| The Cape Breton Highlanders | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1871–present |
| Country |
 Canada |
| Branch | Militia |
| Type | Line infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of | 36 Canadian Brigade Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Sydney, Nova Scotia |
| Motto(s) | Siol na fear fearail (Gaelic: Breed Of Manly Men) |
| Colors | Facing colour yellow |
| March | Quick – "Highland Laddie" |
| Insignia | |
| Tartan | Black Watch[1] |
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.
Originally founded in 1871 as the Victoria Provisional Battalion of Infantry, it was converted to a Highland unit in 1879. It went through several name changes including: 1885 – 94th "Victoria" Battalion of Infantry, "Argyll Highlanders"; 1900 – 94th Victoria Regiment "Argyll Highlanders", and; 1920 – The Cape Breton Highlanders. In 1954, as a result of the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, this regiment became the 2nd Battalion of the newly amalgamated Nova Scotia Highlanders formed from its union with The North Nova Scotia Highlanders and The Pictou Highlanders. The Nova Scotia Highlanders serve to this day as an army reserve highland infantry regiment.
On January 16, 2011, Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced that the name of the 2nd Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) will be changed back to the Cape Breton Highlanders.[2] The army reserve unit is assigned to the 36 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment's rebadging ceremony was held on September 10,[3] and MacKay presented the regiment its camp flag on October 2, 2011.[1]
The Cape Breton Highlanders were allied to the Cheshire Regiment and were kitted as Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) except for badges and the pipe major wore a powder horn in full dress. The regiment perpetuated the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) and 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and held its final order of precedence as 35.
Battle honours[]
- Arras 1917, '18
- Vimy 1917
- Ypres 1917
- Passchendaele
- Amiens
- Scarpe 1918
- Drocourt-Quéant
- Hindenburg Line
- Canal du Nord
- Valenciennes
- Sambre
- France and Flanders 1917–18
Order of precedence[]
The Cape Breton Highlander's tartan is the namesake of Blackwatch Ale, a beer sold exclusively at the Royal Canadian Legion in Baddeck, Cape Breton.
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chris Shannon (October 2, 2011). "Highlanders unit receives camp flag". http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2011-10-02/article-2765142/Highlanders-unit-receives-camp-flag/1. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
- ↑ Ministry of National Defence (January 16, 2011). "Minister of National Defence Peter Mackay Announces the Return of the Cape Breton Highlanders". http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=00&id=3701. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ↑ Ken MacLeod (September 8, 2011). "Cape Breton Highlanders on parade Saturday for first time in more than 50 years". http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2011-09-08/article-2743608/Cape-Breton-Highlanders-on-parade-Saturday-for-first-time-in-nearly-30-years/1. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
- Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
External links[]
- Cape Breton Highlanders Association
- Regimental Catechism
- www.regiments.org – The Cape Breton Highlanders[dead link]
The original article can be found at Cape Breton Highlanders and the edit history here.