78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel

My family standing with a sentry

myself with a L/Cpl, who is in charge of the gate guards.

One of the squads doing some drill, they later did a firing demonstration.

The 78th Highlanders; The Rosshire Buffs were raised in 1793 by Sir Francis Humberstone MacKenzie to help Britain in its war against France. Sir Francis went on to become the governor of Jamaica I believe. 

The 78th were sent to Canada from 1866-69 first garrisoning Montreal and were then sent to Halifax in 1869-71. When the Halifax Citadel, National Historic site was redeveloping in the 1980's, Parks Canada was looking for a regiment which could be recreated as the garrison regiment. A Scottish Highland Regiment was chosen as it fit the bill for Nova Scotia. As well, this regiment was the inspiration for the 78th Colchester and Hants Regiment, as part of the Victorian Britain militia volunteer movement. The Pictou Highlanders also took many of their regimental distinctions from the 78th. In 1881, the 78th Highlanders were re mustered as the Seaforth Highlanders who were made up of the 78th and 72nd Regiments. The 78th was made the 2nd Battalion and was refereed to as the old 78th.

I served in the 78th Highlanders as a private during the summers of 1995 and 1996. I was also a gunner of the 3rd Brigade, Royal Artillery. The program is designed for high school and university students to have a full time summer job to help pay for their education, but in no way, are they members of the military. Once you have served, you become members of the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association.