The West Nova Scotia Regiment
Most people from the LaHave Islands who fought in the World Wars fought with the West Nova Scotia Regiment or one of its predecessors.
The West Nova Scotia Regiment has one of the oldest histories of any regiment in Canada. It has its roots in French militia formed in 1604 when Acadians had settled along the Fundy Shore in Nova Scotia. In 1697, there were six companies in the Annapolis area under the command of French officer, M. de Falaise. After the British conquest of the Acadians, these French companies ceased to exist, but Acadians who would cooperate with the British were accepted into the local forces controlled by the English.
Combat History in Nova Scotia
These regiments have seen a lot of combat over their long history in Nova Scotia. During the American Revolution, companies of German, Huguenots and New Englanders combined with Acadians fought off attacks from American forces. This strengthened the forces in western Nova Scotia and by 1784, companies had been established in Chester, Mahone, Lunenburg, LaHave, Liverpool, Shelburne, Barrington, Yarmouth, Clare, Digby, Annapolis and Cornwallis. Almost all of these companies had fought in defense of their hometowns against the Americans in the Revolutionary War between 1775 and 1783.
When the Napoleonic Wars broke out in Europe in 1793, the West Nova Scotia militias stood at arms many times against the threat of French or American attack. Many of their members also took to the sea to fight as privateers operating against the French and Spanish in places as far away as the West Indies and the Spanish Main.
As the War of 1812 started, the role of these sailors and marines from the militias in western Nova Scotia intensified as American privateers infested the waters off of the Nova Scotia coast. These sailors defended their homeports from American attack, but took the battle to them at sea as well. One ship, the “Liverpool Packet” captured nearly 100 American vessels during this war and frequently landed soldiers on the American coast.
Periods of Peace
After 1815 there was a long period of peace, but the companies were maintained. It was during this time of peace when the companies in western Nova Scotia were combined to form more recognizable units. In 1869, the 1st Annapolis Battalion was created and known as the 69th Regiment, a year later the 72nd Regiment was formed and became the 2nd Annapolis Battalion. These two battalions would be amalgamated in 1898 as the 69th Annapolis Regiment. In 1870, companies along the South Shore of Nova Scotia were combined and became the 75th Regiment, headquartered in Bridgewater in Lunenburg county.
The Fenian Raids of 1866 to 1871 saw many of these companies standing guard ready for action, but they would not be called upon to fight again until 1914 and the start of World War I.
World War I
When World War I broke out and Canada sent the 1st Canadian Division to do battle, no Nova Scotian units were included in the division sent. The regiments in the 1st Canadian Division drafted soldiers from the regiments in Nova Scotia. This was how members of the Western Nova Scotia regiments saw duty in the war, as units from Ontario and further west would draft them into their ranks.
Post World War I
After World War I, the 69th and 75th regiments were officially recognized for the contribution made by their officers and men who fought overseas. In 1922, the 69th Regiment was renamed the Annapolis Regiment and the 75th Regiment was renamed the Lunenburg Regiment. They were also awarded Battle Honors as follows:
Annapolis Regiment:
Arras 1917-1918
Hill 70
Hidenburg Line
Pursuit to Mons
Lunenburg Regiment:
Arras 1917-1918
Ypres 1917
Amines
Hidenburg Line
Pursuit to Mons
In 1935, the commanding officer was Lt. Col. W.E. Ryder, the rector of the Anglican parish of Lunenburg, and the second-in-command was Major G.W. Bullock, ED, the rector of the Anglican parish of Bridgewater. A regiment commanded by two members of the clergy is very unique, but it represents the people of Lunenburg County who have always been very spiritual and have a strong martial spirit.
In 1936, the Annapolis Regiment and the Lunenburg Regiment were amalgamated into one regiment retaining their original name, the West Nova Scotia Regiment. Major Bullock from the Lunenburg Regiment was given a new rank of Lieutenant Colonel and command of the new regiment so it became his task to unite the two strong regiments into one.
World War II
It was not long after the amalgamation of the two regiments that World War II started, and the West Nova Scotia regiment, or West Novies as they were nicknamed, would not be overlooked like they were in World War I.
The West Novies were selected for overseas service in World War II so departed for Europe on December 21, 1939. They arrived at Gourock, Scotland on December 31 and took a train to North Farnborogh station in England, arriving on New Year’s Day 1940. From there, they marched to their new camp and home at Guillemont Barracks.
The next three years and six months would see the West Novies in England training for battle and learning the new art of war that developed between the two great wars. On June 28, 1943 the West Novies left England to sail to Italy where they would land on Sicily to take the island.
Over the next two years the West Nova Scotia regiment would see combat throughout Europe, moving from Sicily onto mainland Italy and then onto Rome. After taking Italy, the West Novies pulled back and were transported into the south of France landing in Marseilles. From there they set out for Belgium and traveled through Holland and into Germany itself.
With the work in Europe complete, many of the men volunteered for service in Japan or to stay on as part of the occupation force in Germany. The Third Battalion of the West Novies regiment returned to Nova Scotia on June 11th, 1945 to begin training for the Japanese campaign. Within a few days the battalion had volunteers to put them at full strength, 1200 men, most of whom were veterans of the 1st Battalion in Europe.
The 3rd Battalion would not be necessary, as the unit trained through the summer and prepared for their departure, Japan surrendered and the orders came to disband the Battalion and end training.
The West Nova Scotia Regiment returned home on October 1st 1945. They had lost 352 men, another 1084 were wounded and 48 taken prisoner. During their time overseas, they traveled over 8500 miles by sea and another 8000 miles by foot through England, Italy, Germany and Holland.
Photo Gallery
Some of the combatants from the LaHave Area and surrounding Communities
