The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada have a new commander.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence Hatfield took charge of the regiment in a rainy parade celebration at Bayfront Park Sunday, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Sexton.
“I’m very privileged today,” Hatfield said. “Our history is time-honoured, written in battle and blood.”
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada are a Hamilton-based army reserve unit within 31 Canadian Brigade Group. Formed in 1903, it has 34 battle honours from the First and Second World Wars.
It is one of the largest army reserve units in Canada with more than 250 soldiers. More than 60 Argylls have been deployed to Afghanistan.
Hatfield himself has more than 22 years in the army reserve service.
He was on active service in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007, and returned last year on a technical assistance tour to mentor at the Afghan National Army Command School.
“Becoming a C.O. is not just about taking courses or putting in time,” he said. “I’m going to keep our focus on training … relevant training that will be well worth the time spent away from our families.”
Outside of his army responsibilities, Hatfield, a St. John’s, N.L. native, is a personal injury lawyer and partner with the firm Flaherty Sloan and Hatfield. He lives in Ancaster with his wife Shari and their two children.
