Chapter XXXVI: 94th VICTORIA REGIMENT, ARGYLL HIGHLANDERS

Much has been written of what was done by Canadian Units in France and Belgium, but little has been said of the Units compelled to remain on home service, which had to content themselves with performing garrison duties and supplying reinforcements to the army in the Field.

The 94th Victoria Regiment, Argyll Highlanders, with Headquarters at Baddeck, Cape Breton, was at the commencement of hostilities perhaps the most distinctively Highland Battalion in the forces of the Empire, inasmuch as the Gaelic language was the mother tongue of eighty per cent. of its personnel. As a rural Battalion it is recognized as having sent more officers and men Overseas than any other similar Unit in Eastern Canada. All its original members, excepting those over age or physically unfit, were transferred to C.E.F. Units; many of them paid the supreme sacrifice, and a number of them were decorated for distinguished service.

At 9.30 a.m., August 4, 1914, the Officer Commanding the Battalion, Lieut.-Col. J. D. McRae, received mobilization orders. The marching-out strength, including the Canso detachment, was 377 all ranks. The eight Companies were commanded by the officers, and proceeded to their different stations, on the dates named below:

“A” Co., Capt. D. P. McRae, Whitney Pier, Sydney 7th Aug.
“B” Co., Capt. D. A. McRae; Marconi Towers, Glace Bay 6th „
“C” Co., Capt. A. J. McNeil, North Sydney 5th „
“D” Co., Capt. M. A. McLeod, Marconi Towers, Glace Bay 6th „
“E” Co., Capt. M. D. McKeigan, Louisburg 5th „
“F” Co., Capt. R. Y. McKenzie, Lloyd’s Cove, Sydney Mines 7th „
“G” Co., Capt. J. G. Johnstone, Canso 5th „
“H” Co., Capt. W. D. McKenzie, Sydney 7th „
Regimental Staff to Headquarters, 33 Charlotte St., Sydney 7th „

_Regimental Staff._

Lieut.-Col. J. D. McRae Officer Commanding.
Major J. S. McLean Second in Command.
Major A. D. McRae Junior Major.
Capt. W. G. McRae Adjutant.
Lieut. A. J. McInnis Instructor of Musketry.
Lieut. G. M. McNeil Signalling Officer.
Major M. A. J. McDonald Quartermaster.
Major Dan McDonald Medical Officer.
Capt. M. H. Morrison Paymaster.

_Lieutenants._

“A” Co., P. W. Anderson and J. A. Kiley.
“B” Co., W. W. Nicholson and F. J. McCharles.
“C” Co., A. J. McDonald and J. A. McDonald.
“D” Co., N. J. McDonald and A. N. McKenzie.
“E” Co., J. L. McKinnon and D. McKenzie.
“F” Co., D. McKinnon and D. McKenzie.
“G” Co., K. L. McKay and J. McIsaac.
“H” Co., A. McKinnon and J. D. McRae.

Captain C. C. McIntosh was Chaplain of the Unit, but was not called out for service with it.

During the years 1914 to 1918 the following officers, sixty in all. were transferred to C.E.F. Units:

_Majors._

M. W. Morrison and J. G. Johnstone.

_Captains._

D. A. McRae.
K. L. McKay.
M. D. McKeigan.
J. McIsaac.
W. G. McRae.
W. W. Nicholson.
D. McKinnon.
A. McKinnon.

_Lieutenants._

A. J. McInnis.
G. M. McNiel.
J. D. McIntyre.
W. J. Brothers.
C. McDermid.
G. B. Morley.
J. W. Maddin.
J. H. McIvor.
C. F. Gallant.
A. E. Wilcox.
S. Schoefield.
J. A. McDonald.
David Neil.
P. W. Anderson.
J. D. McNiel.
D. H. McKenzie.
L. G. McCorrison.
J. A. McKinnon.
J. A. Rankin.
C. Campbell.
A. W. McLean.
W. A. Livingstone.
T. D. A. Purves.
R. A. Pertus.
G. D. Crowell.
C. R. McKenzie.
W. E. Beaton.
M. J. Dryden.
Alex. McDonald.
A. H. Walker.
C. Holland.
R. Flemming.
W. R. McAskill.
A. M. Fraser.
S. D. Morrison.
C. W. Sutherland.
D. N. McDonald.
W. H. McConell.
B. Campbell.
F. J. McCharles.
J. A. Holland.
M. W. McKinnon.
H. C. Verner.
T. C. King.
R. M. McDonald.
M. J. McRae.
A. S. Henry.
D. S. Carey.
J. B. Fraser.
Theodore Chisholm.

From a total of 344 other ranks who came out with the Battalion at the commencement of the War, 311 volunteered for service Overseas. It took time to train a sufficient number of recruits to replace these men, but within six months all had been transferred to C.E.F. Units and were on their way to France. Altogether the Battalion during its period of service sent 3,632 men to the Front, and it was a difficult matter at all times to retain a sufficient number of men to perform the necessary duties.

The eight Companies of the Battalion were called upon to perform Garrison Guard and Outpost duties at important shipping points, wireless and cable stations, not only in Cape Breton but also at Canso. For defence purposes the troops at Marconi Towers, Glace Bay, Louisburg and Canso erected blockhouses and wire entanglements, built redoubts and dug trenches, in addition to carrying into effect a syllabus of training designed better to fit the men for their more strenuous work with the Expeditionary Force.

The Battalion was demobilized June 29, 1918, and the following officers were transferred to “F” Company, 6th Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment, who assumed the duties previously performed by the 94th:—

Capt. A. J. McNiel.

_Lieutenants._

J. A. McDonald.
L. E. McDonald.
J. D. McRae.
A. J. McDonald.
Dan McKenzie.
Bert Campbell.
J. R. Fraser.

Major M. J. McDonald, Quartermaster, was employed as the representative of the A.D. of S. & T. in Cape Breton, and Major D. McDonald, Medical Officer, was attached to the A.D.M.S., Military District No. 6. The undermentioned officers were relieved from duty and returned to their homes:—

Lieut.-Col. A. D. McRae.
Major W. G. McRae.
Major J. Darke (attached from 4th P.E.I. Heavy Battery).
Capts. D. P. McRae, D. McKenzie, J. A. Kiley, J. L. McKinnon.
Lieuts. S. A. Reeves, J. D. Aucoin.

N.C.O.’s and men in Class 1 of the Military Service Act, and those who were willing to be transferred, were handed over to “F” Company, 6th Battalion, C.E.F., for duty in Cape Breton.

The following 94th officers transferred to C.E.F. Units were awarded decorations:—

Major P. W. Anderson Military Cross.
Major M. D. McKeigan French Croix de Guerre.
Capt. W. A. Livingstone Military Cross and Bar.
Capt. G. B. Morley Military Cross.
Lieut. G. M. McNeil Military Cross.
Lieut. W. E. Beaton Military Cross.
Lieut. A. S. Henry Military Cross.
Lieut. J. D. McIntyre Military Cross.
Lieut. A. E. Wilcox Military Medal.

The following officers were killed in action or died of wounds:—

Major P. W. Anderson, M.C. Capt. M. W. McKinnon. Capt. W. E. Beaton, M.C. Capt. Aubrey McKinnon. Lieutenants A. H. Walker, W. R. McAskill, J. A. McDonald, J. H. McIvor, J. A. Holland, A. M. Fraser, R. A. Pertus.

It is impossible at the present time to obtain a nominal roll of the N.C.O.’s and men who fell on the field of honor. The list is a long one, and in many Cape Breton homes, mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts mourn with proud resignation the lads who will not return. Neither is it possible to obtain a complete list of decorations awarded. The summary that follows has been compiled from incomplete, unofficial sources:

D.S.O. 1
M.C. 14
Bar to M.C. 2
D.C.M. 15
M.M. 79
Bar to M.M. 10
M.S.M. 4
Despatches 3
Croix de Guerre 2

The undermentioned N.C.O.’s and men obtained commissions:

Sergt. G. McL. Matheson (Major, 25th Bn.) D.S.O., M.C., M.M., Despatches. Pte. Jas. A. Anderson (Capt., 85th Bn.) M.C. Corp. C. J. Oram (Lieut., 25th Bn.) M.C. Corp. D. A. Livingstone (Lieut., 25th Bn.) M.M. Corp. K. Morrison (Lieut., Can. Eng.) M.M. and Bar. Pte. Thos. Toone (Lieut., Can. Eng.) M.C., D.C.M., M.M. C. S.-M. R. Roberts (Lieut., 25th Bn.) D.C.M. Pte. J. R. Burchell (Capt., 85th Bn.) M.C. and Bar. Pte. H. N. McNeil (Capt., 85th Bn.) M.C. Pte. W. V. McKinnon (Lieut., 25th Bn.) M.M. Pte. M. Gray (Capt., Can. Eng.) M.C., M.M.

_94th VICTORIA REGIMENT, ARGYLL HIGHLANDERS_

Under the reorganization scheme of the Canadian Militia the 94th Regiment is wiped off the slate and is succeeded by the 1st Battalion, Cape Breton Highlanders (85th Battalion, C.E.F.). The officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the old Regiment, who served in it for years before the fateful summer of 1914, cannot view its passing without a certain measure of sadness and regret. The spirit of comradeship that existed among all ranks encouraged them to carry on through many difficulties in years of peace and enabled them at a few hours’ notice to proceed in full strength to their allotted stations, on the declaration of war.

Inspired by the Regiment’s ancient motto, “Dileas d’on Bhrataich” (“True to the Flag”), every man who was physically fit, and many who were not, volunteered for service Overseas. They did their duty nobly and gave their country a full and overflowing measure of splendid service. The memory of our comrades whose mortal remains sleep in the stricken fields of France and Flanders will be held in affectionate recollection as long as life lasts. Of them the soldier poet of Nova Scotia, Dr. J. D. Logan, a sergeant of the 85th Battalion, who served with many officers and men transferred to that Unit from the 94th, writes:

“They gave the All that men can give;
They gave themselves that men might live,
They are Christ’s heroes. Lo, on their brows Love’s diadem!
O God of Righteous Battles, let it be well with them.”