_THE 193rd BATTALION._
The 193rd Battalion was authorized on January 27, 1916, and John
Stanfield, M.P. for Colchester, in the Dominion House of Commons, was
gazetted Lieut.-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer.
[Illustration:
LIEUT.-COL. JOHN STANFIELD.]
For a few weeks following this date the 193rd Battalion was not regarded
as a Highland Brigade Battalion, but on February 23, 1916,
Lieut.-Colonel Stanfield was officially notified that the 193rd had been
selected as one of the Brigade Units.
Organization for recruiting had already been effected, and the 193rd
was in a position to join in the Brigade campaign at once. The
territory of the Battalion embraced the six Eastern Counties of the
Mainland—Cumberland, Colchester, Hants, Pictou, Antigonish and
Guysboro, with headquarters at Truro. Within one month the Battalion
was over strength.
On March 24th Capt. J. L. Ralston, of the 85th Battalion, reported for
duty as Acting Adjutant. His assistance was invaluable and counted for
much in these early days of organization. Capt. J. Welsford MacDonald
relieved him on April 7th and was appointed Adjutant. He was later
succeeded by Capt. F. B. Schurman.
In February Lieut.-Colonel Stanfield had asked for the services of Capt.
R. J. S. Langford, of the Royal Canadian Regiment, Halifax. On April
18th Captain Langford was attached to the 193rd, with the rank of Major,
was appointed second in command and took over the duties of officer in
charge of training. The high standard of efficiency to which the
Battalion later attained was brought about by Major Langford’s
enthusiastic and unremitting efforts.
[Illustration:
LIEUT. “TOMMY” LOGAN.
Killed in action.]
The mobilization of the Battalions of the Highland Brigade at Camp
Aldershot in May, 1916, is dealt with elsewhere in this volume. The
193rd arrived in Camp 300 men over strength.
Early in September the Brigadier, Lieut.-Colonel Borden, left for
England, and was succeeded in the command of the Brigade by
Lieut.-Colonel Stanfield. Major Langford took over the command of the
Battalion with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.
On September 26th, Lady Borden, wife of the Premier of Canada, presented
King’s and Regimental Colors to the four Battalions of the Brigade. The
distinctive color selected by the 193rd was “Royal Blue.”
The Battalion embarked on the _Olympic_, October 12th. The officers at
that time were:
Lieut.-Col. R. J. S. Langford O.C
Major J. P. LeGallais Second in Command.
Capt. F. B. Schurman Adjutant.
Capt. F. C. Baird Quartermaster.
Capt. C. S. McArthur Paymaster.
Capt. E. D. McLean Medical Officer.
Capt. J. F. Tupper Chaplain.
“A” COMPANY—Major A. T. McLean, Company Commander; Capt. C. A. Good,
Second in Command; Lieuts. H. F. Orman, D. J. McGillivray P.
Andrews, H. A. Dickson.
“B” Company—Capt. R. K. Smith, Company Commander; Capt. R. G. McKay,
Second in Command; Lieuts. N. C. Christie, J. M. Soy, H. C. Lowther,
C. F. Wetmore.
“C” COMPANY—Major A. A. Sturley, Company Commander; Capt. A. B.
Todd, Second in Command; Lieuts. H. DeW. Cunningham, H. B. Potter,
J. A. Ross, C. J. Markham.
“D” COMPANY—Major J. W. MacDonald, Company Commander; Capt. G.
McQuarrie, Second in Command; Lieuts. J. O. McLeod, W. E. McDonald,
T. E. Logan, J. J. Murray.
A few weeks after arrival at Witley Camp, Lieut.-Colonel Borden returned
from the Front and resumed command of the Brigade. Lieut.-Colonel
Stanfield, owing to ill-health, was invalided back to Canada. When the
Brigade was broken up in December, 1916, the following officers, with
300 other ranks, were transferred to the 185th Battalion: Lieut.-Colonel
R. J. S. Langford, Major J. P. LeGallais, Major J. W. MacDonald, Capt.
F. B. Schurman, Capt. F. C. Baird, Lieuts. H. F. Orman, D. J.
McGillivray, P. Andrews, H. A. Dickson, J. M. Soy, H. DeW. Cunningham,
C. J. Markham, J. O. McLeod, W. E. McDonald, J. J. Murray.
The remainder marched to Bramshott, where they were absorbed early in
January, 1917, by the 17th Reserve Battalion, and used as reinforcements
to the Nova Scotian Battalions in the Field.