Halifax Provisional Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Halifax Provisional Battalion was a military unit from Nova Scotia
, Canada
, which was sent to fight in the North-West Rebellion
in 1885. The battalion was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James J. Bremner and consisted of 168 non-commissioned officers and men of the 66th Battalion, "Princess Louise Fusiliers", 100 of the 63rd The Halifax Battalion of Rifles
, and 84 of the 1st "Halifax" Brigade of Garrison Artillery, with 32 officers. The battalion left Halifax under orders for the North-West on Saturday, 11 April 1885 and they stayed for almost three months.
was a company of Stuart's scouts (the Rocky Mountain Rangers), a body of mounted cowboys. All the parties remained at Medicine Hat until the end of the rebellion.
, where they were employed loading scows, forwarding supplies, and assisting in transporting across the river.
The battalion left Winnipeg on 10 July for Halifax. Along the entire route the battalion was met with “continued ovation; the kindness of the people of the towns of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec being beyond description”. The reception at Halifax two weeks later on July 24 was “most enthusiastic, the whole population apparently having turned out.”
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which was sent to fight in the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
in 1885. The battalion was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James J. Bremner and consisted of 168 non-commissioned officers and men of the 66th Battalion, "Princess Louise Fusiliers", 100 of the 63rd The Halifax Battalion of Rifles
The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)
The Halifax Rifles is a Canadian Army regiment that served between the years of 1860 and 1965 before being placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, which meant that they were reduced to nil strength. The regiment was reactivated on May 10, 2009, as a reserve force unit performing the role of...
, and 84 of the 1st "Halifax" Brigade of Garrison Artillery, with 32 officers. The battalion left Halifax under orders for the North-West on Saturday, 11 April 1885 and they stayed for almost three months.
Swift Current
The battalion arrived at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 22 April, at 5 a.m. On the 29th the battalion received orders to go to Swift Current, District of Assiniboia, and marched on same day at 4 p.m. The battalion arrived at Swift Current at 8 p.m. on the 30th, and next day it camped beside the 7th Battalion and a portion of the Midland Battalion.Medicine Hat
On 5 May a telegram was received to hold the 63rd contingent of the Halifax Provisional Battalion in readiness to repel an uprising of the Blackfoot and other Indians. Further, the battalion was warned of a possible attack on Medicine Hat, District of Assiniboia. As a result, the headquarters of the Halifax Provisional Battalion with the 66th contingent was ordered to Medicine Hat, where it arrived early the next morning. Also encamped on the South Saskatchewan RiverSouth Saskatchewan River
The South Saskatchewan River is a major river in Canada that flows through the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan....
was a company of Stuart's scouts (the Rocky Mountain Rangers), a body of mounted cowboys. All the parties remained at Medicine Hat until the end of the rebellion.
Saskatchewan Landing
Shortly after the headquarters of the battalion left Swift Current for Medicine Hat two companies of the 63rd contingent were ordered to Saskatchewan LandingSaskatchewan Landing No. 167, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Landing No. 167 is a rural municipality in Saskatchewan, Canada encompassing 797.52 square kilometers in area. The rural municipality maintains it's office in Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan . The rural municipality in conjunction with the provincial government is in charge of...
, where they were employed loading scows, forwarding supplies, and assisting in transporting across the river.
Moose Jaw
One company of the 63rd and the Halifax Garrison Artillery remained at Swift Current whilst it continued to be the base of supplies. The troops moved to Moose Jaw when it became the base, and the two companies from the Saskatchewan Landing shortly afterwards joined them. On these two detachments fell the labour of handling and transferring all the supplies going to the front, and furnishing the necessary guards, so that they were kept fully employed, at times of necessity the non-commissioned officers voluntarily doing the fatigue duties of privates. The men expected that their work was the prelude to being allowed to take part in the fighting at the front, as other corps preceding them had been relieved in due order. To the disappointment of many of the battalion, the war finished before they were required to go to the frontline.Aftermath
The headquarters of the Halifax Provisional Battalion left Medicine Hat on the night of 30 June, and arrived at Moose Jaw early on 2 July, the battalion being now re-united entire. After remaining at Moose Jaw a week the battalion was ordered to Winnipeg, where it arrived on 10 July, and went into camp.The battalion left Winnipeg on 10 July for Halifax. Along the entire route the battalion was met with “continued ovation; the kindness of the people of the towns of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec being beyond description”. The reception at Halifax two weeks later on July 24 was “most enthusiastic, the whole population apparently having turned out.”