"The Red Watch": With the First Canadian Division in Flanders

About this book

The book is a first‑hand account by Colonel John Allister Currie, a Member of Parliament and veteran of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, who recorded his observations in a diary that first appeared in Canadian newspapers. The opening verses set a patriotic tone, then the prefatory note explains that the material has been reshaped into a continuous narrative rather than a formal history. The work proceeds chapter by chapter through the formation of the 48th Highlanders, known as “The Red Watch”, from their Scottish roots in Canada, through training, deployment, and combat on the Western Front, with detailed illustrations of uniforms, maps, and trench life. The structure is chronological, though the author advises reading the introductory chapter last, emphasizing the continuity of the regiment’s lineage from the 18th‑century Black Watch to the battles of Flanders.

Currie’s voice is that of a contemporary officer writing during the war, blending solemn poetry with straightforward reportage. The style is earnest, occasionally rhetorical, and reflects the imperial mindset of 1916, prioritising duty, sacrifice, and the unity of the British Empire. Readers interested in personal military narratives, regimental histories, or the Canadian contribution to World War I, especially those who appreciate period language and illustrative material, will find this detailed, morale‑driven chronicle engaging.