Highlanders' Territorials

[Dileasgubas]

That's certainly not a pattern of military sgian dubh I've ever come across. Looks very civilian.

One place you might want to try if you want to find out more about the man is the Great War forum. The members there are very helpful and very knowledgeable when it comes to British military records/uniforms/accoutrements etc.

Here is the link:-

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/

In the interim, someone has posted a family tree related to him on ancestry.com.
That doesn't necessarily mean that what is recorded is all accurate however:-

His full name is recorded as Alexander McDonald Campbell
DOB/POB as 4th April 1874, Killin
Father : George Campbell (b. c1838)
Mother : Jessie (b. c1842)

It is recorded that he had/has a son called Arthur Campbell (b. 1910)

Departed the UK at Liverpool arriving St. Johns, New Brunswick on 25th Nov 1903
Married on 25th Dec 1907 in Quebec

Wife : Isabella Mary Warden

Died : 23rd Oct 1937 in New Brunswick

Thanks for this. When I visit with the family, I'll be able to confirm the name of the son.

I am am fairly sure that the military service referred to was not in Canada. It is also possible that Alex Campbell indicated 12 years of prior service to ensure that he would be enrolled. Heck, even "Highlanders Territorials" could have been made up. Again, something bearing further inquiry.

As for the sgian, I have little doubt that it belonged to Alex Campbell but I do not know if he actually wore it with a uniform. His unit, which was to become the Nova Scotia Highlanders, deployed to France as a line infantry unit, the 15th CEF, I believe. Once there, it became a highland battalion. I'll need to do some digging to find out if they were kilted or not during the War. I would strongly suspect that any unit raised in that part of Canada would make full use of any soldier who could play the pipes but I doubt that they managed to convert to a fully kilted highland unit until after the war.

At the turn of the 20th century, that part of New Brunswick / Nova Scotia would not have been home to many richly dressed folks, so a hand-made knife belonging to a simple soldier would fit the location and the time. In the end, whether or not we manage to establish provenance, I am quite happy with this simple sgian and with the bit of history / folklore with which it came to me from the family. if nothing else, it will certainly be a great conversation piece.

Many thanks to to the posters - as usual, a fountain of useful information.

[Dung Trumpet]

Thanks for this. When I visit with the family, I'll be able to confirm the name of the son.

I am am fairly sure that the military service referred to was not in Canada. It is also possible that Alex Campbell indicated 12 years of prior service to ensure that he would be enrolled. Heck, even "Highlanders Territorials" could have been made up. Again, something bearing further inquiry.

As for the sgian, I have little doubt that it belonged to Alex Campbell but I do not know if he actually wore it with a uniform. His unit, which was to become the Nova Scotia Highlanders, deployed to France as a line infantry unit, the 15th CEF, I believe. Once there, it became a highland battalion. I'll need to do some digging to find out if they were kilted or not during the War. I would strongly suspect that any unit raised in that part of Canada would make full use of any soldier who could play the pipes but I doubt that they managed to convert to a fully kilted highland unit until after the war.

At the turn of the 20th century, that part of New Brunswick / Nova Scotia would not have been home to many richly dressed folks, so a hand-made knife belonging to a simple soldier would fit the location and the time. In the end, whether or not we manage to establish provenance, I am quite happy with this simple sgian and with the bit of history / folklore with which it came to me from the family. if nothing else, it will certainly be a great conversation piece.

Many thanks to to the posters - as usual, a fountain of useful information.

The 15th Battalion, CEF, were the 48th Highlanders of Canada out of Toronto.

Also, if that sgian dubh was Army issue, I'd expect to see the broad arrow stamped on it.

[Bruce Scott]

Perhaps either the 85th Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders or the 25th Battalion, Nova Scotia Rifles. This article may be of interest:
Nova Scotians in the Great War
http://www.thebrotherkeepers.com/html/novascotians.html