The 48th Highlanders Regimental Memorial was erected in 1923, in memory of the officers and men of the 48th Highlanders who gave their lives in the First World War. The memorial was paid for by members, ex-members and friends of the Regiment. The memorial was unveiled by His Excellency, Lord Byng, Governor-General of Canada at the Armistice-Remembrance Parade of the Regiment in November 1923.
Designed by Captain (then Brigadier) E.W. Haldenby, CBE, MC, VD, the pillar is set on an elevated base of six steps with the regimental crest on each side. The pillar is surmounted by the Christian Cross of Sacrifice carved on each side. A sheathed sword is carved on the front of the memorial. The crest on the front bears the words "15th Canadian Battalion", on the right side - "134 Overseas", and on the left side - "92 Canada Overseas". Carved in the stone are the names of the battles from the First World War in which the regiment took its full part and in which 61 officers and 1,406 non-commissioned officers gave their lives.
A further 10 Battle Honours were added after the Second War to honour the 351 dead from that conflict. Alvan Sherlock Mathers was the architect. In 1962, the entire structure was lifted and moved to the east to allow for construction of the new University subway line that would run immediately below the site. When the subway was completed, the memorial was moved back to its original location. Time, elements, the 1960 relocation process and the presence of the subway below the structure gradually took their toll on the structure. In 2014, Brigadier General (ret) Greg Young proposed a project for the much needed restoration of the memorial. The work commenced in 2015 and was completed by November 11 the following year. The Regiment’s newest Battle Honour – Afghanistan – was added to the memorial.
