72nd Regiment, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada engaged in Aid to Civil Powers for the Coal Miners' Strike on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo,1913 - 1914. The grave marker of Piper A.B. Thomson / 72nd Regt. Seaforth Highlanders of Canada / Died Dec 23 1913 / Aged 36 years / Erected by his comrades of the Civil Aid Force" in the Nanaimo Municipal Cemetery. From Nanaimo Municipal Cemetery website: Andrew Thomson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland sometime between 1877 and 1880. He came to Canada in about 1889, presumably with his family. Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1898 and served with them for 14 years. In 1912, Andrew joined the Canadian Militia. He was assigned to the 72nd Regiment of the Seaforth Highlanders and was stationed at the Connaught Barracks in Nanaimo when he died. On 23 December, 1913, at about 10:45 a.m., Andrew died of heart failure due to an insufficient mitral valve (defective heart). He was buried on 24 December 1913. (From BC Death Certificate). Current Inscription: In Memory of Piper A.B. Thomson. 72. Rgt. Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. Died Dec 23, 1913. Aged 36 Years. Erected by His Comrades of 72d Regiment S.H. of [missing]. Burial: Nanaimo Municipal Cemetery / Plot: Map 1D, Range 16, Plot 229 The Vancouver Island Coal Strike began on 16 Sept. 1912 when miners at Cumberland declared a "holiday" to protest the firing of Oscar Mottishaw. Canadian Collieries locked them out and hired Chinese and strike breakers. The issues were safety (gas explosions had killed hundreds) and union recognition. Other employers followed the pattern in resisting any union. By spring 1913, 3,500 miners from Vancouver Island were off work with the United Mine Workers of America providing leadership and strike pay. In the summer of 1912, the Vancouver and Nanaimo Coal Co., settled with its employees, but not before rioting, arsons and "shoot-outs" had broken out in all the coal towns. Peace was restored when the BC government sent in 1,000 militiamen. The withdrawal of strike pay in the summer of 1914 and the beginning of WW I ended the confrontation. By then the mines were running at almost pre-strike capacity using newly hired labour.