"A Canadian covered in mud returning from the Front", March 1917. The original caption states: [13260] "Private Donald Johnston McKinnon [sic MacKinnon], No. 7 Platoon, [B Company] 73rd Battalion, returning from the front line" March 1917. A Canadian soldier walking along a muddy road coming from the Front Lines. He is wearing a steel helmet, webbing and wool leggings smoking a cigarette. A reader of the Legion Magazine in the 1960s identified him as Private MacDonald. He is carrying an SMLE rifle. An entrenching tool handle is partly torn away from his webbing. He is wearing a leather jerkin. The 73rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 73rd Battalion was mobilized in Montreal, with recruiting beginning on 03 September 1915, in Montreal and in parts of Eastern Ontario and Quebec. The battalion arrived in Liverpool on 09 April 1916, with a strength of 36 officers and 1033 other ranks. It was advised of assignment to the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. After extended training in England, and losing a replacement draft of 250 men to the 13th Bn, the Battalion arrived at Le Havre, France on 13 August 1916. The Battalion’s orientation to Flanders began, doing rotating tours or brigade reserve duties, first in Ypres, in August 1916 and through September, to the south, in Kemmel. Then moving, in October, for training prior to operations during The Third Battle of The Somme in the Battle of Ancre Heights, and at the Battle of Ancre, into November 1916, it conducted four tours, at Regina Trench and into Desire, Sugar, and Switch Trenches. In December 1916, it moved to the Arras sector at Vimy, first as 4th Division Reserve before engagements in January / February 1917, with tours in and out on four or five day rotations. After time, also as 12th Bde Reserve, it participated in the March Raid on the 1st and followed up with two tours in The Zouave Valley. Fully engaged, in the line, below Vimy Ridge, on April 4th, it moved to a position on the 1st Canadian Corps Left Flank, just west of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, entering assigned tunnels and into the Lime Street trenches, on the April 7th. Following the mine explosions at Gunner and Kennedy Craters, it assaulted onto the lower left slope of Hill 145, on the 9th, achieving its assigned objectives, moving forward, it fought off a counterattack, on April 11th. After supporting 10th Brigade's assault north onto The Pimple, on the 12th and 13th, it was relieved on 13 April 1917, by the 85th Battalion. Being seen as a low priority for Highlander replacements, and having suffered noted casualties, previously in the gas blow-back of The March Raid (27 Killed, 161 Casualties), and the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the assault onto Hill 145 (31 Killed, 189 Wounded), it was withdrawn from battle and ordered to dissolve on 16 April 1917 and disbanded, on 19 April 1917, broken up for reinforcements, they being absorbed largely by the 13th (RHC) Battalion and the 42nd (RHC) Battalion, as well as the affiliated units in the 12th Brigade, and the 85th (NSH) Battalion. Also sourced as Photo IWM CO, 1027.