, Printing Co., Ltd., 1927; pg. 8.