Canadian WW1 Badges (C.E.F.)

85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Glengarry Cap Badge

2 lugs to the reverse

85th (Nova Scotia Highlanders Battalion 1915 - 1918)

The 85th Battalion was authorized to be recruited September 10th 1915 in Nova Scotia with mobilization

headquarters at Halifax under General Order 103a of August 15th 1915. The battalion was raised by the

94th Victoria Regiment (Argyll Highlanders) this regiment having previously contributed volunteers to the

17th Battalion on its formation at Camp Valcartier in August 1914 and later raising the 185th Battalion. The

85th Battalion sailed for England October 13th 1916 with 34 officers and 1001 OR’s under command of

Lieutenant-Colonel E.C. Phinney (63rd Halifax Rifles) and embarked for Boulogne, France on February

10th 1917 attached to the 4th Canadian Division serving as utility battalion providing companies in support

of action, supply and labour.

Some interesting footnotes from the War Diary of the 85th Battalion include

“2nd April 1917 “Instructions received today that the 85th Bn. to wear green divisional sign on the sleeves.

This is a rectangle 1 ¾ x 3 ¾ and is worn 1 inch below the point of the shoulder (Authority 4th Canadian

Division Q 15/1, 2/14/17)”. Another entry of March 10th 1917 ‘Band told to obtain authorization within 10

days or to be absorbed into regular duties.’ It would appear that this was not obtained as later in March the

band (one officer and 41 bandsmen) are listed as serving as working parties attached to other units. During

the Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 10th 1917, two companies were sent forward late in the day to complete the

attack on the ‘pimple’ followed by the rest of the battalion taking this key defensive position from the

enemy. Effective April 30th 1917 a shuffle of the infantry battalions within the 12th Infantry Brigade the

73rd Battalion was disbanded and its place as the third battalion in the establishment of the 12th Brigade

being taken over by the 78th Battalion and the now vacant fourth position allotted to the 85th Battalion.

The 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion was disbanded under General Order 149 of September 15th 1920.

The regimental numbers block for the original contingent of the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion was

222001 - 225000. A Reinforcing Draft for the 85th Battalion was raised at Halifax in October 1917 being

allotted the regimental numbers block 2,655601 - 2,657100.

The 85th Battalion also had a large brass band of one officer and 41 musicians and a pipe band of 10 pipers

and five drummers. Only officers and pipers wore highland garb, other ranks wore regular infantry uniform

with a Balmoral this with brown turkey hackle with red feather in the centre, behind the badge. The other

battalions.