Posed Group of Soldiers

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Canada

1916

Four enlisted men from the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders). All were in their 30's or 40's and were farmers from Inverness County, Cape Breton. They all enlisted on the same day, April 6, 1916, in Broughton, NS. The photo was taken before they went overseas.

Front Row, Left to Right:

1. 877992 Pte. Archibald “Archie” Andrew McLellan. Born in Egypt, Inverness County, Cape Breton.  He enlisted in 185^th Battalion in April, 1916 and trained with them in Broughton and Aldershot, NS. While at Aldershot he was transferred to the 246^th Battalion, a recruiting battalion for the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade. He went overseas to England with the 246^th Battalion in June 1917 and rejoined the 185^th Battalion upon his arrival there. When the 185^th Battalion was disbanded in early 1918, he was transferred to the 17^th Reserve Battalion before joining the Royal Canadian Regiment in the field in France on April 30, 1918. He saw action with the Royal Canadian Regiment and was awarded a Military Medal for bravery. On November 11, 1918, the last day of the war, he died of wounds received in action that day. He was 32 years old.

2. 878028 Pte. Alexander “Sandy” John McDonnell. Born in Scotch Hill Margaree, Inverness County, Cape Breton, but was living in East Margaree when he enlisted in the 185^th Battalion in April, 1916. He was a farmer, single, 43 years old and had no prior military experience. He trained in Broughton and Aldershot, NS with the 185^th Battalion, and went overseas to England with them in October, 1916. In the summer of 1917 he became ill and was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.  In October, 1917 he was invalided back to Canada and was later discharged from the army as being medically unfit. His rank was lance corporal.

Back Row, Left to Right:

1. 878024 Pte. Donald Andrew McLellan. Born in Keppoch, Inverness County, Cape Breton. He was a 40 year old married farmer when he enlisted in the 185^th Battalion in April, 1916. He had served for ten years in the 94^th Victoria Regiment “Argyll Highlanders”, a local militia unit. He trained with the 185^th Battalion in Broughton and Aldershot, NS, and went overseas with them to England in October, 1916. While in England, he transferred to the 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) and joined them in the field in France in August, 1917. On June 5, 1918, near Arras, France, he was severely wounded when hit by shrapnel in the chest. He spent time in hospitals in France and England before being invalided back to Canada for further medical treatment. He was deemed medically unfit for further service and demobilized from the army in April, 1919 in Halifax, NS.

2. 877984 Pte. Angus Joseph McFarlane. Born in Upper South West Margaree, Inverness County, Cape Breton. He was a 36 year old farmer, married with three children, when he enlisted with the 185^th Battalion in April, 1916. He trained with the 185^th Battalion in Broughton and Aldershot, NS, and went overseas to England with them in October, 1916. In May, 1917, he was transferred to the 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) and joined them in the field in France the following month. He was killed in action with the 25^th Battalion at Lens, France, on August 15, 1917.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-4 (2-5.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source:  Robert MacLellan collection