8th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles), CEF

The 8th Battalion, CEF,  was originally recruited from 90th Winnipeg Rifles. While most of the battalions of the CEF sported cap badges with a maple leaf motif, the 8^th Battalion had a cap badge with a running devil with a scroll beneath emblazoned with the motto “HOSTI ACIE NOMINATI” – Named By The Enemy. The enemy, in this case, was the Metis of the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 who apparently referred to the Winnipeg Rifles at the Little Black Devils on account of their dark rifle green uniforms.

The 8^th Battalion was part of the 2^nd Brigade of the 1^st Canadian Division.

All of the figures in the 2^nd Brigade are from Old Glory Miniatures

Painting Update

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):

8th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles), CEF

Detail of the formation patch. The red patch of the First Division surmounted by a red triangle (red for the middle brigade of the division and the square for the third battalion within the brigade).

I actually have one of the cap badges (the hat is a reproduction).

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

The final battalion in the brigade – the 7^th (British Columbia) Battalion.

Then… onto the first brigade…? or maybe finishing up some stuff for the third brigade? I’m using Wargames Foundry figures for the First Brigade and though I have a few on hand, I don’t have enough for the entire brigade. I ordered enough this past week to finish up the brigade, but I’m not sure if they’ll be here quite quick enough. I do have a few figures to finish up for units in the Third Brigade. The Third is made up of two units of highanders using the very first miniature I eve modeled and cast, one unit of highlanders from Old Glory Miniatures (which is mostly completed – I just have two or three extras I need to bring the unit up to strength), and a unit of figures from the Foundry.