Captain J.R.S. Lough, DSO, MC leading B Company of the 72nd Battalion CEF marching past General Sir Arthur Currie, Ohain, Belgium. 1 April 1919. Behind him is Lt J. (Zeke) McWhinney, DCM, OC 5 Platoon. John McWhinney joined the 72nd Battalion, CEF with regimental number 129098 in September 1915. He arrived in France with the original contingent on 13 August 1916. He was wounded on duty on 9 January 1917. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917. McWhinney went on his Officers' (Cadet) course on 9 May 1917 and returned to the battalion as a Lieutenant on 24 November 1917. He was wounded on 11 August 1918 and returned to the unit on 15 December 1918. From the Regimental History, pages 182, 183: "At about the end of March it was 'arranged that the Battalion should have their colours presented to them by the Corps Commander Sir Arthur Currie. This was the most important event of the period following the armistice, and much preparation was made for it. April 1st, the date set for it, dawned beautifully, and at ,about 11 a.m. the Battalion was formed up, drums piled in front, in review order on the parade ground. As the Corps Commander walked on to the parade, the long line of bayonets flashed into the "Present" and the always impressive ceremony of consecration, conducted on this occasion by Capt. (Rev.) Wilkin, began, the Battalion having formed into hollow square about the piled drums. Although for obvious reasons the colours do not take the place in modern warfare that they did in the wars of former centuries, they still retain much of their ancient significance and there was not a man present who did not feel that they focussed the romance of the Battalion's history and the memories of the Battalion's dead. With appropriate words the Corps Commander placed the colours in the hands of the officers selected to bear them, and to the impressive strains of "God Save the King," played in slow march time, the King's and the regimental colours moved into their position in the centre of the phalanx. The Battalion then marched past the Corps Commander, its new colors blowing out bravely in the fresh breeze. An interesting fact in connection with the presentation was the presence of Brig.-General N. A. Thompson, C.M.G., D.S.O., now commanding the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, and Lieut.-Col. A. W. Turnbull, M. C., commanding officer of the 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders."