North Nova Scotia Highlanders

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army founded in 1936. In 1954, it was amalgamated with The Pictou Highlanders and 189 LAA RCA Battery to form 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North).[1][2][3][4]

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
Badge of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
Active1936–1954
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Militia (1936-1940)
Canadian Army (1940-1954)
TypeLine infantry
RoleInfantry
SizeOne battalion
Part ofNon-Permanent Active Militia (1936-1940)
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1942-1954)
Garrison/HQAmherst, Nova Scotia
Motto(s)Scottish Gaelic: Cos cheum nach gabh tilleadh, lit. 'Our footsteps will not allow us to go backwards'
ColorsFacing colour white
MarchQuick – "The Atholl Highlanders"
EngagementsSecond World War
Battle honoursSee #Battle Honours
Insignia
TartanMurray of Atholl

History

Founded in 1936 as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders (M.G.) by the amalgamation of The Cumberland Highlanders, The Colchester and Hants Regiment, and 'C' Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, it acquired its present title in 1941. The regiment landed on Juno beach on D-Day, assigned to 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. In 1954, as a result of the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, this regiment was amalgamated The Pictou Highlanders and 189 LAA RCA Battery to form 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North).[1][2]

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders before Amalgamation held its final Order of Precedence as 34.[4]

Lineage

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
Main article: The Cumberland Highlanders
  • Originated in Amherst, Nova Scotia, 6 April 1871 as the Cumberland Provisional Battalion of Infantry.
  • Redesignated as the 93rd Cumberland Battalion of Infantry, 12 June 1885.
  • Redesignated as the 93rd Cumberland Regiment, on 8 May 1900.
  • Redesignated as The Cumberland Regiment, 29 March 1920.
  • Redesignated as The Cumberland Highlanders, 15 June 1927.
  • Amalgamated on 1 December 1936 with The Colchester and Hants Regiment (less 'C Company') and C Company of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (now The Princess Louise Fusiliers) and redesignated as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Machine Gun).
  • Redesignated as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Machine Gun), 7 November 1940.
  • Redesignated as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, 7 March 1941.
  • Redesignated as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, 1 May 1946.
  • Amalgamated on 12 November 1954 with The Pictou Highlanders (Motor) and the 189th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA as the 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North).[2]

The Colchester and Hants Regiment
Main article: The Colchester and Hants Regiment
  • Originated on 1 April 1910, in Truro, Nova Scotia as the 70th Colchester and Hants Regiment .
  • Redesignated on 2 May 1910, as the 76th Colchester and Hants Rifles.
  • Amalgamated on 1 April 1920, with the 81st Hants Regiment and Redesignated as The Colchester and Hants Regiment.
  • Amalgamated on 1 December 1936, with The Cumberland Highlanders and “C” Company of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC to form The North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Machine Gun).[2]

The 81st Hants Regiment
  • Originated on 16 February 1914, in Windsor, Nova Scotia, as a Regiment of Infantry in Hants County.
  • Redesignated on 1 May 1914, as the 68th Regiment.
  • Redesignated again on 1 June 1914, as the 81st Hants Regiment.
  • Amalgamated on 15 May 1920, with the 76th Colchester and Hants Rifles and Redesignated as The Colchester and Hants Regiment.[2]

Perpetuations

The regiment perpetuated the following units:

Great War

Alliances and uniform

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders were allied to the South Staffordshire Regiment and were kitted with a blue glengarry with diced border, scarlet doublet, white sporran with five black points, scarlet & green hose, green garter flashes with full dress only for pipers and drummers.[4]

Battle honours

Only uppercase honours are displayed on the guidon.

War of 1812
Boer War
First World War
Second World War

Ardenne Abbey Massacre
Main article: Ardenne Abbey massacre

During the Second World War, Major General Kurt Meyer of the Waffen SS murdered captured soldiers from the regiment.[6] After the war he was tried and convicted in Canada. Sentenced to death on 28 December 1945, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment on 14 January 1946.[7] After serving nearly nine years in prison, Meyer was released on 7 September 1954.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.
  2. Defence, National (30 October 2018). "The Nova Scotia Highlanders". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  3. "The North Nova Scotia Highlanders". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. Barnes, Major R.M. (1972). The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments. London: Sphere Books Limited.
  5. "Battle Honours of South African War (Militia)". www.regimentalrogue.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  6. "Nova Scotia ex-POW Dudka dies". CBC News. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2013. Sgt. Dudka, born in New Glasgow, was captured after the D-Day invasion and was among those who helped convict SS Gen. Kurt Meyer in the execution of Canadian prisoners of war.
  7. Brode, 106.
  8. Campbell, 160.

Bibliography
  • Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
  • Brode, Patrick. "Casual Slaughters and Accidental Judgments: Canadian War Crimes Prosecutions, 1944-1948." Toronto: The Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, 1997.
  • Campbell, Ian. "Murder at the Abbaye: The Story of Twenty Canadian Soldiers Murdered at the Abbaye d’Ardenne." Ottawa: The Golden Dog Press, 1996.
  • Volume 3, Part 2: Infantry Regiments – THE NOVA SCOTIA HIGHLANDERS

Further reading
  • Will R. Bird. "No retreating footsteps: the story of the North Novas." Kentville, NS: Kentville Publishing Company, 1946
  • Pearce, Donald. "Journal of a War: North-West Europe, 1944–1945." Toronto: Macmillan, 1965.
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