14

Angus John MacDonell
1914 - 1918



Credits:
Chestico Museum
Catherine MacDonell, Port Hood

15

Vimy Ridge Monument and Battlefield
21st Century, Circa 2008
Vimy Ridge, France


Credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cragglesmapa/404935996/

16

When Britain declared war against Germany in August, 1914, Canada, as part of the British Empire at that time, was automatically at war, too. The patriotism of the day declared that Canada would "do her bit" and stand by Britain in her hour of need in order to serve "King and Empire". In the first few months of the war, enthusiastic young men enlisted in the thousands, afraid that they would miss out on the great adventure if they waited too long in a war they believed would be "over by Christmas". In October, 1914 the First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) set sail from Quebec for England while the Second Contingent was already being recruited. Nova Scotia would form the 25th Battalion at this time and it joined the Second Contingent when it sailed overseas in May, 1915. Fr. Donald MacPherson, a Catholic priest at St. Mary's, Glendale, Inverness County enlisted, with the 25th and was the first chaplain from the Diocese of Antigonish (which comprised all of Cape Breton) to serve overseas. In October, 1915 it was decided that a Highland Brigade be formed in Nova Scotia. Recruiting began for the 85th Battalion in Halifax that fall, and in March/April, 1916, Cape Breton men began to enlist in the 185th Battalion in Sydney. This Cape Breton regiment, soon dubbed "the Cape Breton Highlanders", would sail overseas in October, 1916 to join its brother battalions serving in the trenches.