The armoury is named in honour of Colonel James Layton Ralston, PC, and is the historic home of the Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.
James Layton Ralston, PC (September 1881 - May 1948) was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia and graduated from law school at Dalhousie University in 1903. He practiced law in Amherst and subsequently was elected in the 1911 provincial election. Ralston served with the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) in World War I, was decorated for bravery, rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of the Nova Scotia Highlanders. Following WWI, he pursued a military career in Canada's post-war army, rising to the rank of Colonel.
Ralston left the military to run in the 1926 federal election, and though he was not elected he was named the Minister of National Defence (MND) by Prime Minister MacKenzie King just before winning a seat through a by-election. He remained MND until 1930 and continued in politics until 1935, before returning to his law practice. With the coming of WWII, Ralston returned to politics in 1939 and was once again named Minister of National Defence in 1940, a position he held until 1944 when he was replaced by Andrew McNaughton. James Layton Ralston died in Montreal in 1948.
