On Saturday 01 April 2017, the Regimental Association of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada hosted its Vimy Dinner in the freshly restored, beautiful Seaforth Armoury to commemorate the centenary of the World War One Battle of Vimy Ridge in France 09 to 12 April 1917. Saturday’s had the all time record high attendance for these annual Seaforth Vimy dinners over the past century. 
What I enjoyed most was how young some of the soldiers and their guests are, as you can see from the attached photos. Canada will be in good hands with young Canadians such as these in our newest emerging generation. I particularly enjoyed my Seaforth tablemates Pte. Cody Moffat, Pte. Spencer Tasker and Spencer’s charming guest Mikayla. She’s a nurse in a senior’s care home. I learnt much about that from her over dinner. Canada’s blessed to have people of her dedication and commitment.
It was important that Saturday’s Seaforth Vimy Dinner commenced with a formal military Remembrance Ceremony. First and foremost, with grateful appreciation, we were remembering Canada’s 10,602 casualties on Vimy Ridge.
World War One has always been an enigma to me as to why Canada or even the United Kingdom for that matter entered into that horrendous conflict. Vimy Ridge is marvellous in that it was a well organized and properly planned victory we won. In addition, all four Canadian Divisions fought at Vimy as one cohesive group for what I understand has been the only time in Canada’s military history that all of Canada’s Army fought in the same battle. But I remain unclear what that victory accomplished militarily, although we’re told it won Canada admiration worldwide for our soldiers and caused the world to see us as a nation instead of just a British colony.
The Calgary Public School System never mentioned Vimy Ridge during my twelve years there. Likewise Vimy Ridge was never mentioned at the Universe of Calgary while I earned my BA in Political Science nor at UBC while I was earning my law degree. Instead, it appears to have begun towards the end of the 20th century its rise to its present predominance as a nation-builder of Canada.
The ferocity, courage and effectiveness of Canadian soldiers at Vimy and elsewhere is without question. And the scale of the Battle is awesome. On Easter Sunday 1917, being the day before the Battle began, Vimy was Canada’s third largest city because that Easter there were more Canadians in Vimy than Vancouver.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, reputed to be the biggest war memorial in Europe, is filled with sorrow for the loss of so many fine young people. It was designed and created by Walter Seymour Allward, a cousin of Mary Anne Waldron QC. She’s the namesake of our daughter Mary Anne MacKenzie and the Godmother of our son Ruaridh MacKenzie.
This Memorial sits prominently on the 100 hectare [250] acre section of the battlefield France gave to Canada of complex tunnels, trenches and cemetaries. It can be seen forty miles [65 km] away. When as young teenagers I took my daughter Mary Anne MacKenzie and my son Guy MacKenzie, I’d planned a 30 minute stop. We stayed for seven hours. Likewise years later when I took my son Ruaridh MacKenzie. He was 14.
And so it’s fitting we pause to remember that enormous event, and all who died serving Canada at Vimy and the related battles in that dreadful war. May they rest in peace.
Saturday’s Seaforth Vimy Dinner was solemn, with prayers and toasts including for Elizabeth II The Queen of Canada, Seaforth Colonel-in-Chief HRH Prince Philip, Fallen Comrades and of course The Seaforth Regiment. It was joyful too and that was wonderful. We remembered, and we were grateful.
Seaforth Commanding Officer Paul Ursich made a particularly happy announcement — Master Warrant Officer John McKenzie will become the Seaforths’ next Regimental Sergeant Major. The Seaforth Regiment was raised in 1778 by the Earl of Seaforth, Chief of Clan MacKenzie. His portrait hangs with pride in the Anderson Room — the formal dining room of the Seaforth Armoury.
It’s always great when a MacKenzie takes a leadership role in the Seaforths, as did Canadian Brigadier General Rob Roy MacKenzie who served as Seaforth Commanding Officer several years ago. MWO John McKenzie CD will become the Seaforth’s 35th 
Regimental Sergeant Major. The RSM is the senior noncommissoned Seaforth and the principal adviser to the Seaforth Commanding Officer in all issues related to Seaforth soldiers. He forms a key part of the Seaforth Command Team. Attached is our photograph together.
Also attached is a photo of me with a copy of a painting of the single most important moment in Clan MacKenzie history — our MacKenzie Clan Chief saving the life of the King of Scotland. It hangs in place of pride at the entrance to the Seaforth Officers’ Mess. In the Royal Art Gallery of Scotland on Princess Street in Edinburgh a painting of that scene hung in a place of extreme prominence floor to ceiling just inside the main entrance when I last visited.
And so, on that happy note, I’ll ask for God’s Blessing on the ten thousand Canadians who were casualties at Vimy Ridge and every Canadian who became a casualty fighting for Canada.
Attached are my photos of Saturday evening’s Seaforth Vimy Dinner.
Yours faithfully, Roddy