Holiday Greeting Card

Christmas 1917 - New Year 1918

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

The greeting card consists of a folded cardstock type material. The front cover, shown above, has a stylized 185th Battalion crest in the design of the battalion's collar badges, with a piece of tied ribbon on the left edge. The back of the card is blank. Unfortunately the front cover is stained and has sustained water damage. Opening the front cover reveals four paper pages. See the images below.

Ref. Number:  0-6 (4-8)
Image Information:  Scan of original holiday greeting card
Source:  Robert MacLellan Collection

Interior Contents - Page 1

A holiday greeting in Gaelic. It is signed by William Wallace Nicholson, an officer in the 185th Battalion.

William Wallace Nicholson was born in Middle River, Victoria County, Cape Breton, on October 4, 1891. He was a farmer, living in South Side Baddeck, also in Victoria County, when war broke out. At the time, he was a lieutenant in the 94^th Victoria Regiment “Argyll Highlanders”, a local Cape Breton militia unit. He was immediately called up for service. The 94^th Regiment was utilized for home defence duties in Cape Breton. During this time William was promoted to the rank of captain. In late February, 1916, when the 185^th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) was recruiting for overseas duty, he enlisted in that unit. He retained his rank of captain. He trained with the 185^th Battalion in Broughton, near Sydney, NS, and later in Aldershot, NS. In October 1916, he sailed with the 185^th Battalion to England where training continued until early 1918 at which time the battalion was disbanded and its men used as reinforcements for Canadian units already at the front. As a result, on March 12, 1918, William proceeded across the English Channel to France where he joined the 26^th Battalion (New Brunswick) in the field. Two months later, on May 22, 1918, William was returning from a raid when he fell over a trip wire and severely fractured his right elbow. He received treatment for his arm in hospitals in France and England before eventually being classified as medically unfit for general service. He returned to Canada in November, 1918 and was demobilized the following month.

Interior Contents - Page 2

A list of officers in the 185th Battalion.

Interior Contents - Page 3

A colour rendering showing the Colours of the 185th Battalion.

Interior Contents - Page 4

A holiday greeting in English.