Regiment salutes Queen Mum

One such event takes place Tuesday at Fort York Armoury (east of the CNE grounds) when Canada Post unveils a commemorative stamp honouring the Queen Mother as she reaches this remarkable milestone. Of special interest to Canadians, in general, and Torontonians, in particular, is the fact thatthis unique ceremony will be hosted by one of this city's most respected military regiments, the Toronto Scottish, whose Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

This regiment has a long and proud history. The Great War had been raging for less than a year when, on July 1, 1915, the 75th (Mississauga) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, came into being. By the summer of the following year the regiment was in the thick of the fighting and, by war's end, had participated in every major engagement in which members of the Canadian Corps distinguished themselves. The battalion's losses were a staggering one in five, with a total of 1,049 making the supreme sacrifice.

ROYAL VISIT ... In 1939, a bobby-helmeted Toronto police officer stands at attention as Queen Elizabeth (now the Queen Mother) leaves the presentation stand at Woodbine following the 80th running of the King's Plate, which was won by Archworth. She's accompanied by A.J. Dyment, president of the Ontario Jockey Club. A few steps behind is King George VI. Inset: Canada Post's 95c stamp commemorating the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

Following the end of the war, the 75th returned to Toronto, where a huge victory parade was held and the battalion dismissed at a giant gathering held at Varsity Stadium.

With the return of peace, it was hard for people to believe that anything resembling the recent bloodbath could ever happen again. Nevertheless, as remote as many felt that possibility was, a concerned federal government authorized the re-establishment of the battalion. That was followed on June 8, 1921, by the re-designation of the battalion. Henceforth it would be known as The Toronto Scottish Regiment. In 1937, Queen Elizabeth, wife of the reigning monarch, King George VI, agreed to become the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief.

Just two years later, virtually all Canadians would come to know their Queen and King much better during the 1939 royal visit to Canada. While it was the couple's first visit to our country, Elizabeth would return many times.

On May 22, Torontonians in huge numbers had their opportunity to greet George and Elizabeth during the couple's whirlwind visit to the city. Arriving at the CPR North Toronto Station at 10:30 a.m., the pair were driven from one end of the city to the other visiting City Hall, the Parliament Buildings, Christie Street military hospital, Woodbine race track and the CNE grounds.

The city had never seen crowds as large as those which lined such thoroughfares as Yonge St., St. Clair Ave., Parkside Dr., Lake Shore Blvd., Bloor St., Danforth Ave. and Woodbine Ave.

At one point during the tour, while the King visited the University of Toronto's Hart House, his Queen proceeded to the nearby campus, where she met the officers and men of her regiment, The Toronto Scottish. A newspaper proudly reported that the Queen took the time to inspect every soldier on parade including the members of the regimental band. During the solemn service that followed, Elizabeth presented the regiment with new colours.

Two years later, the regiment would rally around those colours as the nation again went to war, the one most believed could never happen.

The public is invited to attend the special Canada Post ceremony at Fort York Armoury, 660 Fleet St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. First Day Editions of Her Majesty's stamp will be on sale. There will also be a performance by the Pipes and Drums of The Toronto Scottish Regiment.