Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum
36 Acadia St Amherst, NS, Canada

Today's #NorthNovieOfTheWeek is Pte. William A. Grant of Upper Cape, NB. Pte. Grant was born on September 18th, 1924, and grew up in rural New Brunswick as one of 10 children. During the Second World War, many of his siblings enlisted. Although he was only 15 at the time, Pte. Grant felt compelled to fight and was able to lie about his age and join up in 1939. In 1941, Pte. Grant sailed to England as one of the 'original' North Nova Scotia Highlanders. ... Pte. Grant landed on Juno Beach on D-Day and served in the surrounding French villages and towns. He was discharged in November of 1945, possibly because of injuries he sustained from stepping on a landmine. Although he had difficulties with his hands and arms after the war as a result of his injuries, Pte. Grant went on to live a fulfilling life in Moncton, NB. We thank Pte. Grant for his service!

IMPORTANT UPDATE*** Museum will be reopening in October, further details coming soon!

Today's #CumberlandSoldierOfTheWeek is Sapper James Herbert Wilson of River Hebert, NS. Growing up in rural Nova Scotia, Wilson became a coal miner at the age of 18. He worked hard, dangerous hours to support himself and those around him, like so many other young men from Cumberland County. In 1951, Wilson took on another dangerous task. He left the River Hebert and Joggins area to serve in the Korean War as a sapper. ... It would have been Sapper Wilson's job to perform a number of military engineering duties, such as clearing minefields and preparing field defences. Sapper Wilson returned home in the late summer of 1954. We thank him for his service!

Today's #NorthNovieOfTheWeek is Captain Stephen Stanley Bird of Amherst, NS. Captain Bird was born on April 18th 1920, to Will R. Bird and Ethel M. Bird. He was named Stephen after his father's brother who had been killed in action during WW1. Captain Bird enlisted in 1941 and was later selected to be one of the officers who lead the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on Juno Beach. He was a brave and intelligent man, leading with courage and skill. ... Captain Bird survived the D-Day invasions, but was unfortunately killed in action on July 8th, 1944 during the Battle for Caen. He was 24 years old. His father went on to write "No Retreating Footsteps: The story of the North Novas" in his memory. We thank Captain Bird for his sacrifice. We will remember him.

Today's #CumberlandSoldierOfTheWeek is Mi'kmaw Elder Doug Knockwood of Newville Lake, N.S. Doug Knockwood was born on December 11th 1929 in Springhill, N.S. He was raised in Newville Lake by his parents and grandfather. When he was 5 years old, he was forced to enrol into the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School by the Federal Government. For the next year and a half, before his father managed to get him out of the school, Doug experienced physical, sexual, and emotional a...buse at the hands of the teachers and staff. This experience was not uncommon for many indigenous children across Canada. While serving as a Springhill Army Reservist in 1949, Knockwood joined the regular force out of a desire to serve in the Korean War. He would join the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade, but was discharged before making it to Korea for medical reasons. Once he was well again, he enlisted and was sent to serve in Germany as a member of the Black Watch. Elder Knockwood was eventually discharged again as he came down with tuberculosis, but not before proudly serving his country. He went on to lead an extraordinary life, beating tuberculosis multiple times, overcoming alcoholism and addiction, and healing from his childhood as a Residential school survivor. Elder Knockwood passed in 2018 at the age of 88. We thank him for his passion and service. We will remember him!

Do you have any questions about Canadian Military History, specifically regarding the North Novies or 85th Battallion? Need help researching a soldier? Although our resources are currently limited, we are still here to help! Shoot us a message here or email at [email protected]

Today's #NorthNovieOfTheWeek is Pte. Francis N. Cooke of Trenton, NS. Pte. Cooke lied about his age when he enlisted in 1940, like so many other young men who served in the war. As a 17 year old boy he sailed overseas with the Original North Novies in 1941. It was while fighting overseas in France and The Netherlands that Pte. Cooke was wounded, yet he persevered bravely with the rest of his unit. Pte Cooke went home with a life long souvenir of the war, a piece of shrapnel ...lodged into his back, a reminder to both him and his family of what he had been through. Pte Cooke went on to work many jobs in many places in the years following the war, from the local Post Office to the Halifax Airport. After he retired, he enjoyed long walks and time to himself, but he never stopped helping others. Pte Cooke passed in 1991. At the time he died, he and his wife were just two months shy of their 40th Wedding Anniversary. We thank Pte. Cooke for his service!