Pictou Highlanders

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The Pictou Highlanders

Active| 1871–1954
Country| Canada
Branch|

* Canadian Militia (1871–1940)
* Canadian Army (1940–1954)

Type| Line infantry
Role| Motor
Size| One battalion
Part of|

* Non-Permanent Active Militia (1871–1940)
* Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1942–1954)

Garrison/HQ| New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Motto(s)| Cuidich' n Righ (Scottish Gaelic for 'Save the King')
Colors| Facing colour buff
March| Quick – "Pibroch o' Donald Dhu"
Engagements| First World War
Insignia
Tartan| Seaforth

Military unit

The Pictou Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army from 1871 until it was amalgamated into the Nova Scotia Highlanders in 1954.[1]

## Lineage

[edit]

Founded in 1871 as the Colchester and Hants Provisional Battalion of Infantry it went through several name changes including, in 1871, the 78th Colchester and Hants, or Highlanders Battalion of Infantry; in 1879 the 78th Colchester, Hants and Pictou Battalion of Infantry, "Highlanders"; in 1900 the 78th Colchester, Hants and Pictou Regiment, "Highlanders"; in 1910 the 78th Pictou Regiment "Highlanders"; in 1921 The Pictou Highlanders; and in 1946 - The Pictou Highlanders (Motor).[2][1]

## History

[edit]

With the outbreak of the First World War, the 78th Pictou Regiment (Highlanders) raised volunteers for the overseas battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. During the Second World War, The Pictou Highlanders were active in a defensive role but were never engaged in battle. Details of the regiment were raised for local protective duty on September 1, 1939, and full mobilization occurred on January 1, 1941. The first move that the regiment made was to Newfoundland for coastal defense duty from March until August 1943. In September of the year, one company was dispatched to Nassau, Bahamas where it performed garrison duty until March 1946. A second company entitled Special Infantry Company (Pictou Highlanders) was mobilized on September 10, 1942, for service in the garrison of the Imperial fortress of Bermuda from November 12, 1942, to April 1, 1946. Their duties performed, both the active battalion and the Special Infantry Company were disbanded on April 30, 1946. During the life of the active units, a 2nd Battalion also served in Canada in the Reserve Army.[2]

In 1954, as a result of the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, this regiment was amalgamated with The North Nova Scotia Highlanders to form the 1st Battalion of The Nova Scotia Highlanders with The Cape Breton Highlanders forming the 2nd Battalion.

The Pictou Highlanders before amalgamation held its final Order of Precedence as 33.[3]

## Alliances and Uniform

[edit]

The Pictou Highlanders were allied to The Seaforth Highlanders (Rossshire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) and were kitted as Seaforth's except for regimental badges and the Bugle cords were Royal.[3]

## Perpetuations

[edit]

The regiment perpetuated the following units

### The Great War

[edit]

* 17th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF
* 246th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion, CEF[1][3]

## Battle honours

[edit]

* Ypres, 1915
* Festubert, 1915[a]
* Mount Sorrel[a]
* Somme, 1916
* Amiens[a][3]

## See also

[edit]

* Canadian-Scottish regiment

## Notes and references

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Selected to be borne on colours and appointments

1. ^ a b c "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.
2. ^ a b Defence, National (30 October 2018). "The Nova Scotia Highlanders". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
3. ^ a b c d Barnes, Major R.M. (1972). The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments. London: Sphere Books Limited.

* Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.

## External links

[edit]

* http://nshighlanders.fav.cc/history.html \- Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum

* v
* t
* e

Canadian Army

History|

* History of the Canadian Army
* Canadian Corps
* First Canadian Army
* Military History of Canada
* Fort Frontenac Library
* Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
* Peacekeeping

Structure|

* Structure of the Canadian Army
* List of Units

| Divisions|

* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

|

Brigade groups|

| Mechanized|

* 1
* 2
* 5
* (former) 4

|

* 31
* 32
* 33
* 34
* 35
* 36
* 37
* 38
* 39
* 41

Support brigades|

* 6 CCSB

Small arms|

* C9 light machine gun
* C7 rifle/C8 carbine
* C6 general purpose machine gun
* Browning .50 calibre heavy machine gun
* Browning-HP 9 mm pistol
* P225, 226
* C22 pistol
* C15 Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW)
* C3A1 sniper rifle
* C14 Timberwolf
* C19 rifle
* C20 DMR
* C21 sniper rifle
* C13 fragmentation grenade
* M203 grenade launcher
* M72 SRAAW(L)

Crewed weapons|

* Carl Gustav SRAAW(M)
* Spike ATGM
* TOW LRAAW(H)
* 81 mm mortar
* RBS 70 NG MANPADS
* Skyguard
* C3 close support howitzer
* LG1 Mark II 105 mm towed howitzer
* M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer
* C16 CASW

Armoured
fighting vehicles|

* LAV III
* LAV VI
* Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle
* Leopard 2
* Bison APC
* M113A3 and MTVL
* RG-31
* Textron TAPV

Schools|

* Canadian Army Command and Staff College
* Peace Support Training Centre
* Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre
* Combat Training Centre

* Category
* Commons

This Canadian military history article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template