Lieut. Henry McLaren Wylie

85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

Circa 1918-1919

Henry McLaren Wylie was born in Dundas, Ontario on September 23, 1879. He enlisted in the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on September 25, 1915 in Halifax, NS. He had prior militia experience and had taken six weeks of officer training at Dalhousie University. He was married at the time and his attestation papers indicate his profession as tea broker.

Henry enlisted with the rank of private but was soon promoted to sergeant and by February, 1916, he was appointed to the commissioned rank of lieutenant. Henry trained with the 85th Battalion in Halifax and later Aldershot, NS, and went overseas to England with the battalion in October, 1916. In February, 1917, they crossed the English Channel to France and moved to the front for the first time. On April 18, 1917, shortly after the battalion’s baptism of fire at Vimy Ridge, Henry fell from his horse and seriously injured his back. He was hospitalized and invalided back to England to recover. While there, he was transferred to the Nova Scotia Regiment Depot and then the 17th Canadian Reserve Battalion. He also took a course in trench warfare. In September, 1917 he rejoined the 85th Battalion in France. Bad luck followed when he sustained an injury to his eye and was again hospitalized in France. After his recovery he was attached for approximately a month to the 12th Canadian Light Trench Mortar Battery. After that he was seconded to a Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in France. Henry rejoined the 85th Battalion in October, 1918, but was again seconded to a Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp the following December. He returned to Canada in early July, 1919 and was demobilized on July 15th.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-5 (14-1.2)
Image Information:  Received as electronic file
Source:  Kit Bright, Calgary, Alberta (granddaughter of Henry Wylie)