Firstly, apologies to maggie for continuing this tangent.
Michael Dorosh said:
I'd have to check my list, but was there even a "Cape Breton Highlanders" regiment before World War One? Many of the CEF battalions did rename themselves - colourful names like McLean's Kilties, The Sportsmen Battalion, Canadian Vikings, et al, but these were not related to the Regimental system in place at home in the Canadian Militia either.
The 85th Bn, C.E.F., was raised by General Order 103a of 14 Aug 1915. It's name was the "Nova Scotia Highlanders." The battalion's mobilization headquarters was Halifax and the recruiting area is given as "Nova Scotia." ("Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War": by John F Meek)
Other battalions linked to the 85th or Nova Scotian highland traditions, include:
17th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) - Redesignated the 17th Reserve Battalion, fornmed part of the Canadian Training Depot, located at Tidworth Barracks.
185th Bn, "Cape Breton Highlanders" - Raised throughout Cape Breton. Mobilization HQ in Broughton. Badged "Cape Breton Highlanders. No service in France as a unit, absorbed into the 17th Reserve Battalion.
193rd Bn, "Nova Scotia Highlanders" - Raised throughout NS, Mobilization HQ in Truro. Badged "Nova Scotia Highlanders. No service in France as a unit, absorbed into the 17th Reserve Battalion.
219th Overseas Highland Battalion - Raised throughout NS, Mobilization HQ in Aldershot. Badged "Overseas Highland Battalion". No service in France as a unit, absorbed into the 17th Reserve Battalion.
246th Infantry battalion, CEF - Raised throughout NS, Mobilization HQ in Halifax. Badged "Nova Scotia Highlanders. No service in France as a unit, absorbed into the 17th Reserve Battalion.
("Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War": by John F Meek)
According to "Regiments and Corps of the Canadian Army", published by the Army Historical Section in 1964, the first application of the title "Cape Breton Highlanders" for the Canadian Militia came about in the 1920 reorganizations of the Militia, when the 94th Victoria Regiment 'Argyll Highlanders' were renamed.
The 2nd Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders, the direct descendant unit of the 94th / CB Highrs, perpetuates (along with the 1st Battalion on the mainland), the following CEF units: 17th, 25th, 85th, 106th, 185th, 193rd and 246th Battalions, CEF.
Battle Honours for the Nova Scotia Highlanders, and its perpetuated units, can be found here:
http://regimentalrogue.com/battlehonours/bathnrinf/27-nshighrs.htm