Defence Minister Peter MacKay has announced that the name of the 2nd Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders army reserve unit will be changed back to the Cape Breton Highlanders. (Cape Breton Highlanders Association)

A military unit that fought in South Africa, both world wars and Korea has been reborn.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Sunday that the name of the 2nd Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) will be changed back to the Cape Breton Highlanders. The army reserve unit is assigned to the 36 Canadian Brigade Group.

From its birth in 1871, many Cape Breton families have seen family members serve with the unit that won 56 battle honours. The unit lost its former name in 1955 when it was combined with Nova Scotia's two other Highland regiments.

John Clarke, a member of the Cape Breton Highlanders Association, an association of former Highlanders, said the attachment to the name is difficult to explain.

"Once you become comfortable with, familiar with, military units that you belong to … you build up kind of a rapport or a connection with that unit," said Clarke, who was in the reserves after the Second World War and now looks after the Highlanders Museum in Victoria Park in Sydney.

"The Highlanders Association and others have been trying for a long time to reinstate the Cape Breton Highlanders name and are very proud of that name, so it makes us feel very good to get that name back again and get it into the community," Clarke said.

Clarke believes restoration of the name also means a lot to Cape Bretoners.

"We're quite certain that the name Cape Breton Highlanders will improve the recruiting aspect of the reserve unit — to have our own name — and people have pride in Cape Breton and pride in what we've done over the years and this is just another thing we can be proud of," Clarke said. "And hopefully we can get people to connect with us and come into the reserves."

Members of the Highlanders are currently serving in Afghanistan, while some are stationed at CFB Gagetown and CFB Aldershot. Locally, the reserves are preparing for winter training.

MacKay described restoration of the name as "a gesture of pride and respect for enduring traditions."

"Once again, the people of Cape Breton will be able to recognize it as their own unit," he said in a release.

with files from The Canadian Press