CQMS John Robert MacAulay and an Unidentified Man

85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

Nova Scotia

1916

CQMS MacAulay is shown on the left holding a cane. His rank of company quartermaster sergeant is partially visible on his right sleeve. The civilian on the right is unidentified but may be his brother.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-4 (3-4-1-1.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Robert MacLellan Collection

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Short Biography and Record of Service

CQMS John Robert MacAulay
Service Number 222024
Died December 29, 1921
85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

John Robert MacAulay was born on February 13, 1884, in Port Morien, a small coastal community in southeastern Cape Breton. He was the son of John and Margaret MacAulay. John was single and working as a mechanic when he enlisted as a private in the 85^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on September 27, 1915. The 85^th Battalion recruited across Nova Scotia and mobilized in Halifax, NS, with their headquarters in the Halifax Armoury. On February 21, 1916, John was appointed company quartermaster sergeant which placed him in charge of all supplies and stores for his company.

In May, 1916, the 85^th Battalion relocated to the large pre-war military training camp at Aldershot, NS, where it was united with its newly raised sister battalions (185^th, 193^rd and 219^th) to form the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade. After intensive training through the summer and early fall, the four battalions entrained for Halifax where they boarded the troopship RMS Olympic, sister ship of the Titanic, and on October 13, 1916, set sail for England.

Shortly after arriving in England, news was received that some of the Nova Scotia highland battalions were to be disbanded with the men to be used as reinforcements for units at the front. The 193^rd and 219^th Battalions were dissolved, the 185^th Battalion was to remain in England, and John’s unit, the 85^th Battalion, was to proceed to France. On February 10, 1917, the 85^th Battalion crossed the English Channel and disembarked at Boulogne. They soon found themselves at the front as a work battalion. Their status changed to a fighting battalion on April 9, 1917, during the Battle for Vimy Ridge, when the 85^th Battalion was ordered to attack Hill 145 and distinguished themselves with its capture and the fighting that followed.

At the end of May, 1917, John became ill and was diagnosed with trench fever, a contagious, moderately serious, bacterial infection transmitted by body lice. It was a common ailment for soldiers in the trenches at the time. John suffered fever and pain in his arms, legs and head. He was treated in hospitals in France for over a month before returning to his unit. In November, 1917, he had a second attack of trench fever during the terrible fighting in the mud of Passchendaele. This time John was invalided back to England for treatment. For the next year he was transferred between various reserve units and was treated at numerous hospitals and convalescent centres for long term effects from trench fever. In December, 1918, he was returned to Canada and admitted to Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax where he underwent an unrelated operation. A month later he suffered another attack of trench fever. John was eventually discharged from the army on June 10, 1919, as medically unfit for general service.

It is believed that John returned home to Port Morien. He passed away on December 29, 1921 at the age of 37. The circumstances of his death are not known, but his military records indicate that his death was due to his service. John’s British War Medal and Victory Medal, standard medals awarded to Canadian soldiers serving at the front during the First World War, were issued to his sister Margaret. A Next of Kin Memorial Plaque and Scroll were issued to John’s brother Duncan. There was no Memorial Cross issued since John was not married and his mother was deceased.

John MacAulay was laid to rest in Black Brook Cemetery in Port Morien.