72nd Regiment, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada engaged in Aid to Civil Powers for the Coal Miners' Strike on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo,1913 - 1914. Caption: "Cpl Dr. Westall / Brechin Mine" Cpl Drummer Dennis Westall at the Brechin Mine, 1913-14. He is dressed in pith helmet, kilt and khaki jacket. The photo is very faded and yellowed. In 1904, the Brechin Mine also known as the Brechin Mine, Number 4 or the No. 4 Northfield Mine was located under most of Newcastle Island and Protection Island and seaward, the preset day location of the Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. Newcastle Island is located on a small island off the coast of Nanaimo. Troops originally landed at the Brechin Mine wharf in Departure Bay which was 3.2 km north of Nanaimo on 14 August 1913. 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.