Cape Breton Highlanders

The Cape Breton Highlanders is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It was established in 1871, merged into The Nova Scotia Highlanders in 1954, and re-established as a distinct regiment in 2011. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 36 Canadian Brigade Group and is headquartered at Sydney, Nova Scotia.

This article is about the military unit. For the basketball team, see Cape Breton Highlanders (basketball).

The Cape Breton Highlanders
Active1871–present
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Army
TypeLine infantry
RoleInfantry
SizeOne battalion
Part of36 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQSydney, Nova Scotia
Motto(s)Scottish Gaelic: Siol na fear fearail, lit. 'Breed of manly men'
ColoursFacing colour yellow
MarchQuick – "Highland Laddie"
EngagementsFirst World War
Second World War
War in Afghanistan
Insignia
TartanBlack Watch[1]

Lineage

The Cape Breton Highlanders
  • Originated 13 October 1871 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, as the Victoria Provisional Battalion of Infantry, named after Victoria County
  • Redesignated 2 December 1879 as the Victoria "Highland" Provisional Battalion of Infantry
  • Redesignated 9 April 1880 as the Victoria Provisional Battalion of Infantry "Argyll Highlanders"
  • Redesignated 12 June 1885 as the 94th "Victoria" Battalion of Infantry, "Argyll Highlanders"
  • Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 94th Victoria Regiment "Argyll Highlanders"
  • Redesignated 29 March 1920 as The Cape Breton Highlanders
  • Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cape Breton Highlanders
  • Redesignated 15 February 1946 as The Cape Breton Highlanders
  • Reorganized and redesignated 15 September 1954 as the 2nd Battalion of The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  • Reorganized and redesignated 9 December 2010 as a separate regiment, The Cape Breton Highlanders[2]

On January 16, 2011, Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced that the name of the 2nd Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) would revert to the Cape Breton Highlanders.[3] The regiment's rebadging ceremony was held on September 10, 2011,[4] and MacKay presented the regiment its camp flag on October 2, 2011.[1]

Lineage chart
Lineage chart[5]
1869Independent infy coys
1871Victoria Provisional Bn of Infy
1879Victoria "Highland" Provisional Bn of Infy
1880Victoria Provisional Bn of Infy "Argyll Highlanders"
188594th "Victoria" Bn of Infy, "Argyll Highlanders"
190094th Victoria Regt "Argyll Highlanders"
191585th "Overseas" Bn, CEF
1916185th "Overseas" Bn, CEF
1918Absorbed by 17th Reserve Bn, CEF
1920Disbanded1st Bn (85th Bn, CEF), The Cape Breton Highlanders2nd Bn (185th Bn, CEF),[lower-alpha 1] The Cape Breton Highlanders
1936The Cape Breton HighlandersDisbanded
19402nd (Reserve) Bn, The Cape Breton Highlanders
19411st Bn, The Cape Breton Highlanders, CASF
1946DisbandedThe Cape Breton Highlanders
19542nd Bn, The NS Highlanders
19552nd Bn, The NS Highlanders (Cape Breton)
2010The Cape Breton Highlanders

Perpetuations

Operational history

Great War

Details of the 94th Victoria Regiment "Argyll Highlanders" were called out on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.[2]

The 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916. It disembarked in France on 10 February 1917, where it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 15 September 1920.[2]

The 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916. There it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 15 February 1918, when its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 29 November 1918.[2]

  • Cap badge of the 85th Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders
    Cap badge of the 85th Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders

Second World War

Details of The Cape Breton Highlanders were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, as The Cape Breton Highlanders, CASF (Details), for local protection duties. The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.[2]

The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Cape Breton Highlanders, CASF, for active service on 1 January 1941. It embarked for Great Britain on 10 November 1941. It landed in Italy on 10 November 1943 as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. The battalion moved to North-West Europe from 20 to 26 February 1945 as part of Operation Goldflake, where it continued to fight until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 February 1946.[2]

War in Afghanistan

The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various task forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014, first as the 2nd Battalion of The Nova Scotia Highlanders, and later on as a separate regiment.[6]

  • Dave P. Standings, left, A Platoon, 2nd in command with Cape Breton Highlanders attached to the 36th Canadian Brigade
    Dave P. Standings, left, A Platoon, 2nd in command with Cape Breton Highlanders attached to the 36th Canadian Brigade

Battle honours

In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles.[2] Bold type indicates honours authorized to be emblazoned on regimental colours.[7]

Great War

Second World War

War in Afghanistan

Media
  • The Breed of Manly Men : The History of the Cape Breton Highlanders by Alex Morrison, Ted Slaney (2003)

Order of precedence

Notable people

See also

Notes
  1. Reserve order of battle

References
  1. Chris Shannon (2 October 2011). "Highlanders unit receives camp flag". Cape Breton Post. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  2. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
  3. Ministry of National Defence (16 January 2011). "Minister of National Defence Peter Mackay Announces the Return of the Cape Breton Highlanders". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  4. Ken MacLeod (8 September 2011). "Cape Breton Highlanders on parade Saturday for first time in more than 50 years". Cape Breton Post. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  5. "The Cape Breton Highlanders". www.canada.ca. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  7. "The Cape Breton Highlanders". Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges. Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  • Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
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