C.M.G.1
D.S.O.4
Bar to D.S.O.1
M.C.34
Bar to M.C.3
D.C.M.15
M.S.M.4
M.M.166
Bar to M.M.12
Croix de Guerre5
Mentioned in Despatches twice4
Mentioned in Despatches-Officers0
Mentioned in Despatches-Warrant Officers1
Total259

The first “big show” or engagement in which the 85th Battalion took part was that of Vimy Ridge. Theirs was not at first an envious situation. The Battalion had been substituted for another in the 12th Brigade, but the actual taking over did not ensue till after the Battle of Vimy Ridge. For that engagement the 85th was attached to the 11th Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Odlum. For the Battle of Vimy Ridge the 85th moved into position in the reserves, and was to serve as “a working Unit,” that is, to follow up the troops in action, and to carry ammunition, build dugouts, keep up communication trenches, clear wire entanglements, and in general, as the phrase is, “to mop up.” The 85th, of course, could be called on, as they were, to fight in an emergency. But they were regarded as “green troops,” and it was not considered likely by the authorities that the Battalion would be efficient and steady under slaughterous fire. As a matter of fact, all the while between the Battalion’s arrival at Gouy Servins till the Unit moved out from quarters into the reserve at Music Hall Line for their part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. A. H. Borden, the Second in Command, Lieut.-Col. E. C. Phinney, the Adjutant, Major J. L. Ralston, and Assistant Adjutant, Lieut. A. T. Croft, had been preparing the Battalion as much for a fighting Unit as for a working Unit—having had the German lines at Vimy all taped out to scale, and having trained the Unit in every detail of the coming operation, until all ranks knew the precise “lay” of the Vimy Front and how the fighting Units as such would operate in action. Thus considered, the 85th Battalion was not a Unit of “green troops” in the ordinary acceptance of the phrase. They were “ready for fight”—and unexpectedly they got their chance, and achieved to their immortal glory.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge opened in the early morn of Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. At first it was all clear gain for the Canadians. But, at last, toward the evening, word kept coming back that the Canadian advance was being held up, that Hill 145 remained untaken, that it was a “nasty critical situation,” because the enfilading of the Huns would destroy attacking troops totally, and that if Hill 145 were not somehow taken, the engagement would fail. Where were there fresh troops who could be sent in to take Hill 145? It is understood that Colonel Hilliam, commanding the 25th Battalion, Nova Scotia’s invincible “Shock Troops,” recommended that the 85th Battalion be selected for the feat. He assured Brigadier Odlum that even if they were “green troops” they would be steady under fire. The die was cast. Orders came from headquarters that two Companies of the 85th were to go into the line at sundown and assault Hill 145. Lieut.-Col. Borden, Commanding Officer, selected “C” and “D” Companies, and placed Capt. Percival W. Anderson in command, with Capt. Harvey E. Crowell in command of “C” Company.

LIEUT.-COL. E. C. PHINNEY.

At zero hour “C” Company went over the top, followed immediately by “D” Company, but, for good reasons, without the usual barrage. The 85th had dared. The question now was on the part of the Units that had been held up, Would the 85th also DO? From the moment the Companies went over the top, they proceeded on to their objective, the crest of Hill 145, with the precision and steadiness of inured troops. There is no necessity to describe the assault in detail. But when the Huns first saw the 85th Companies going over the top, they were amazed. As the Companies proceeded forward, steady and indomitable in spite of the gun fire and the hail of bullets from concealed nests of machine guns, the while themselves wreaking destruction on the Bosche, the Germans became alarmed. And when the 85th Companies still kept on, in the same spirit, and with the same effectiveness, the Huns became disconcerted, and at last ignominiously turned and “beat it,” leaving Hill 145—the Huns’ “pivotal strategic stronghold”—in possession of the 85th Companies and the Canadian Corps. The clearing up of the Ridge and the advance of the 85th Companies to the Lens-Arras Road need not detain us. On the morning of April 14, 1917, the Battalion was relieved by the Royal Sussex, and marched back to rest quarters at Bouvigny Huts.

There were many acts of heroism on the part of officers, N.C.O.’s and men during the first day of the Vimy Ridge “show” and on later days. One phrase might be applied to summarize the conduct of the Commanding Officer (Lieutenant-Colonel Borden), the Second in Command (Lieutenant-Colonel Phinney), and the Adjutant, Major J. L. Ralston, who had the task of consolidating the line after the taking of the Ridge; not only were they all the time “cool, calm and collected,” but the three showed distinct military genius. Outstanding was the conduct of Capt. Percival W. Anderson, who, amongst other exploits, single-handed performed a deed of heroism which won for him the Military Cross (it should have been the V.C.). One of the men in the patrols suffered a bad wound. His groans were heard in “No Man’s Land,” but he lay where the whole field was raked by rifle and machine-gun fire. Captain Anderson would not ask or command any of his men to attempt a rescue, but went out himself and carried the wounded man back to safety. This splendid soldier and officer was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele, his death profoundly regretted; for he knew no fear, and he was a superb officer and leader of men, a splendid example of the Cape Breton Highlander.

The list of those who turned exploits and won awards at Vimy is too long to admit of detailed accounts. But specially to be mentioned are Capt. H. E. Crowell, Capt. H. B. Clarke, Chaplain, and later Transport Officer (acting); Lieuts. H. C. Verner (“Hell-Fire” Verner), Douglas Graham, Hugh A. Crawley, F. C. Manning; and amongst the privates and N.C.O.’s—Pte. C. A. McLeod, Pte. H. C. Steeves, Pte. A. J. Murphy, Pte. J. S. Westlake, Pte. L. M. Gates, Pte. K. Manoles, Pte. J. C. Taylor, Pte. C. J. Doucette, Runners, Ptes. W. E. Stackhouse, W. W. Pearson and G. B. Peck; Lance-Corporal A. F. MacAree, Lance-Corporal V. M. Lindsay, Lance-Corporal H. W. Hardy, Corporal C. D. Reid, and Sergt. W. U. Martel.

The courage, pluck, indomitableness and resourcefulness of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the 85th Battalion at the Battle of Vimy Ridge were instanced not to glorify the Battalion, but to show forth the kind of “stuff” that was the spirit of the Unit. The same kind of spirit was shown in all subsequent engagements—“The Triangle,” Ontario Trench, Eleu dit Leauvette and the Horse Shoe and around Lens, up to Passchendaele. The outstanding phase of the long Battle of Passchendaele (October 28 to November 2, 1917) was the recapturing of the front line by “D” Company (Cape Bretoners), commanded by Captain Ross M. MacKenzie—another “saving of the day,” as at Vimy, by the 85th Battalion. The 85th was, as decided, to be in the line for a day before going over the top. However, before that move, “D” Company was to take over the whole Battalion frontage, the other Companies to remain at the rear. A Western Canadian Unit was in the line, and just as “D” Company reached the line for the relief of the Western Battalion, the Huns launched a violent and destructive counter-attack. Captain MacKenzie and “D” Company saw that the Western Battalion was falling back, and the Huns advancing in great force. It was a critical situation, and Captain MacKenzie at once offered himself and his Company to reinforce the retiring Unit. The offer was gladly accepted. Captain MacKenzie ordered his Company to drop all kit, and to fix bayonets and advance in true Highland fashion. With huzzas they made for the enemy—dashing upon the Huns with such a rush and momentum, that the Huns became bewildered, next were seized with panic, broke, and “beat it.” The situation was saved, and the line recaptured shortly by continued advance to the position from which the Western Battalion was forced to retire. But that advance was costly in casualties, for it was covered by enemy machine guns and snipers’ posts. Then it was that the ancient fighting spirit of his Gaelic ancestors shone brilliantly in Captain MacKenzie, and he became the Gaelic Hero Cuchullain in the fight and in death. MacKenzie was shot through the abdomen—some say he was literally riddled—with machine gun bullets, and he fell. But he struggled to his feet and kept on with his Company, bleeding to death, and commanded his men, encouraging them, until he dropped exhausted into a shell hole. Even then, though undone, he would not be attended to, but kept encouraging his Company. Eventually he permitted himself to be placed on a stretcher, and while being borne away, he died—like Cuchullain too, unconquerable in death. There were many other individual examples of heroism on that day and during the days that followed at Passchendaele. But the slaughter was awful: and while the engagement added fresh glory to the 85th Battalion, and is a memorial to the living, it is to be regarded as an apotheosis of all 85th officers, non-commissioned officers and men who fell at that mysteriously ordered engagement—Major P. W. Anderson, M.C., Capts. John M. Hensley, E. R. Clayton, M.C., and Ross M. MacKenzie, Lieuts. Walter U. Martel, M.M., Frank O. Hutchison, Angus D. MacDonald, Norman C. Christie, Alexander D. Fraser, Fred J. Anderson, John R. MacFarlane, W. H. Murr and R. Salisman, and the 123 privates and non-commissioned officers. It was for their bravery and resourcefulness and indomitableness—their sheer invincibility—at Passchendaele that the 85th Battalion won from the other Units in the Canadian Corps and the Imperials the noteworthy, if slangy, complimentary epithet, “The Never Fails.”