Defence Minister J.L. Ralston speaking to Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Italy. James Layton Ralston, lawyer, politician, soldier (Born at Amherst, NS 27 Sept 1881 and died at Montréal 21 May 1948). He was the battalion commander of the 85th (Cape Breton Highlanders) Battalion, CEF Ralston had a reputation for bravery and competence. He was awarded the DSO and bar and mentioned in Despatches. He was wounded at Lens on 29/6/1917, Amiens on 8/8/1918, Cambrai on 1/10/1918 and Valenciennes on 23/10/1918. Ralston was twice Minister of National Defence, 1926-30 and 1940-44. Intense, scrupulously honest, and an able representative of the political interests of the Maritime provinces, he was a stalwart in Prime Minister Mackenzie King's WW II Cabinet, serving briefly as minister of finance, 1939-40, before becoming defence minister. Despite a tendency to become mired in administrative detail, he was a fine judge of generalship and a devoted defender of Canada's fighting men. King forced Ralston's resignation in 1944 because of his outspoken support of overseas conscription.