Theme Collections

 

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

 

Photos and Photo Postcards - First World War - Canada - 1916

 

Photos

This section contains one professsional group shot photo of the 185th Battalion officers at Broughton, NS, circa early 1916, and two snapshot photos taken at the same time showing the officers and the professional photographer.

Click or tap on the images below for high resolution, expandable images. Use your back button to return to this page.

 


Officers

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Early 1916

The photo was taken in front of the side entrance to the General Mining Office. The building was used as the battalion headquarters. The Broughton Arms Hotel was reputed to have one of the very first sets of revolving doors. The General Mining Office also had a set of revolving doors as well, as evidenced in this photo which clearly shows a revolving door behind the men.

First Row, Sitting on the Ground, left to Right:
1.  (?)
2.  (?)
3.  (?)
4.  (?)
5. Lieut. Arthur Milton Fraser, "D" Company, Sydney, NS, born in New Glasgow, NS (Killed in action with the Royal Canadian Regiment on August 26, 1918)
6.  (?)
7.  (?)
8. Lieut. Douglas Morgan Wiswell, "D" Company, Halifax, NS, born in Halifax

Second Row, Seated in Chairs, Left to Right:
1. Capt. Angus Lewis MacDonald (Second in Command of "A" Company), Port Hood, Inverness County, Cape Breton, born in Dunvegan, Inverness County, Cape Breton
2. Capt. John Alexander Munro (Medical Officer), Aldershot, NS, born in Truro, NS
3. Capt. Roderick Colin Jackson (Battalion Adjutant), Millsville, Pictou County, NS, born in Napa, California, USA
4. Major John George Johnstone (Second in Command), Halifax, NS, born in Halifax
5. Lt-Col. Frank Parker Day with his dog Thistle (Officer Commanding), Halifax, NS, born in Shubenacadie, NS
6. Major Gordon Sidney Harrington (Officer Commanding "B" Company), Halifax, NS, born in Halifax
7. Capt. John McIsaac, (Officer Commanding "A" Company), Halifax, NS, born in Inverness, Cape Breton
8. Capt. William Wallace Nicholson (Officer Commanding "C" Company), South Side Baddeck, Victoria County, Cape Breton, born in Middle River, Victoria County, Cape Breton
9. Capt. James William Maddin (Officer Commanding "D" Company), Sydney, NS, born in Westville, NS

Third Row, Standing, left to Right:
1.  (1)
2. Lieut. Harold Raymond Theakston, "D" Company, Sydney, NS, born in Vermont, USA
3.  (?)
4. Capt. John Thomas Malone (Quartermaster), Halifax, NS, born in Cork, Ireland (Died of pneumonia in England on December 9, 1916)
5. Capt. Angus John McInnis (Second in Command of "B" Company), Glace Bay, NS, born in Grand Mira, Cape Breton
6. Capt. Michael Gillis (Roman Catholic Chaplain), Soldiers Cove, Richmond County, Cape Breton, born in Soldiers Cove
7. Capt. Alexander MacDonald (Second in Command of "C" Company), West Bay, Inverness County, Cape Breton, born in West Bay

Fourth Row, Standing, Left to Right:
1.  (?)
2.  (?)
3. Lieut. Thomas Dickson Archibald Purves, "C" Company, North Sydney, NS, born in Pictou, NS
4.  (?)
5. Lieut. Cecil Wiggons Sutherland, "C" Company, North Sydney, NS, born in Sackville, NB
6. (?)

Please note that the place names immediately following the mens' names are home addresses at the time of enlistment. Their places of birth are also indicated. Military ranks are ranks at the time the photo was taken.

Thanks to John Hart for scanning the original photo from the Cape Breton Highlanders Museum and to Terry McCully for editing the photo and providing names to faces by comparing known photos of the 185th Battalion officers to the officers in the photo above.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  18-5 (18-1.4)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS


Officers

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Early 1916

This is an interesting companion photo to the previous professional group shot photo. It is a snapshot photo taken from a distance and shows the 185th officers about to have their photo taken. It also shows the professional photographer who is about to take their photo. 

Also note some of the architectural feaatures of the General Mining Office building including the exterior corner wing wall on the left and the rounded corner on the right.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-3 (37-2-4.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Robert Maclellan Collection


Officers

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Early 1916

This is another snapshot photo showing the 185th officers about to have their photo taken by a professional photograper.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-3 (37-2-2.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Robert Maclellan Collection

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