Battalion Photo

Cape Breton Highlanders

Pictou, NS

Circa 1921

The photo was taken during the 150th anniversary celebration of the arrival of the ship Hector carrying Scottish immigrants to Pictou, in 1773. The celebration was the largest concentration of peace time soldiers ever assembled in Pictou County.

The commanding officer of the Cape Breton Highlanders was Lt-Col. Murdock Dan MacKeigan. In the photo he is laying in the grass in front of other officers of the battalion. He is wearing glasses and is just in front of the officer wearing dark sun glasses.

Many of the men are First World War veterans and wear either medal bars or their full medals. There are a number of Military Medals and Military Crosses visible. Both medals were issued for acts of gallantry.

For the most part, the men are wearing First World War style uniforms as worn by the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders). The exception is Lieut. Charles "Charlie" John Oram who is laying in the grass to the right of the pipers. He is a veteran of the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) and wears his full 25th Battalion uniform. He was awarded a Military Cross for action while serving with the 25th Battalion.

There are a variety of caps being worn, including khaki balmorals, blue balmorals with diced banding and glengarries. Balmorals have full feathers, trimmed feathers and some have no feathers. The enlisted men wear newly issued Cape Breton Highlander sporrans. The officers wear 85th Battalion sporrans.

Photographer:  H.H. Reid, Windsor, NS
Ref. Number:  0-4 (11-1-3-1.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Robert MacLellan Collection