_THE 63rd REGIMENT HALIFAX RIFLES._
The 63rd Regiment, Halifax Rifles, was first organized as a Regiment in
1860, under the title of “The Halifax Volunteer Battalion.” The
Volunteer Companies which then composed the Regiment had previously been
acting as independent bodies. The first Colonel was Sir Willian Fenwick
Williams, of Kars, and on March 16, 1860, Capt. William Chearnley (late
of H.M. 8th King’s Regiment of Foot), who was in command of the Chebucto
Greys, was by an order from Adjutant-General’s Office appointed Captain
Commanding the Halifax Volunteer Battalion. This was the official date
of the organization of the Unit, better known as the 63rd Halifax
Rifles.
The Companies comprising the Regiment at its formation were the Scottish
Rifles, Chebucto Greys, Mayflower Rifles, Halifax Rifles, Irish Rifles,
and Dartmouth Rifles. In 1862 the Dartmouth Engineers joined the
Regiment, which mustered seven Companies.
On November 10, 1862, the Halifax City Council presented the Regiment
with its first set of colors. The presentation was made by the wife of
the Mayor, Mrs. P. C. Hill. On the same date, Lady Mulgrave, wife of the
Governor of Nova Scotia, in the name of the ladies of the City of
Halifax, presented the Regiment with a silver bugle, which was to be
shot for each year. This bugle is still in the possession of the
Regiment.
In January, 1865, Captain Chearnley was appointed Lieut.-Colonel and the
Battalion reorganized, two of the Companies, the Irish Rifles and
Dartmouth Engineers, disbanding. The Halifax Rifles, which was double
strength, took the place of the Irish Rifles—the muster now being six
Companies. This Regiment had its first call for service in 1866, doing
garrison duty during the alarm caused by the Fenian Raids into Canada.
The service lasted from June 6th to July 31st.
In 1868 the Regiment was transferred from the Volunteer Force to the
Active Militia, and was officially designated as the Halifax Volunteer
Battalion of Rifles, and on May 13, 1870, the Militia Department having
been regularly organized, the name changed to the 63rd Battalion of
Rifles, and later to 63rd Regiment, Halifax Rifles, which name it
retained up to and during the late Great War.
Successive Commanding Officers were as follows: Lieut.-Col. Chearnley,
1865 to 1871; Lieut.-Col. Andrew MacKinlay, 1871 to 1872; Lieut.-Colonel
Pallister, 1872 to 1879; Lieut.-Col. J. W. Mackintosh, 1879 to 1890;
Lieut.-Col. J. D. Walsh, 1890 to 1892; Lieut.-Col. T. J. Egan, 1892 to
1898; Lieut.-Col. John Crane, 1898 to 1903; Lieut.-Col. J. T. Twining,
1903 to 1908; Lieut.-Col. C. A. Gunning, 1908 to 1913; Lieut.-Col. I. W.
Vidito, 1913 to 1917; Lieut.-Col. C. A. Mumford, 1917 until demobilized
1918.
The 63rd furnished 109 officers and men for service during the Northwest
Rebellion. Major Walsh was in command, with Capts. Hechler, Cunningham
and Fortune and Lieutenants Silver, James, Twining, McKie, Fletcher and
Fiske. Captain Corbin was appointed Quartermaster of the Provisional
Battalion. They entrained for the West on April 4, 1885, and returned to
Halifax and rejoined their Unit July 24 of the same year. The Regiment
also furnished sixty-one officers, non-commissioned officers and men for
service in the South African War.
On the declaration of the Great War, August 4, 1914, the 63rd Regiment,
Halifax Rifles was ordered out for service in defence of the Fortress of
Halifax. One hundred men under the command of Capt. H. N. Clarke, with
Capt. J, W. Logan, Lieut. E. R. Dennis and Lieut. F. H. M. Jones,
proceeded at once to Wellington Barracks, and the remainder of the Unit
was at once mobilized and proceeded under command to the various war
stations assigned to it.
By August 5, 1914, the mobilization of the Unit being completed, the
Regiment paraded in full strength under Lieut.-Col. I. W. Vidito, with
Major W. E. Thompson Second in Command, and Capt. D. R. Turnbull,
Adjutant, and proceeded to their new quarters, Wellington Barracks,
where the Composite Company under Capt. H. N. Clarke was absorbed, the
officers and men rejoining their old Companies.
On August 12th “B” Company proceeded to McNab’s Island under the command
of Capt. C. A. Mumford, with Lieuts. C. N. Bennett and W. E. Doane. “D”
Company, under Capt. H. F. Adams and Lieut. C. J. Roche, proceeded to
York Redoubt. On August 18th “G” and “H” Companies proceeded to the
Eastern Camp Site, Dartmouth. These two Companies were under the command
of Major W. H. Conrod. “G” Company (Capt. E. A. Vossnack, Lieuts. G. S.
Kinley and G. C. Sircom) occupied York Farm; “H” Company (Capt. H. N.
Clarke and Lieuts. E. C. Phinney and J. W. Grant) occupied Kuhn’s Farm.
On August 25th “D” Company under Capt. H. F. Adams moved from York
Redoubt to Camperdown, and on the same date “A” Company (Capt. F. C.
Kingdon, Lieut. R. C. McDonald); “C” Company (Capt. H. G. DeWolfe,
Lieut. H. J. Stech) and “F” Company (Capt. J. W. Logan, Lieuts. G. M.
Sylvester and F. H. Jones) moved to McNab’s Island. “E” Company (Capt.
E. K. McKay, Lieuts. O. Vossnack and E. R. Dennis) moved to Lawlor’s
Island. The last four Companies were under the command of Major W. E.
Thompson. On August 30th headquarters and regimental details moved to
McNab’s Island.
Immediately on arrival at their stations each Company started the work
of digging trenches, placing wire entanglements, constructing
blockhouses, dugouts, etc. The men were driven at top speed at this
work, officers and men working all day as well as doing picquet duty at
night.
During the early days of the War H.M. ship _Suffolk_, then engaged in
hunting for the enemy cruiser _Karlsruhe_, called at Halifax in urgent
need of coal, and was coaled in record time by the 63rd Regiment.
On August 22nd the first Overseas draft was called for and twenty-four
non-commissioned officers and men under command of Lieuts. A. F. Major
and G. L. Stairs, proceeded to Valcartier Camp. On November 25, 1914,
forty-eight non-commissioned officers and men were transferred to the
25th Battalion, C.E.F., which was then being organized, and on December
6th Major W. H. Conrod, Lieuts. L. N. B. Bullock, G. C. Sircom and J. A.
Grant were transferred to that Battalion.
Major W. E. Thompson was called in by Headquarters Military District No.
6 in December, 1914, to take over the work of Inspector of Outposts and
Detachments throughout the district, with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.
On May 20, 1915, Capt. Wm. Taylor, Lieuts. C. J. Roche and J. A.
Watters, with thirty-three other ranks proceeded to Jamaica on military
duty. On August 13, 1915, thirty-six other ranks were transferred to the
40th Battalion, then in training at Valcartier. In September, 1915, an
Overseas Company was formed to which officers and men given permission
to go Overseas were attached for training. From this time, all drafts
from the 63rd for Overseas Units were taken from this Company.
An Overseas draft of 100 other ranks with Lieuts. W. D. Simpson, H. D.
Hilton and C. D. Llwyd were struck off the strength of the 63rd Regiment
on February 25, 1916.
Major H. F. Adams was appointed Officer Commanding Discharge Depot,
Halifax, from July 1, 1916. A draft of eighty-eight other ranks under
command of Lieuts. H. A. Creighton and Benj. Taylor embarked for
Overseas on July 15, 1916. The Regiment was inspected by Field-Marshall
H.R.H. Duke of Connaught on August 24, 1916.
The 63rd was placed on a four Company basis from November 1, 1917. The
Company officers were: “A” Company, Capt. F. C. Kingdon, Lieuts. J. A.
Watters, H. V. Wier, G. W. Churchill, H. S. Holloway. “B” Company,
Capts. H. J. Steck, D. W. Kennedy, Lieuts. F. A. Taylor, C. S. Innes, H.
R. McCaughin, G. R. Forbes. “C” Company, Capts. E. Ricketts, G. S.
Kinley, Lieuts. T. L. Parkman, J. E. Milsom, C. N. Innes. “D” Company,
Capts. O. F. Vossnack, W. Taylor, Lieuts. E. G. McMinn, W. R. R. Tayler,
H. H. Irwin.
Lieut.-Col. I. W. Vidito was transferred to the Reserve of Officers on
July 1, 1917, and was succeeded in the command of the Regiment by
Lieut.-Col. C. A. Mumford. On the morning of December 6, 1917, five
officers and 143 other ranks were detailed for relief work following the
explosion at Halifax. On April 16, 1918, the 6th Battalion Canadian
Garrison Regiment was authorized, and in May the 63rd Regiment was
relieved from duty. The following named officers were transferred to the
6th Battalion: Lieut.-Col. C. A. Mumford, Capts. E. Ricketts, H. J.
Steck, E. K. McKay, G. S. Kinley, Lieuts. H. V. Wier, J. A. Watters, E.
G. McMinn, G. W. Churchill, J. E. Milsom, H. R. McCoughin, G. R. Forbes,
R. J. Colwell.
The undermentioned officers were transferred to the 1st Nova Scotia
Depot Battalion: Lieuts. H. A. Wilson, W. R. R. Tayler, H. S. Holloway,
Majors A. R. McCleave and H. N. Clarke, Capts. F. C. Kingdon, J. D.
Monoghan and Lieut. T. Parkman were relieved from active service.
On the organization of the First Canadian Contingent the Regiment
volunteered for service Overseas, but much to the disappointment of all
ranks had to continue its allotted duties in the defence of the Fortress
of Halifax. Owing to the heavy demands on the Ordnance Department for
clothing and equipment needed by troops preparing for embarkation the
requirements of troops on Home Service could not be met until late in
1914, and for some time clothing was patched with flour sacks or any
other material available, and worn out soles of boots were reinforced
with shingles. In spite of all discouragements the 63rd faithfully
performed the tasks assigned it, and when at last it was permitted to
send drafts Overseas it became the ambition of all ranks to obtain a
transfer to the Overseas Company. Altogether the Regiment supplied 70
officers and 815 other ranks for service at the Front.
The following is a list of officers who served with the Regiment at
various times during the War. Those who went Overseas are marked *:
*Lieut. A. B. Anderson; Capt. H. F. Adams (now Lieut.-Col. R. O.);
*Lieut. A. A. Allenback; *Lieut. W. B. Arthur; *Lieut. H. P. Bell
(Captain C.E.F.); *Lieut. C. W. Bennett (killed in action); *Lieut. L.
N. B. Bullock (D.S.O. and Bar—Lieut.-Colonel C.E.F.); *Lieut. F. A.
Brewster (M.C.); *Lieut. G. A. Campbell (killed in action); *Major W. H.
Conrod; *Major H. N. Clarke; Lieut. J. H. Congdon; Lieut. G. W.
Churchill; *Lieut. W. L. Coleman; Lieut. H. J. Crosskill; *Lieut. R. J.
Colwell; *Lieut. T. F. Campbell; *Lieut. C. H. Colwell; *Lieut. A. H.
Creighton; *Lieut. H. A. Creighton; *Lieut. B. Currie (Captain C.E.F.);
Capt. H. G. DeWolf; Lieut. W. H. Dennis; *Lieut. E. R. Dennis (M.C.,
killed in action); *Major F. W. W. Doane; *Lieut. H. W. L. Doane;
*Lieut. W. E. E. Doane (killed in action); *Lieut. S. Downer; *Lieut. J.
S. Davie (M.C., Major C.E.F.); Lieut. R. F. Davison; *Lieut. A. C.
Delacroix; *Lieut. E. R. Eddy; Lieut. R. G. Forbes; *Lieut. W. G. Foster
(killed in action); *Lieut. P. W. Freeman; Lieut. L. A. Gastonquay;
*Lieut. G. H. Gillis (D.F.C., Captain C.E.F.); *Lieut. J. A. Grant;
*Lieut. W. P. Grant; *Lieut. R. J. Harris (died); *Lieut. J. A. Harris;
*Lieut. H. E. Hilton (killed in action); *Lieut. H. S. Holloway; *Lieut.
W. A. Hendry; *Lieut. E. J. Hallett (M.C.); *Lieut. E. A. Hartling;
Lieut. H. H. Irwin; *Lieut. C. S. Innes; *Lieut. Colin Innes; *Lieut. F.
H. Jones (M.C.); Capt. R. J. Huston; *Lieut. A. E. Jubien; Capt. F. C.
Kingdon; *Lieut. A. L. A. Kane; Lieut. D. W. Kennedy; Lieut. A. W.
Kidner; *Lieut. G. S. Kinley (Captain C.E.F.); *Lieut. G. H. Keeler
(M.C.); Lieut. J. H. LeBlanc; *Lieut. C. D. Llwyd (M.C., killed in
action); *Major J. W. Logan; *Lieut. G. R. Leslie; *Lieut. O. W.
Lingham; *Lieut. A T. Lewis (M.C., Captain C.E.F.); *Lieut. A. F. Major
(killed in action); Lieut J. E. Milson; Capt. R. A. Milson; Lieut.-Col.
C. A. Mumford; Lieut. J. D. Monaghan; Capt. A. R. McCleave; Capt. E. K.
McKay; *Lieut. R. C. McDonald; Lieut.-Col. J. W. McMillan (Chaplain);
*Lieut. Geo. O. McDonald (drowned); Lieut. E. J. McMinn; Lieut. H. R.
McCoughin; *Lieut. A. T. McDonald (Major C.E.F.); Lieut. T. L. Parkman;
*Lieut. P. R. Phillips (M.C.); *Lieut. E. C. Phinney (Lieut.-Col.
C.E.F.); *Lieut. G. C. Pickford; Capt. E. Ricketts; *Lieut. C. Roche
(killed in action); Lieut. G. B. Robertson; *Lieut. W. M. Rogers;
*Lieut. J. S. Roy; *Lieut. C. E. Scarfe; *Lieut. W. D. Simpson; *Lieut.
G. C. Sircom; *Lieut. W. J. Stairs; *Lieut. G. L. Stairs (killed in
action); Lieut. H. J. Stech; *Lieut. E. S. Smith; *Lieut. G. M.
Sylvester (killed in action); *Lieut. B. A. Taylor (killed in action);
*Major W. E. Thompson (Colonel D.O.C., Military District No. 6); Capt.
W. Taylor; Lieut. J. F. Taylor; Lieut. F. A. Taylor; Capt. D. R.
Turnbull; *Lieut. W. R. R. Tayler, Lieut.-Col. I. W. Vidito; Capt. E. A.
Vossnack; Capt. O. F. Vossnack; Lieut. J. A. Watters; Lieut. H. V. Wier;
*Lieut. H. A. Wilson; Lieut. P. J. Webb; Lieut. R. E. Wellard; Lieut. H.
H. Westbrooke; Lieut. A. B. West.