Maple Bay Camp Officers including Major J.R.S. Lough, DSO, MC and a young Cecil Merritt; July 1929. They are wearing glengarries, service dress tunics and kilts. All of the officers are named in the caption. Rear Rank (left to right): Lt H.E.Snider, Major J. Duns MM, Major J.R.S. [John] Lough DSO, MC (Acting Officer Commanding), Lt. J.A. Creighton (Acting Adjutant), Lt. E.D. Woodburn. Front Rank (left to right): Lt. N.J. Griffin, Capt. D.M. [Douglas]Johnstone DCM (QM), Lt W.H.G. Roaf, Lt. C.C.I. [Cecil] Merritt From the Regimental History, pages 27, 28: "Possibly the most interesting of a series of camps occurred in 1929, and came about as a result of a study of the Gallipoli campaign made by Col. G. R. Pearkes, VC, DSO, MC, then G.S.O. I on the staff of Military District XI. Pearkes, who was later to have the regiment under his command in the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, had become interested in the Gallipoli campaign when studying the military history of the Great War, and with the consent of the D.O.C., he went to considerable trouble to arrange a combined operations exercise as part of the local militia's summer training. Ships from the Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy were to take part, as well as a small body of Royal Marines. On June 11th Pearkes met with the officers of the 23rd Infantry Brigade at the Beatty Street Armoury and there outlined the plan and gave a talk on the loading and unloading of troops into boats. On June 24th detailed administrative and operation orders were issued to the units from Vancouver and Victoria which would be taking part in the landings at Maple Bay near Duncan on Vancouver Island. Five days later, early on Saturday morning, the regiment embarked on H.M.C.S. Vancouver and, together with details from the 15th Field Brigade, R.C.A.,and the 11th Divisional Signals, sailed across the Strait and landed "in the face of a hostile force'' on the beach. On the following day the role was reversed. The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and the Canadian Scottish Regiment acted as the defending force against an attack made by the other units of the 23rd Infantry Brigade and a naval detachment of sailors and Royal Marines. It is interesting to note that of the five militia regiments taking part in this combined operations scheme, it was the two Highland regiments which were to be chosen for assault landings in the war."