the cap- and collar badges of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada (the Vancouver Regiment)

Embroidered shoulder title of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada

the "Saffron" kilt colour of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada

      Source: Photographs and list of members names are from the book "Pipe Bands in British Columbia" by Carl Ian Walker, Published in 1992 by The Western Academy of Pipe Music.

Irish Fusiliers of Canada 1942 Nanaimo.

Back Row: John Mc.Cabe, Jim Glasspoole, Frank Haas, Ernie Sunstrom, Jim Rodgers, Peter Pisoni, Bill Cuneen.

Front Row: Jim Munro, Jock Mc.Hardy, Pipe Major Jim Watt, Drum Corporal Archie Mc.Geachie, Bill Campbell, Ken Campbell.

The 1st Battalion Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment) in 1942 received training for a pipe band. In late 1942, they were posted to Jamaica to serve as the Canadian Garrison Battalion, remaining there until posted overseas in 1944. In 1945, the Battalion was divided up between the Seaforths, Westminster, and Canadian Scottish.

Group Photograph of the I.F. of Canada in Jamaica

(List of band member names to follow as soon as available)

Band practice in the Jamaica Barracks

 

The Irish band was transferred as a unit to HQ 1st Cdn. Army, to become, in effect, the personal band of General Crerar. Pipe Major Watt was promoted to WO 1 Pipe Major, which made him the highest ranked Pipe Major in the British Commonwealth and, at age 23, possibly the youngest. ,The band served in Holland, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

 

Newspaper clipping of the Pipe Band

 

The Irish Fusiliers of Canada Pipe Band November 11 1945, at  Mons in Belgium

 

  

Irish Fusilier of Canada  piper Kenneth Mac Rae Campbell and the postcard he brought back home from Holland, 1945

with Dutch Thanks to the Irish Fusiliers of Canada

(Photographs courtesy of his daughter, Sharon Clayton)

 

Source: Photographs and list of members names are from the book "Pipe Bands in British Columbia" by Carl Ian Walker, Published in 1992 by The Western Academy of Pipe Music.

 

Irish Fusiliers of Canada 1945 Oranjepark, Apeldoorn, Holland.

Front Rank: Pipe Major James Watt, Ian Inkster, John Mc.Cabe, Pipe Sergeant Alex Oliphant.

Second Rank: Alex Clifford, Stan Bolton, Duncan Ross.

Third Rank: Pipe Corporal Tony Mc.Donald, Geordie Duncan, Bob Dick.

Fourth Rank: Jim Munro, Art Bucholtz, Buz Fatherstone.

Drummers are hidden in the shade.

 

The pipe band of the Irish Fusiliers at the inspection of the 2 Canadian Corps by General Guy Simonds.
May 31, 1945 Meppen, Germany. Do notice the (for that time) special concert position of the pipes and drums!

On the row seen on the right: fourth piper from the front is Kenneth Mac Rae Campbell, 3rd Piper from the front in the middle row is Art Bucholtz and fourth Piper from the front on the left side of the photo is James Munro.

All these three veterans are now deceased.

4 Photographs of The Irish Fusiliers of Canada, made on June 28 1945,  Amsterdam

Courtesy of the Dutch National Archives, Access Number 2.24.01.03, Item Numbers: 900-4781, 900-4782, 900-4783 and 900-4784

Marching behind Pipe major Ed Esson: Pipe major James Watt at the The Hague Victory Parade
n.b.: Ed Esson, leading the Canadian Massed Pipes & drums is also shown on both photographs!

Pipe Major Watt did NOT lead the Canadian Massed Pipes and Drums, although promoted to WO 1 Pipe Major, the highest PM in rank in the British Commonwealth and, at age 23, possibly the youngest (because Ed Esson of the Canadian Seaforths was the Senior PM).

His battalion, The Irish Fusiliers Of Canada (Vancouver) were used as replacements, divided up between the Canadian Seaforths, the Westminster regiment, and the Canadian Scottish regiment and the  Irish Fusiliers of Canada Pipe Band came overseas in 1944 as personal band of General Crerar, commander of the First Canadian army.

Pipe major James Watt
of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada

His story was a totally different one:

James Watt started on the chanter under his father's tutelage when he was only eight years old. As he progressed, he took further instruction from Eric Thomson, who was involved with the North Vancouver Caledonian Society, and who was able to obtain for the boy a set of half-sized pipes which he used for about a year. In later years, James studied with Edmond Esson, Donald MacIver, and John Gillies.

Young James began competing in 1934, joined the British Columbia Pipers Association and the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in 1936, served as the Official Piper to the North Vancouver Caledonian Society from 1938 to 1942, and played in amateur events until turning professional in 1941. When World War II broke out, he tried to enlist for overseas service, but the age limit had been raised to 19 so he had to serve at home as part of the Depot Battalion. He became part of an infamous group that was known as the "diapers." After two and a half years as an instructor with the Depot Battalion, James transferred to the 1st Battalion Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment) in 1942 for the purposes of training and leading a pipe band. He built the band from nothing, teaching some of the pipers from scratch. In late 1942, they were posted to Jamaica to serve as the Canadian Garrison Battalion, remaining there until posted overseas in 1944. Prior to going overseas, James was given a set of silver Henderson bagpipes by his mentor Donald MacIver.

While stationed in England, James attended courses at Edinburgh Castle under Pipe Major William Ross. In 1945, the Battalion was divided up between the Seaforths, Westminster, and Canadian Scottish.

The Irish band was transferred as a unit to HQ 1st Cdn. Army, to become, in effect, the personal band of General Crerar. Pipe Major Watt was promoted to WO 1 Pipe Major, which made him the highest ranked Pipe Major in the British Commonwealth and, at age 23, possibly the youngest. ,The band served in Holland, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

 

The following is by courtesy of Ed Mc Ilwayne, who was taught the Great Highland Bagpipes by P.M. James Watt.

 

The Hague - March 21st 1945.

Pipe majors R. Stoker (Essex Scottish) - J. Watt (Irish Fusiliers of Canada) - N. Sutherland (Calgary Highlanders) - Ed Peden (Black Watch of Canada)

 

Pipe Major James Watt, on Christmas 1945 in Epe, Holland, wearing the W.O.1 badge on top of his Pipe major's Chevrons.

 

In 1945, Recordings  were made of the Pipes and Drums of the 1st. Bn. Irish Fusiliers of Canada (V.R.) Conducted by Pipe Major James Watt.

 

click on the above picture to play the soundfile

Tunes on this 33 1/3 Disc:

Gaelic Air, Athol and Braedalbane Gathering, Strathspey and Reel, The Wee Bird.

 

click on the above picture to play the soundfile

Tunes on this 33 1/3 Disc:

Regimental March, Garry Owen, Rory O'More, Minstrel Boy, O' Donnel Abu.

 

Ed Mc. Ilwayne playing on James Watt's 1902 set of Henderson Pipes on Remembrance Day 2020, at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park, Vancouver.