Theme Collections
Cape Breton Highlanders
Photos and Photo Postcards - Second World War - Italy - 1943-1945
Photos
This section contains two photos showing Canadian Minister of National Defence, James Layton Ralston, visiting Cape Breton Highlanders in Altamura, Italy, on December 1, 1943.
In November, 1943, James Ralston travelled to Italy to meet with Canadian troops in that theatre of operations. On December 1st, he met with the Cape Breton Highlanders who were housed in a former prisoner-of-war camp. They had arrived in Italy the previous month and had not yet seen action. Ralston had a special relationship with the Cape Breton Highlanders. He was the honorary colonel of the unit and was the highly decorated commanding officer of the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) during the First World War. The memory of Ralston's old unit, the 85th Battalion, is perpetuated by the Cape Breton Highlanders.
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Ralston Inspects Cape Breton Highlanders
Altamura, Italy
December 1, 1943
Canadian Minister of National Defence, James Layton Ralston, inspects a contingent of soldiers from the Cape Breton Highlanders.
The officer on the far left is Major General Guy Simonds, the commanding officer of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division to which the Cape Breton Highlanders belonged.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (14-2-19.3)
Image Information: Scan of photo reprint (National Archives of Canada, Neg. No. PA191772
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Association Collection, 2024
Ralston Greets Officers of the Cape Breton Highlanders
Altamura, Italy
December 1, 1943
Canadian Minister of National Defence, James Layton Ralston, greets officers of the Cape Breton Highlanders.
Only two of the Cape Breton Highlander officers have been positively identified. Ralston has his left hand on the arm of Capt. Alex C. Ross, the battalion adjutant. The third officer on Capt. Ross's left is Major Carl Dauphinee Arnold.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (14-2-20.3)
Image Information: Scan of photo reprint (National Archives of Canada, Neg. No. PA191773)
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Association Collection, 2024