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The Nova Scotia Highlanders
Regimental badge
Active	1871–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Light infantry
Role	Light role
Size	One battalion
Part of	36 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQ	Truro, Nova Scotia
Nickname(s)	North Novies, North Novas
Motto(s)	Siol na fear fearail (Scottish Gaelic for 'breed of manly men')
March	"The Sweet Maid of Glendaruel" (regiment) "The Atholl Highlanders" (1Bn)
Engagements	Second Boer War First World War Second World War War in Afghanistan
Battle honours	See #Battle honours
Website	canada.ca/en/army/corporate/5-canadian-division/the-nova-scotia-highlanders.html
Insignia
Tartan	MacDonald, Clan Donald
Abbreviation	NS Highrs (as seen on rank slip on) Official: NSH

The Nova Scotia Highlanders (also known as North Novies, North Novas) is an infantry regiment in the primary reserve of the Canadian Army. It is part of 36 Canadian Brigade Group, 5th Canadian Division.

Creation

Part of a series on the
Military history of Nova Scotia
Citadel Hill in Halifax
Notable events Battle of Port Royal 1690 Siege of Port Royal 1710 Battle of Winnepang 1722 Northeast Coast Campaign 1745 Battle of Grand Pré 1747 Dartmouth Massacre 1751 Bay of Fundy Campaign 1755 Siege of Louisbourg 1758 Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax 1758 Halifax Treaties 1760–1761 Battle of Fort Cumberland 1776 Raid on Lunenburg 1782 Establishment of New Ireland 1812 Capture of USS Chesapeake 1813 ‪Battle of the Great Redan 1855 ‪Siege of Lucknow 1857 CSS Tallahassee escape 1861 ‪Halifax Provisional Battalion 1885 ‪Battle of Witpoort 1899 ‪Battle of Paardeberg 1899 Imprisonment of Leon Trotsky 1917 Jewish Legion formed 1917 Sinking of Llandovery Castle 1918 Battle of the St. Lawrence 1942–1944 Sinking of Point Pleasant Park 1945 Halifax VE-Day riot 1945
Notable regiments Mi'kmaq militias 1677–1779 Acadian militias 1689–1761 40th Regiment of Foot 1717–1757 Louisbourg Garrison 1717–1758 Gorham's Rangers 1744–1762 Danks' Rangers 1756–1762 84th Regiment of Foot 1775–1784 Royal Fencible American 1775–1783 Royal Nova Scotia Volunteers 1775–1783 King's Orange Rangers 1776–1783 1st Field Artillery from 1791 Royal Nova Scotia 1793–1802 Nova Scotia Fencibles 1803–1816 Halifax Rifles from 1860 Princess Louise Fusiliers from 1867 78th Highland 1869–1871 Cape Breton Highlanders from 1871 Nova Scotia Rifles 1914–1919 No. 2 Construction Battalion 1916–1919 West Nova Scotia from 1916 Nova Scotia Highlanders from 1954
Related topics Captivity narratives Impressment
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The regiment was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, The Cape Breton Highlanders, and The Pictou Highlanders and 189th Light Anti Aircraft Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery.

The regiment was composed of two separate units, officially designated as the 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North), and 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton), both of which were part of 5th Canadian Division's 36 Canadian Brigade Group.

The 1st Battalion is headquartered in Truro with individual companies in Pictou, Springhill, and Truro.

The 2nd Battalion was headquartered in Sydney, and in 2011 it was renamed back to its pre-1954 designation, the Cape Breton Highlanders. This leaves The Nova Scotia Highlanders as a one-battalion regiment.

Headdress

Although the 2nd Battalion continued the proud tradition of wearing balmorals, the traditional headdress of the regiment, the 1st Battalion did not. There was a strong movement within the unit by the majority of the troops to replace the beret with the balmoral once again as it marked out the highland unit as distinctive and showed the ties with the unit's heritage that contributed to its ésprit de corps. As of January 1, 2011, the balmoral once again became the official headdress of the 1st Battalion as well. The khaki tam o' shanter is worn in combat dress.

Lineage

1st Battalion, Nova Scotia highlanders (North)

• Originated in Truro, Nova Scotia, 6 April 1871 as the Colchester and Hants Provisional Battalion of Infantry
• Redesignated as the 78th Colchester and Hants, or Highlanders Battalion of Infantry, 1 September 1871
• Redesignated as the 78th "Colchester, Hants and Pictou" Battalion of Infantry or "Highlanders," 5 September 1879
• Redesignated as the 78th Colchester, Hants and Pictou Regiment "Highlanders," 8 May 1900
• Redesignated as the 78th Pictou Regiment "Highlanders," 1 March 1910
• Redesignated as The Pictou Regiment, 29 March 1920
• Redesignated as The Pictou Highlanders, 2 July 1920
• Redesignated as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Pictou Highlanders, 7 November 1940
• Redesignated as The Pictou Highlanders (Motor), 1 April 1946
• Amalgamated on 12 November 1954 with The North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the 189th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA and redesignated the 1st Battalion of The Nova Scotia Highlanders
• On 9 December 2010 the 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) was reorganized as a separate regiment and redesignated as The Cape Breton Highlanders, the 1st battalion was redesignated the 1st Battalion, Nova Scotia highlanders (North)

The North Nova Scotia 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

The Colchester and Hants Regiment

• Originated in Truro, Nova Scotia, 1 April 1910 as the 70th Colchester and Hants Regiment
• Redesignated as the 76th Colchester and Hants Rifles, 2 May 1910
• Amalgamated on 15 May 1920 with the 81st "Hants" Regiment and redesignated as 'The Colchester and Hants Regiment
• Amalgamated on 1 December 1936, less "C" Company, with The Cumberland Highlanders and C Company of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC

The 81st "Hants" Regiment

• Originated in Windsor, Nova Scotia, 16 February 1914 as an "8 company Regiment of Infantry in Hants County"
• Redesignated as the 68th Regiment, 1 May 1914
• Redesignated as the 81st "Hants" Regiment, 1 June 1914
• Amalgamated on 15 May 1920 with the 76th Colchester and Hants Rifles

189th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA

• Originated in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, 1 April 1946
• Amalgamated on 12 November 1954 with The Pictou Highlanders (Motor) and The North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Chart

Perpetuations

War of 1812

• 1st Battalion, County of Sydney Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, County of Sydney Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Cumberland Regiment
• Parrsborough Corps

The Great War

• 17th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF
• 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles), CEF
• 106th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles), CEF
• 193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF
• 246th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF

Operational history

South African War

The 193rd Cumberland Battalion of Infantry contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the South African War.

First World War

Details of the 76th Colchester and Hants Rifles, the 78th Pictou Regiment "Highlanders" and the 93rd Cumberland Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.

The 17th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF was authorized on 19 September 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 29 September 1914 where it was redesignated as the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.

The 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles), CEF was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1915. It disembarked in France on 16 September 1916, where it fought as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

The 106th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 15 July 1916 where it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps until 5 October 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 40th Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 8 December 1917.

The 193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF, was authorized on 15 July 1916. It was based in Truro, Nova Scotia, and began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 throughout Nova Scotia, one Cyril Wetmore recruiting more than 100 men "from Parrsboro to Apple River." It embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916 where it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 20 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion. The battalion was disbanded on 18 February 1918.

It had one Officer Commanding: Lieutenant Colonel R. J. S. Langford, later commander of the Royal Canadian Regiment (1929-1935) and co-author of Corporal to Field Officer and Handbook of Canadian Military Law.

The 246th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF was authorized on 1 May 1917 and embarked for Great Britain on 2 June 1917. On 9 June 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 11 April 1918.

• The distinguishing patch of the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles), CEF.

The Second World War

Details of The Pictou Highlanders were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939 as The Pictou Highlanders, Canadian Active Service Force (Details), for local protection duties. The details called out on active service disbanded on 31 December 1940.

The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Pictou Highlanders, CASF for active service on 1 January 1941. It served in Newfoundland from March to August 1943 in a home defence role as part of Atlantic Command. In September 1943, one company was despatched to the Bahamas, where it performed garrison duty until 28 March 1946. The battalion was disbanded on 30 April 1946.

On 10 September 1942, a sub-component of the regiment, designated Special Infantry Company (Pictou Highlanders), CASF, was mobilized for active service. It served in Bermuda on garrison duty from 12 November 1942 to 1 April 1946. The company disbanded on 30 April 1946.

Details of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939 as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Machine Gun), CASF (Details), for local protection duties. The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.

The regiment subsequently mobilized The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, CASF on 7 November 1940. It embarked for Great Britain on 18 July 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 15 January 1946.

On 1 June 1945, the regiment mobilized the 3rd Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Canadian Infantry Corps, Canadian Army Occupation Force for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. The battalion disbanded on 1 May 1946.

Post-War

On 4 May 1951, the regiment mobilized two temporary Active Force companies designated "E" and "F".

"E" Company was reduced to nil strength upon its personnel being incorporated into the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion for service in Germany with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and was disbanded on 29 July 1953. On 16 October 1953 the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

"F" Company was initially used as a reinforcement pool for "E" Company. On 15 May 1952, it was reduced to nil strength, upon its personnel being absorbed by the newly formed 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion for service in Korea with the United Nations. "F" Company was disbanded on 29 July 1953. On 16 October 1953 the 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

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.

Battle honours

The Nova Scotia Highlanders have received 47 battle honours and 1 honorary distinction since the unit's inception. In the list below, battle honours in small capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles.

War of 1812

Non-emblazonable honorary distinction Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada

South African War

South Africa, 1899–1900

First World War

• Ypres, 1915
• Festubert, 1915
• Mount Sorrel
• Somme, 1916
• Flers–Courcelette
• Thiepval
• Ancre Heights
• Arras, 1917
• Vimy, 1917
• Arleux
• Scarpe, 1917
• Hill 70
• Ypres, 1917
• Passchendaele
• Somme, 1918
• Amiens
• Arras, 1918
• Scarpe, 1918
• Hindenburg Line
• Canal du Nord
• Cambrai, 1918
• Pursuit to Mons
• France and Flanders, 1915–18

Second World War

• Normandy Landing
• Authie
• Caen
• The Orne
• Bourguébus Ridge
• Faubourg de Vaucelles
• Verrières Ridge–Tilly-la-Campagne
• Falaise
• The Laison
• Chambois
• Boulogne, 1944
• Calais, 1944
• The Scheldt
• Savojaards Plaat
• Breskens Pocket
• The Rhineland
• Waal Flats
• The Hochwald
• The Rhine
• Zutphen
• Leer
• North-West Europe, 1944–1945

South-West Asia

Afghanistan

Photo Gallery

• Jesse Mackenzie, from 1st Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders (North), adjusts the sights, on his C9, machine gun, at the range

Armouries

See also

• Canadian-Scottish regiment
• West Nova Scotia Regiment
• List of armouries in Canada
• Military history of Nova Scotia
• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Forces

Notes

1. ^ Reserve order of battle

References

1. 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.
2. Ken MacLeod (8 September 2011). "Cape Breton Highlanders on parade Saturday for first time in more than 50 years". Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
3. ^ Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
4. "The Nova Scotia Highlanders". www.canada.ca. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
5. Anonymous, Prominent People of the Maritime Provinces , Montreal: Canadian Publicity Company, 1922, p. 206.
6. "South-West Asia Theatre Honours | Prime Minister of Canada". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
7. "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.
• No Retreating Footsteps: The Story of the North Novas by Will R. Bird (1955)
• The Fighting North Novies: Into the Fire by Al Cameron
• North Nova Scotia Highlanders by D.F. Forbes (1945)
• Eighty-Fifth in France and Flanders Being a history of the justly famous 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Jan 1 1920 by Lt-Col Joseph Hayes (Author)
• Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

External links

• Blue Feather battalion by Q.M.S. Edgar E. Kelley,. O.R.C. 193RD Battalion

• Official website
• Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum

Order of precedence

• Nova Scotia Highlanders
• Scottish regiments of Canada
• Highland regiments
• Military units and formations established in 1954
• Truro, Nova Scotia