85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF

The 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Great War Canadian Expeditionary Force. The 85th Battalion was authorized on 14 September 1915[1] and embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916. Disembarking in France on 10 February 1917, it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.[2] The battalion is most famous for capturing Hill 145 in their first battle. Today, the Vimy Memorial stands on Hill 145.

85th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (Nova Scotia Highlanders)
85th Battalion emblem, worn as a head dress cap badge
Active	1915–1919
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Type	Infantry
Part of	12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division
Motto(s)	Siol na fear fearail (Breed of manly men)
Anniversaries	April 9, 1917
Engagements	Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Amiens, Hundred Days Offensive

Part of a series on the
Military history of Nova Scotia
Citadel Hill in Halifax
Notable events Battle of Port Royal 1690 Siege of Port Royal 1710 Battle of Winnepang 1722 Northeast Coast Campaign 1745 Battle of Grand Pré 1747 Dartmouth Massacre 1751 Bay of Fundy Campaign 1755 Siege of Louisbourg 1758 Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax 1758 Halifax Treaties 1760–1761 Battle of Fort Cumberland 1776 Raid on Lunenburg 1782 Establishment of New Ireland 1812 Capture of USS Chesapeake 1813 ‪Battle of the Great Redan 1855 ‪Siege of Lucknow 1857 CSS Tallahassee escape 1861 ‪Halifax Provisional Battalion 1885 ‪Battle of Witpoort 1899 ‪Battle of Paardeberg 1899 Imprisonment of Leon Trotsky 1917 Jewish Legion formed 1917 Sinking of Llandovery Castle 1918 Battle of the St. Lawrence 1942–1944 Sinking of Point Pleasant Park 1945 Halifax VE-Day riot 1945
Notable regiments Mi'kmaq militias 1677–1779 Acadian militias 1689–1761 40th Regiment of Foot 1717–1757 Louisbourg Garrison 1717–1758 Gorham's Rangers 1744–1762 Danks' Rangers 1756–1762 84th Regiment of Foot 1775–1784 Royal Fencible American 1775–1783 Royal Nova Scotia Volunteers 1775–1783 King's Orange Rangers 1776–1783 1st Field Artillery from 1791 Royal Nova Scotia 1793–1802 Nova Scotia Fencibles 1803–1816 Halifax Rifles from 1860 Princess Louise Fusiliers from 1867 78th Highland 1869–1871 Cape Breton Highlanders from 1871 Nova Scotia Rifles 1914–1919 No. 2 Construction Battalion 1916–1919 West Nova Scotia from 1916 Nova Scotia Highlanders from 1954
Related topics Captivity narratives Impressment
Category Commons Canada portal

The 85th Battalion recruited throughout Nova Scotia and was mobilized at Halifax.[3]

Before the attack on Vimy Ridge the battalion had been used as a labour battalion and had not seen combat. They were the last remaining reserve battalion in the 12th Brigade when all of the ridge had been taken except for the highpoint Hill 145. Since this hill overlooked all of the newly taken Canadian positions it could not remain in German hands. At 6PM the 85th launched an attack unsupported by artillery due to the closeness of the hill to the Canadians. Ten minutes later the battalion had taken the hill in a ferocious bayonet charge at the cost of 56 dead and almost 300 wounded, many of whom later died.[4]

The king's and regimental colours of the battalion are laid up in Government House in Halifax.[5]

The perpetuation of the 85th battalion was assigned in 1920 to 1st Battalion (85th Battalion, CEF), the Cape Breton Highlanders.[6]