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25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles)

Newspaper Clippings - First World War Era

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This section contains one First World War era newspaper clipping from a local Cape Breton newspaper, and is dated September 22, 1915. The article is a reprinted letter from Major Donald Alexander MacRae, an officer in the 25^th Battalion. He writes from England about his experiences there, and mentions the former 94^th Victoria Regiment soldiers in the 25^th Battalion.

Donald Alexander MacRae was born on March 18, 1871 in Baddeck River, Victoria County, Cape Breton. Prior to the First World War, he was a carpenter and had over twelve years experience in the 94^th Victoria Regiment “Argyll Highlanders,” a local Cape Breton militia. In November, 1914, shortly after the outbreak of war, Donald enlisted in the 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) with the rank of major. He went overseas to England with the battalion in May, 1915, and in mid September of the same year, they crossed the English Channel to France where they entered the trenches. On October 9, 1915, Donald received a minor gun shot wound to his neck. He was treated for his wound and sent back to his unit the next day. In April, 1916, Donald was sent to the rear and then on to England where he spent time in hospitals suffering from exhaustion. Various medical records in his service file mention “exhaustion,” “shell shock” and “debility.” He was probably suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. In July, while still in England, he was transferred to the 17^th Reserve Battalion. In August he was hospitalized for serious internal haemorrhoidal hemorrhaging. In October, 1916, Donald was granted a two month leave back to Canada to recover from his ailments. He never returned to Europe but remained on active service in Canada until he was demobilized in December, 1919.

Donald Alexander MacRae passed away on February 11, 1931.