Pipes and drums, 46th Canadians

James Smith of Canada kindly provided me with the above image (and information), showing the pipes and drums of the 46th battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (more fully: 46th Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)). The image was taken between 4th and 24th July 1917 at Hersin-Coupigny, France. The pipeband played there for the King on 11 July 1917. They are wearing the Royal Stewart tartan. Two pipers are from Lewis: John Smith of 15 Melbost and William Finlayson of 24 Aird Tong.

The 46th was known as the Suicide Battalion, as it lost 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded - a casualty rate of 91.5 percent

I list the names and details of the men, shown in the picture.

BACK ROW (left to right)
1. Private piper William McGeachin
Reg. no: 426555
Born: Bridge of Allan, 1894
Trade / occupation: Teamster
Enlisted: 9 April 1915 at Regina
Left regiment, wounded: August 1918

2. Private piper James Logan 
Reg. no: 427723
Born: Shotts, Lanarkshire, 1888
Trade / occupation: Milkman
Enlisted: 2 October 1915, at Camp Hughes

3. Private drummer John Nelson
Reg. no: 427497
Born: Airdrie, Lanarkshire, 1881
Trade / occupation: Teamster
Enlisted: 18 August 1915 at Sewell, Manitoba

4. Corporal drummer Joseph Mcqueen
Reg. no: 427724
Born: Falkirk, 1887
Trade / occupation: Police constable
Enlisted: 2 October 1915, at Camp Hughes

5. Private drummer G Wilson
Attestation not entirely certain
Reg. no: 426129
Born: Edinburgh, 1881
Trade / occupation: Leather worker
Enlisted: 21 December 1914, at Moose Jaw

6. Private drummer Archibald Savage
Reg. no: 427136
Born: Lanark, 1886
Trade / occupation: Labourer
Enlisted: 13 May 1915, at Regina

7. Private drummer Daniel Campbell Carnegie
Reg. no: 426569
Born: Glasgow, 1886
Trade / occupation: Commission Agent
Enlisted: 13 April 1915, at Regina

SECOND ROW
8. Sergeant piper George Mcintosh
Reg. no: 426214
Born: Montrose, 1891
Trade / occupation: Labourer
Enlisted: 17 February 1915, at Moose Jaw
Awarded Military Medal in 1917, awarded bar in 1918, wounded in October 1917

9. Piper Charles Mclaughlin
Reg. no:  426401
Born: Glasgow
Trade / occupation: Teamster
Enlisted: 9 August 1915, at Shorncliffe
Left regiment in September 1918, wounded

10. Private piper John Smith

Reg. no: 427715
Born: 15 Melbost, Lewis, 1887
Trade / occupation: Farmer
Enlisted: 30 September 1915, at Camp Hughes
Left regiment in August 1918, wounded

11. Corporal piper James Hogg
Reg. no: 427503
Born: Hawick, 1871
Trade / occupation: Hosiery maker
Enlisted: 4 September 1915, at Sewell, Manitoba
Left regiment in June 1918, as over-aged.

12. Piper William Finlayson
Reg. no: 420589
Born: 24 Aird Tong, Lewis, 1884
Trade / occupation: Labourer
Enlisted: 31 December 1914, at Winnipeg
Left regiment in September 1918, as over-aged.

13. Sergeant piper James Grant Fraser
Reg. no: 427713
Born: Glasgow
Attestation not available
Left regiment in August 1917 due to wounds

14. Private piper George Allan
Reg. no: 426676
Born: Edinburgh, 1880
Enlisted: 19 March 1915, at Regina
Died of wounds 21 August 1917
Interred: Villers Station Cemetery, grave VIII. F. 16.

FRONT ROW
Major J. S. Rankin, 2nd in command
Lt Col H. J. Dawson, Commanding Officer
Major J. A. Hope, Adjutant

NOT IN PICTURE
15. Private piper David Robb
Reg. no: 435039
Born: Alyth, Perthshire, 1883
Trade / occupation: Teamster
Enlisted: 26 March 1915, at Calgary
Died of illness 3 March 1917
Interred: Barlin Communal Cemetery ext, grave I. F. 86.

16. Private piper Peter William Baggett
Reg. no: 1009590
Born: Leith, Edinburgh, 1877
Trade / occupation: Farmer
Enlisted: 3 March 1916
Left regiment in August 1918 as 'wounded'

17. Private piper William Patterson
Reg. no: 1039416
Born: Aberdeenshire, 1876
Trade / occupation: Tinsmith and plumber
Enlisted: 14 August 1916, at Arcola