LIEUT.-COL. H. FLOWERS.
This Unit was authorized on September 25, 1917, for the purpose of looking after the draftees under the Military Service Act. Lieut.-Col. H. Flowers, formerly of the 64th and 25th Battalions, C.E.F., was appointed to command, with Lieut.-Col. D. S. Bauld, 25th, Second in Command. The original officers of this Unit were all officers with service at the Front in France, invalided home, and unable to return on account of various disabilities. It was due to this experience that they were able to handle this Unit, which eventually reached the proportions of a Brigade with credit to the Province of Nova Scotia and themselves.
The strength of a Battalion is roughly 1,000 all ranks, and at times the strength of the 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment, reached over 5,000.
The original senior officers were:
| Major F. L. Stephens | 64th and 14th |
| Major O. G. Heard | 106th and 87th. |
| Major W. McPherson | 112th and 87th. |
| Major G. L. Mott | 64th and 13th. |
| Major Stanley | C.F.A. |
Later the following were attached:
| Major Inman | 105th. |
| Major W. Grant | 25th. |
| Lieut.-Col. N. H. Parsons | 246th. |
| Adjutant, Captain Simpson | 85th. |
| Paymaster, Capt. Geo. Farish | 25th. |
| Quartermaster, Capt. W. St.C. Ingraham | 25th. |
From time to time new officers who had not seen Overseas service were attached, and these were sent Overseas with drafts as soon as they could be gotten ready.
The real work of the Unit commenced about February 1, 1918, because quarters for mobilization were not available earlier, on account of the destruction of property caused by the Halifax explosion in December, 1917. The work was carried on at the Armories, Halifax, under most trying conditions. “A” Company was quartered at Charlottetown to take care of the Prince Edward Island draftees, and remained there doing this work until demobilized. “B” Company was moved to Amherst early in March, 1918, remaining there until May 16th, when it joined the Battalion at Aldershot, Nova Scotia, the Companies in barracks at Halifax having moved to Aldershot on May 13th.