Studio Portrait Photo of Three Soldiers

193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

Nova Scotia

1916

This is a beautiful studio portrait photo of three enlisted men from the 193rd Battalion. It was taken in Nova Scotia not long after the formation of the unit. Two of the men wear balmorals with full length feathers. Each of the five Nova Scotia highland battalions had a distinctive colour for the centre feathers. For the 193rd Battalion, the centre feathers were dyed blue. One man wears a glengarry. With the exception of their highland headwear, the three men wear standard Canadian army uniforms including seven button tunics, pants, and Oliver pattern leather waist belts. Cap and collar badges appear to be General List. They have not yet been issued 193rd Battalion insignia.

Sitting on the left is George Saunders. His rank is lance corporal.

Sitting on the right is 902064 Felicien Joseph Glabais. He was born in Gilly, Belgium but was living in Stellarton, NS, when he enlisted in 193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on March 20, 1916. On his attestation papers his trade is listed as accounting. He was single and had no previous military experience. He went overseas to England with the 193rd Battalion in October, 1916. After the 193rd Battalion was disbanded a few months later, he was transferred to the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders). He trained with them in England until they too were disbanded in early 1918. He then transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. He arrived in France in August, 1918 and saw action with the 4th Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps. In December, 1918 he contracted trench fever and was invalided back to England where he was hospitalized. He returned to Canada in May, 1919 and was hospitalized there as well before being demobilized as medically unfit in July, 1919. Upon discharge, he held the rank of private.

Standing in the centre is 901446 Sidney Hale. He was born and raised in Westville, NS. He enlisted in the 193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on March 11, 1916 with the rank of private. He was married and working as a miner at the time. He went overseas to England with the 193rd Battalion in October, 1916. On December 29, 1916, after the 193rd Battalion was disbanded, he transferred to the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders), and after they too were disbanded a year later, he became a reinforcement for the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders). He joined the 85th Battalion in the field in early March, 1918. While with the 85th Battalion, Sidney was awarded a Military Medal for his actions at Amiens in August, 1918, and was killed in action on September 2, 1918. He was 32 years old and held the rank of private.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-7 (1-6-1.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Pictou County Military Museum, Westville, NS, 2023

Studio Portrait Photo of Two Soldiers

193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

England

Circa Late 1916

This photo was taken just before the 193rd Battalion was disbanded at the end of 1916.

On the left is George Saunders. His rank is company sergeant major. He wears a standard Canadian army seven button tunic, pants and leather waist belt. On his head is a balmoral with full length feathers. 193rd Battalion cap and collar badges are visible.

On the right is 902445 Murdoch Edward Faulkner. His rank is sergeant. He is dressed the same as George but is missing his hat and collar badges. Murdoch was born and raised in Stellarton, NS. He enlisted as a private in the 193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on May 1, 1916. He was single, a merchant and 26 years old at the time. Murdoch went overseas to England with the 193rd Battalion in October, 1916. A few months after arriving in England, the 193rd Battalion was disbanded and he was transferred to the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders). His rank with the 185th Battalion was company quartermaster sergeant. He trained with the 185th Battalion in England until they too were disbanded in early 1918. On February 23, 1918, he reverted to the rank of private at his own request in order to facilitate a quicker transfer to a unit at the front. On March 8, 1918, Murdoch proceeded to France where he joined the Royal Canadian Regiment. He saw action with that unit until the end of the war.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-7 (1-12-1.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Pictou County Military Museum, Westville, NS, 2023