Tuesday, February 29, 1916

Left for Lunenburg this morning. The start of our recruiting trip. Left Halifax at 7.25 arrived at 11.45 . Played concert afternoon in Theatre. “Remix No. 16”, “Bullfinches”, Home Sweet Home”, etc. Played for meeting in eveing [sic] at drill shed. Played until 11.45 p.m. Had lunch at restruant [sic]. Stopped at Kings hotel splendid service. Myers missed playing this evening. 18 recruits signed on. Fine and cold. Traveling in Private car. Cold.

Lunenburg, NS (1909)

Monday, February 28, 1916

Rode all around city in Town Car this morning. Recruiting. Had lunch at Khakie [sic] club. Played outside recruiting station for few minutes. Then through for day. T. Davidson [Truman B., 223060, Stellarton, NS, died of broncho-pneumonia at Rouen, France on August 1, 1917], A. McDougall, Chas. Appelton [sic] back tonight.

Pte. Truman Bishop Davidson, 223060

Sunday, February 27, 1916

Marched to St. Mark’s in morning. Played at Academy of Music afternoon at opening of Recruiting campaign of Highland Brigade. Had supper at Bessie Shaw’s also J. W. Henderson. Sang at st. Mathews [sic] church in eveing [sic].

St. Mark's Anglican Church, Halifax, NS

Saturday, February 26, 1916

Foot inspect.. Playing in recreation room in morning at Strand in afternoon. Supper at Maders. Bath at Y. M. C. A. Down town in eve. Raining. Allie McDonald back tonight. Angie [Angus Duncan, Stellarton] McDougall went home tonight.

Pte. Angus Duncan McDougall, 223077

Friday, February 25, 1916

Half the batt. home recruiting. Not much doing. Out to Mrs. Fraser’s in eveing [sic]. Chud [Charles Angus] McDonald, B Roy and myself. Fine time. On fatigue today. Played at Academy School. Alex Myers back.

Pte. Charles Angus "Chud" McDonald, 223123

Thursday, February 24, 1916

Out to Miss Jessie Munroe’s for eveing [sic]. Cold. Allie [Allister Robert, Stellarton] McDonald and S. Davidson [not listed in Hayes’ index - possible Truman B. Davidson, Stellarton, who was a band member] went home tonight.

Pte. Allister Robert McDonald, 223061

Wednesday, February 23, 1916

Peck discharged this afternoon. Route march and O. C. inspection. Frank Burgess transfered [sic] today to the 106th Rgt. as Lt. [Not listed in Hayes’ index - later served in France and Belgium with 25th Battalion; gassed on May 3, 1917 & July 20, 1917; slight gunshot wound (head) October 9, 1918; gunshot wound (shoulder) November 7, 1918]. Frank Freeman feeling very blue girl in trouble. Very stormy but warm.

Lieutenant Frank Victor Burgess, 106th Battalion

Tuesday, February 22, 1916

Out to Bedford on sleigh ride tonight and Mr. Wearey’s [sic] in time. Milder.

Bedford, NS (1909)

Monday, February 21, 1916

Usual drill except 11 - 12. Alex Myers went home on pass. Slick going to kill somebody for stealing his cream puffs. But he ate some bread and cheese and felt better. Peck [possibly George B., 283085, Hillsboro, NB, killed in action at Passchendaele on October 30, 1917, awarded Military Medal for bravery at Vimy] in clink tonight for—enough said. Bowling. Very cold. Big fire on Water St..

Pte. Alexander Myers, 223075

Sunday, February 20, 1916

Batt. at Dartmouth to church this morning. At Bessie Shaw’s for supper. Sang a solo at St. Matthews after church. Very cold.

St. Matthew's Church, Halifax, NS

Saturday, February 19, 1916

Barrack Room inspec., singing in recreation room in morning. At Strand. Bath at Y. M. C. A. Supper at Madder’s. Acquires in eveing [sic]. Bowling. Cold. Roy Boys arrived back at noon today.

Pte. James Roy, 223066

Pte. Robert Hugh Roy, 223072

Pte. Thomas Redpath Roy, 223065

Friday, February 18, 1916

Left for Halifax at 4.25, arrived back at 11.30 . Takeing [sic] movies of Batt. today.

Halifax Armouries

Thursday, February 17, 1916

Goofed around all day. At Lorne’s in eveing [sic]. Understand that J. R. [John Robert] Munroe had a fight with the booze today.

Pre. John Robert Munroe, 223062

Wednesday, February 16, 1916

Slept until 12 o’clock. Goofed around town all afternoon. Spent eveing [sic] in house. Rowdy—got hit on head with rifle today. E. B. Mitchell [not listed in Hayes’ index] & J. W. [James William] Henderson home on pass.

Pte. James William Henderson, 223149

Tuesday, February 15, 1916

Left for Moncton this morning. Arrived at 3.45 . Spent eveing [sic] at Lorne McFarlane’s, keeping house. Fine and cold.

Intercolonial Railroad Station, Moncton (1910)

Monday, February 14, 1916

Dance at Y. W. C. C. [Young Women's Christian Council] tonight.

YWCA Poster

Sunday, February 13, 1916

Paraded to Park church in morning. Went down to Strand in afternoon with A. Myers to hear orchastra [sic] pratice [sic]. Then out to Arta’s [sic] for supper. Very stormy and cold all day.

Pte. Alexander Myers, 223075

Saturday, February 12, 1916

No diary entry (page missing).

85th Battalion panorama (location unknown).

Friday, February 11, 1916

No diary entry (page missing).

Thursday, February 10, 1916

No squad drill. L. R. Purvis discharged today. Chas. Appleton [Charles William, 223120, wounded at Cambrai, France on September 28, 1918] home on sick leave. Charlie fainted this morning. Down town in eve, had lunch at Madus [? sic]. Cold. F. Freeman [Frank Thomas, 223361, Bridgewater, NS, wounded at Oppy, France on April 21, 1918, rejoined unit on May 2, 1918] went home today.

Pte. Charles William Appleton, 223120

Pte. Frank Thomas Freeman, 223161

Wednesday, February 9, 1916

No squad drill this morning. In recreation room for little lecture instead. Band practice in afternoon. Out to Mrs. (Major) McKenzies in eveing [sic] with—
J. Smith & wife
J. Gray & wife
R. Geddes & wife
W. Dunn & wife [William Charles Dunne, New Glasgow, 223071]
J. W. Henderson
A. R. McDonald
A. Myers
 J. Roy
Pat Roy and Gig [?] went home. Mother very ill. J. R. [John Robert] Munroe also home. Still cold.

Pte. John Robert Munroe, 223062

Tuesday, February 8, 1916

Great fun this morning. Sgt. Brothers [not listed in Hayes’ index] drilling the band this morning. Everybody going every way but the right one. Band pratice [sic] in the afternoon. Jas. [James, Westville, NS] Roy back tonight. At Strand in eveing [sic]. Very cold again.

Pte. James Roy, 223121

Monday, February 7, 1916

Up at 5 o’clock this morning to play funeral march to station. No physical drill. Had new instructor for squad drill. Band pratice [sic] in afternoon. Gallant [band member Albert Frederick, 223076] still sick. Alex Myers, R. [Ronald] McDougall and A. [Archibald James] Fraser arrived back today night! [sic] At the Strand in eve. Very mild.

Pte. Archibald James Fraser, 223064

Pte. Ronald McDougall, 223122

Pte. Alexander Myers, 223075

Sunday, February 6, 1916

Paraded to W. End Methodist Church in a. m. Out to Major McKenzie’s [John Angus, Westville, NS, sick March 29, 1917] afternoon and for supper. Also J. R. Munroe [John R., 223062]. Played at Academy of Music in eveing [sic]. Gallant [probably band member Albert Frederick, 223076, New Glasgow, NS] sick.

Major John Angus MacKenzie

Pte. John Robert Munroe, 223062

Pte. Albert Frederick Gallant, 223076

Saturday, February 5, 1916

No drill this a.m. Barrack Room inspect. [sic] Batt, singing in recreation room. Speech by Colonel at Strand in afternoon. Bath at Y. M. C. A. Supper at Madders [sic]. Chekers [sic] in the Y. M. C. A. after. Bowling after that. Mild. A. Fraser home today.

Pte. Archibald James Fraser, 223064

Friday, February 4, 1916

Usual drill. Called to band room for lecture and B. S. from Bat. Sgt. Major. Band up in arms after his departure. The biggest growl yet. Get your belts cleaned boys. Bandageing [sic] in afternoon. 85th Hockey team vs 64th [Battalion]. Won by 85th score 3 - 4. Peck [cannot locate in Hayes' index - not a band member] absent all day and night. Thompson [possibly George C., Oxford, NS, 223419, killed at Passchendaele on October 29, 1917; or William R., Brooklyn, PEI, 222125, killed at Lens on June 18, 1917] went away today. Jas. Fraser here from Truro. Made call on [Miss?] Gillingham in evening. Cold. J. Roy [band member James, 223066, Westville, NS] and R. McDougall [possibly band member Ronald, 223122, Pictou, NS] home.

Pte. Ronald McDougall, 223122

Pte. James Roy, 223121

Thursday, February 3, 1916

Usual drill. Bandageing [sic] in afternoon. J. W. Henderson home again. At Ackers in eveing sic] also St. Mathews [sic] church social. Stormy and cold.

Pte. James William Henderson, 223149

Wednesday, February 2, 1916

Usual morning drill. Route march in afternoon around the city. Pay day. Myers back from hospital. Had supper at Khakie [sic] club. At Strand in eveing [sic]. Bowling after show. Fire alarm rung in while down town. Snowing.

Pte. Alexander Myers, 223075

Tuesday, February 1, 1916

Usual drill. No stretcher drill this afternoon. At Strand in eveing [sic] with [Miss?] Gillingham [no “Gillingham” listed in Hayes’ index]. Boy Roy went home this eveing [sic]. Mild and muddy.

Pte. Robert Hugh Roy, 223072