Osprey, Men-at-Arms #439 The Canadian Corps in World War I (2007) OCR 8.12

The Canadian Corps in World War I

Dedication

Flfst pubUshed in Great Bntaln in 2007 by Osprey Publishing Midland House. West Way. Solley. O.f",d 0X2 OPH. UK 443 Park Avenue Soulh. New Yorll. NY 100\6. USA Ema~.

To the memory of my greal-uncle, Albert Vermelle. 22e balaillon canadien-franqais. kOled in action 6 August 1916. Lost but never lorgotten.

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This slim volume allempts to provide a necessarily very concise account of the background. organization. uniforms. arms and eqUipment of the Canadian Corps on the Western Front. with brief additional notes on other Canadian land. sea and air forces. A list of units is Included. but in the space available it IS impossible 10 list lheir actions; that 'nformation can be lound in other works. There exist masses of data on this topic. and much thaI Is contained herein comes from manuscript sources; the bibliography selecls a lew. but by no means all of the published sources used.

Page illYOUls by Alan Hamp

The author wishes to e.press his gratitude to Francis Back. the late Joseph H.Harper. Clive Law, Charles Taylor, the staff at National Defence's Dlreclorate of History and Heritage. and Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. Unless otherwise credited, all Illustrations are from lhe aulhor's photographs.

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TITLE PAGE Canadian artillery In action, In a 1918 painting by Kenneth Forbes. During the

Canadian World War I Statistics

Great War the RCA grew from a few batteries to large artillery groups for all five divisions, with some 20 (mostly field) brigades and 12 siege batteries, served by nearly 44,000 men, of whom 2,565 were killed. Canadian gunners quickly became proficient and Innovative In the development of artillery barrage tactics. By 1918 eight Canadian sIege batteries were equipped with the 61n howitzer shown herej it could fire a 100lb (45kg) shell to a distance of 9,500 yards (5.4 miles, 8.7km). (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

Estimated 1914 population; Regular army strength In 1914: Total males enlisted in Canadian Expeditionary Force: Of Which. served overseas: MIlitary nurSing sisters In CEF Of which. served overseas: Total enlisted In CEF: Of which. killed or misslng: Wounded; Prisoners of war:

7.870,000 3,110 616.557 421.510 2.854 2.411 619.636 58.990 149.710 2.820

Royal CanadJan Navy strength 1I11914: 350 RCN strength 101918: 5.500 RCN killed or 1TlISS1ng: 150

Total enlisted in Canadian services: 628.462 CanadianS In Bntish aIr services; c.23.000 Of which, killed or missing; 1.563 Canadians in the British Royal Navy: c.3,000 Of WhICh. killed or missing: c.300 Total Canadians killed or m sslng (from Book of Remembrance): National debt 1914; National debt 1919: Ne moundland population: Newfoundlanders enlisted: 01 which. killed or missing:

66.655

$544.000.000 $2,500.000,000 230.000 12.425 1.602

THE CANAD AN CORPS IN WORLD WAR I

Regulars of the Royal Canadian Regt in full dress, c,1913 - from their medals, some are veterans of the Boer War (1900-02). They wear white helmets with scarlet puggaree, brass fittings and regimental badge; scarlet tunics with dark blue collar, cuffs and shoulder straps, white piping and chevrons, brass buttons and collar badges; dark blue trousers with a narrow scarlet stripe. and low black boots, with the brown leather belt of the M1899 Oliver equipment, and Ross rifles. (Private collection)

INTRODUCTION 2()Lh CENT RY DAWNEI, ,ana ta was Cl bOOlllil g OunLr in rull develupmellL, £1 ormou on Lh mal iL had onl a fell' million inhabiLilnt sl read froll the AthlllLic to Lhe Pa ilic, Ill~arl all f them :eLLlc I wiLhin th rough I , 200 mil . ( .30 kill) or 1110:L 'asil r habitable unlry north of Lhe on tin ~I L-wid bord ~r wiLh its onl, ncighbour the nitc I tales or mcri a. in IS r the U"aIlScOllLincntal rail",a r link" had opened th . WesL Tn prairic' to. ulem I1L and hundr d' 01" Lhousal 1 or immigrants had pOLlr d in ver r I ar' I ' Ih - earl, 1~1O() ciLi s, L wn rarm. all I ranch s werc nllt hrooming I til' 'n Lake upcrinr, nd Ih anadian Ro kics. atLlral I' .Ources W re being xploil·d 'ver h re, and 'iz', hi indusLri : had b -en rounded 'Il Monu"ea] and TornillO, the larg 'L ciLi s. P liLi alii, m SL p ople olllsi I or anada believed Lhat iL was a BriLish 'colony'; in [acl, it had aLlained 'elf-governmcnL lind I' lh BrilL'll rown in (' the middle of the 19th llLur I with iL~ own [eclera! padial lent. B) I D05 th> COlIl1U' r had nin province', ach, iLh extensi\ it l rnaljLlrisdiclions and Lheir own legislatur .; apart I"rom thi' regional aspect, inslitlltions were paLLerned after thos' in Britain. Foreign diploma" was Lh> one area that anada did nUL conlrol' thi' was lIalLlrally lel"l t Ih nil. d I ingdom, the 'moLiler coulllry' LO man r .anaclian. anacla's diplomalic d aling I\~th lhe nil cI laLes mostl), n rn d mUlllal lmd , and it was (and l' mains) hard to ["ind mol' cordial l' lati ns b LI n LWO 0\' I' ign nalions. •anacla, like ilS sOllthern n >ighbour was (and I' mains) a ountr I shal ed b' great wav s of immigration. In l1l 19th nlllr)' mo t immigrams came ("rom lh British [sl " join d [I' n Lh turn 01" the 20th ntur' by man' from Lh krain, rmany and Russia; th se m II llic I in the Prairie'. Between 189 I and 191] alone the populaLioll rose b, IIcarl ' three million, l x ced s ven milli n . uls. Th diversit r of anada's population ha I a l"unciamenLal impact on ils ntribuLion LO lh· Grcat V\ ar; b 'neath Lh' veneer o[ .anada'· STilE

3

The 90Ul CEF Bn (Winnipeg Rifles) on a route march in Canada during the late summer of 1914. All wear the khaki service dress; this was typical of the city units of the Volunteer Mllilla at that time, though many rural units still had not received it. In the summer heat some men wear only shirts. Most have the rigid Canadian field service cap, but some can be seen to wear Wolseley pattern pith helmets. All carry the Ross rifle. (Private collection)

11lario, had lurll d oul lar I' an engin ring 4

cOIl'j lC'd 0111,

or a r II'

A member of the Volunteer Aid Detachments (VAD), trained in nursing care by the Order of 5t John. The uniform was a grey single-breasted dress with detachable white cuffs and collar, a white apron and small white cap; note the black-andwhite armband of the Order. The VADs worked In Canadian and, from 1916, overseaS hospitals, In England, France, Italy, Greece and Egypt; by November 1918 the Order had some 400 members from Canada and Newfoundland serving overseas. The Germans twice bombed the Canadian Order's large hospital at Etaples, France, in May 1918, destroying ten wards and killing a nurse, several patients and orderlies and wounding many others, (Private collection)

senior adlllinisLnH rs. B for' t\\IgwiI I~)I-I, few Canadian orri r had ollll1lallded anYllting III I' lhan a few regular 01111 ani ., 'Ind (lnl' 12 Itad CO III pi I I lit Brill h i\rm(s slarr course at Caml ed . in England, [n 'j ltc (r "linda" larg Fr n h-. pe'~king pOlulaLion. English was Ih onl\, language' I' 'd in Ihe ann d service" Ind' d. rOllLh' I"rolll 'I' nch Callad,l's hOll1groi if' wishing to nler lhe Royal i\!ilil,uT Colleg weI' I' q\lired La be llm;n[ in English - Lhen a raLher UnCOlll1l10n a c I "lplishll1 nt, .. nel a rC'quircn III lhaL al1lollllled 10 ('xclllsioli. For Cal a lians aura Icd to !Hililar . affair,. the VOllillteCI' i\!ilitia orli iall' ~iv n til I( ngll -II i:ling namc of 'N n-PcnmlllenI \cti,' MiliLi.· - wa.' 11101' il 1"1" Ling an I. wilh .. bOlil 75,000 om er and III n in 191 , il \\la, Lh' onl' 'iz .. bl for c Ih' OllnLr' might Lilli upun in all cmergenc', It had abulIl 110 ingle-batlalion inf'lI11r' regimenl:. ~5 regimellL 01" 'aval I' '. '10 baucrics and J':- cUlIlpanic 01" an iller " and varioll, 'uppon s n~ > , Il was Elirly \\"cll organiz' I. and iLS III n w I' Sill P Is('d t coml1t'I.' I ria's 01" lraining ;11 th ir area', militia amp (V 1")' 'c:tr, ~Iililiam n gOI a 'mall 'drill' pay; II }' W re i.sued with I a.i (and on n slill carl l) uniform, arlll and qllipm III and mighl v n hal' . ,I ees lO an armour' I llildin , Rliralul1ilS di t not far a, II' II as orp. in I ig iri ',,11'1 i h tended to g t the cream of til 'wailable rf'SOllr S IIHlIlk to ollle 01" lheir IIsuall ' wealth, and innuenlial ,eni r officers. Indeed, politic- were a (;Ictor in lh (mmi,sion,granl c11O: niornrfi rs;th "ew reuuallysucc :sful busillC's.m n in h ir omnllmil~', looking for lhe.o ial prf'.tig Ihal Ih 'up rb pI' -ll 14 om'r" filii dr s. uniform, cI"l'~inly lent th m, Tn In li apart from i~ annual Irainiu , Lhe only lime a militia mil was lik 1)' t I '1II'd n a u," dUly lI'a" in 'Aid l .iviJ POll' 1", Ill( sll)' 10 pUl tOll'n 'lrik's at h 'lori", h rc was no obligalion 10 "olllni ('I' into Ihe Illililia anrl 1110 I }'oung III n did nol. lill, Ih re were lllan~' new CI\'alr' unit. in Lh Irairi provin . ,joining an all' a \' I"p labl numb I' f I' lunt 1" I.ell'h I' - X pl in Ih I orulo IS provin ll'b her th \'iabl unil w r III 'LJy IIUI \e up of . n Ii 'h- an I OlS- :anadians. Wilh a I" w well-app inl d Fr n -h- ana lian I' 'gim nl in r-.lunll"("al and u'be ity, an I a h L f skel ton nlr;ll r im nLS, Th' image of a onlrolling liqu' or Illario officer', rlllllour d to b I igot cI Prot stanl', did nOl mak III institution 'peciall' aLlractivc [0 Francol h 11 P LClllial I' nih.. For Lho (' wh ncvcnhc1 'S, wish cI 10 march and drill lhere wa' .~ Fr 11 'h-'I c
or

5

CHRONOLOGY 191 2 June Ar hduke Franz F relinClnd of ,\ustria- (ungar)' i assassinated b, a rbian ,marehi'l in an~('vo, sparking a eric. of eli! IOll1aLi ullimata, g'l1 ral m bilizalion., 'r lfle plecvcrLO ro' Ih' Ilanticinon~n l. Troop Ian Ion 2 th anc! proceed l militar' amps on .t1islur~1 Plain.

1915 February

roop' org<1niz I a .anadian 1\ l'lon, un I... mmancl of Ider n, take ver positions n the "'eslern Fronl in Fnll1 and B Igium. 24 priJ anadian unit north-we'l of tJlIlien in Vpre. ~lIient ofF/and r h lei tJ, ir lin £I spit lirst ennan J oi' JIl g~ . aHack; ,In Di\' ufli r 6, 36 (l'ualtie' in ec nd BattJe ofVpres b,tween 15 pril an 13 Ma'. SMayrP LI rvingwilh Briri.h 27th iV,redli ed 10150 rli eth·s in baltl of Bellewarde Ridg in sOluh rVpr ali nl. May-June ,In Oiv . urfer . nearly _ ,OliO asualties at ' stili rt anel

NhD

Six Nations Iroquois Indians enlisted In the 114th (Haldlmand) CEF Bn, Ontario, 1916. 'Brock's Rangers' had many Iroquois volunteers and two of its companies were entirely made up of Indians, officers included. They were dispersed among other units in November 1916 when the 114th was broken up to provide reinforcements. About 4,000 Canadian Indians are believed to have served in the CEFj some became snipers, putting their traditional hunting skills to deadly effect (see commentary, Plate E1). (Detail from photo in Canada in the Great Waf .... Vol.lII)

6

iv n h'. SeptembeJ' 2. I C II Di\' ani\"s ill Franc , cOlllmanded I ' I h~iGen R.E. \ .Turn '1~ \ C; dieH \nn' ,orps, .38,000 ·trong, form'd und r Lt E. I I rson, with anadian ~'Iaj 'n nhllr CurTi promol 'd t I11mand original formation, redc. ignatcd I S[ £In Di\'. nits prcvi usl, dispel' ed under Briti h di\'ision (e.g. PP , I and later R )'al anadian R gt transferr c! in. Wi.nter 1915/16 tlnadian .orp holds lin 111 Flancl I' I lw n Pia g leen \'\ood and l EI i '0 \lit or YI r ., ~r I , In i\' (M'!i n 'LS.M rcer) Ii I'm d in 'r n

c..,

1916 April 2nd dn h' sHfrcr 'om 1,40 aSlialti s in fighting for t Eloi raters. May Lt n ir Julian Byng u cccc!- ell I ICI"()Il in cOl11mand Canadian ·oq,. 2-13 Jun ~anadian (. rp' 'llffcrs c,8,OOO ca. ualli 'in Baltic or Mon orrel, in lu ling G n 1 reer kill 'd in ~rcl C In Div's first action. 1 July Balli of th ml11 ' b 'gins, N wfounclland R gl, with British 291h Di\, ncar! ' annihilat c! in alta k on B aUl110nt Ilamcl. ugust 41h .dn Div arri\ C' ill Fran c, alladian di\'ision move from Flanders 10 lhe I,m lakin rover llstra.liall po. iti n.. 15-22 pt mber Batll of urcel{'lt: 2n I & 3rd Jdn Divs advan 'e behind' r 'ping be l-rage' and wilh (wcak) lank support. .pil 'ome 7,0 'a'llalti th· lake all I~ective' and h I I Ih 111 again t OUIll r-alta k ,

Sept mber 'anadian 'oqr II' nglh I' 'ache' . 0,0 26-30 S ptember 'unh r Calndian alla k n hiep"al Ridg mak gtIins bUI l~lil lO rea h lh' r I. 7-10 October In w l wealh r, su)' Janadian 'luack' nonh of ,(lUI' I ue fail l caplure •'rman . 'iliff I' neh' I 'ilions ('Regina Tr nch ') n the Ancr I ighLS norlh- ClSl from ehwal en R d ubI. 11 Nov mber lh dn Di,', und I' riLish II orp' n I fl of .alndian , rps, finall' take Regina rell h. 18 ov mbel" 4th Celn Oiv (ak ,til lh ir I ~ 'lives ill final actions of lit Balli of I he omm, ivisioll III v S 10 join ana lian oq s on Len'- ITa, fl'onl at n I of 1110nlh, Total anadian a ualtie in Ihr monlhs on th olllm arc ".24,000. 1917 February rman WiLh lraw b lwe n isson and I'm LO I I' par d 'hon I' from d f nd d in I plh - Lh 'Hindenburg Lin " 9-12 April V'ter IWO wck' f. ophisli ale I arLill 1" I I' panlliOIl, th' our-di,'ision 'anadian 'orp - fighling- togcth'r for the iiI'. t time aptllr th stnn gi and .upposedl)' impregnabl erlllan posilions on Vimy Ridge. The ermans are pushed ba k mile' in some places and Ih ,rp apLllI' mar than 4,00 prisoner' and 54 guns. AJI hough th st is 13,500 kill eI, mis ing and wound d, this I' .~ounding vi tor' sparks illllll ns prid in anada and arns gr 'al prai from IIi d command I' , F ur (I' a\ ard'd to tlllaclian oldier', and I I ,dn iv IltU n urd is knighted. n B n takes command of Third Arm', and LtGen ir f\nhur 'u ceeds to on mand of anadian orp. n cription ,ot d inro 1m in an ada, August u ful anadian as, ault on Hill 70. EF nur ar the fil"t .anadian wom n granL d lh righllo \' L ; Ul n / 'ur I c me g n ral fr m S pL mb r. Octob r
The very different appearance of Canadian troops on the Western Front, 31 August 1918: these are men of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry resting at Arras, scene of the first Canadian triumph in the great Allied counter-offensive. Under magnification they can be seen to wear the brass 'CANADA' title at the end of the shoulder straps, above the while·on·red arc-shaped title 'P.P.C.L.I.', above the battalion's 'battle badges' introduced In September 1916 - a semicircle (second battalion In brigade) In green (senior brigade, 7th), over the blue-grey rectangle of 3rd Cdn Division. One man has the regimental badge brazed to the front of his helmet; behind him the stretcher-bearer has no ·P.P,C.L.I.' title and a square battalion patch, presumably for 49th CEF Bn - see Table 1, page 12, and insignia chart, page 44. (Imperial War Museum C03175)

7

1918 21 Mar h-17 Jul

Sir Samuel Hughes (1853-1921). the vain and self-willed Minister of Militia and Defence at the outbreak of war. A newspaper owner, Volunteer Militia officer and politically powerful member of Parliament, Hughes' character may be read from the fact that he had actually asked for the Victoria Cross for his service In South Africa. This was refused, but he did secure a knighthood. and political manoeuvring brought him promotion to general rank. The outbreak of war catapulted Hughes from a relatively minor cabinet post to international s1ature. He often ignored military planners, the worst case probably being his scrapping of the existing scheme for moblllzation, which created massive and unnecessary administrative chaos. His political stance as a passionate Orange Order supremacist did nothing to rally French- and Irish-Canadians to the war effort. His term as minister was both a political and military failure, and Increasingly an embarrassment to the Conservative party. Stubborn to the last, he finally had to step down In late 1916. (Print after 'S.B.'; private collection)

8

,prl11an spring offen, i"e on from f Bliti '11 fifth 'm' 'Oluh (r .anmlian Corps p ilion around L ns and \ im}' (1\hr h- pril), and f o n d rillY n )rth (I' tit m (April, mak p Ul ular gain' loll wpd 1 Y oth I' ach'anc again t PI' n h [ron' fllnh 'I' to «uth (?\Iay-July). 29 ar h Ami-c n. criplion ri( ts 1 I' ak Olll in u'l e City: man' kill d and ,,'ound d when troops op 'n fire on 1'0\\' I.. pril 'amtdian Corp. in \'ari HI!. 'I lion, during th . Balli of th 27 Jun Cana lian hospital ship UandOIlf'I)' Castle and it lili-Ioat a -I oat; n arl all n board p rio h. 18-20 July n fo h hUIIl'h s dcci 'iv' Fran o-Am ri an lllit 1'olTcnsiv against ()V rextend d (. -rman armi s on th t\[arn Iii. r :rain inliliative. 8-11 ugllst ;\l1adian )rp' sJ -arhcads lIied surprise alla k, 'Il Ami ns, ..dv'lI1 ing 12 mil s, 26 AlIglist-lO No emb .. 'Can'l la's IlundlTd Da)'s - th' Corp: a hiev s unbroken advanc s. Switched nonJI to 'anadians a'sault th Hind 'nlllrg Line, and pi r e it n 2 Th ' , r ss th 'anal du lord 11 27 eptcmb r, tak mi n' on 2 Clol r, and apwr am brai on 12 t b 'r. The , rman begin a g neral withdrawal an I III Canadians pur u th 111 sweepin y a 'id all pp sition: th . ov rrun the 'nnan d Ii nc s al \ £lIen i Ins on I ovc1l1b r, anel ea'h t\1 ns n th' 10th. Septem.ber aud lob I' :anadian ontingenl . nt La Ru, sia La aid White armi s again.t Bolsh viks in th 'i\'il \\ar. 11 ovember rmi tiel' agr d with rman ': n I rlh real "'ar.

1919 2 June r at)' f\ rsaill" 'igneel, finali7jng t 1111 of erman urrcnd r. o lober a t :anadian onling nts I ave Ru. 'ia.

CANADA IN THE GREAT WAR Wll n th 'all to arms was soun 1 d in anada in August 19J cmhusiasn ran high a ros. the countr', and t ns r thou:and. or 111 n volul1le'r 'e! to g t war.Th 'anadian gO\ernl11'1 I olT r··d tl'() p: L Britain for ov rsea' 'ervin' II'hil . ordering th' l11obilizmion or part or the \olullt 'cr ~I'[iljtia, Th ' idea was to get as man' troops OV'r La England as qui kJ . as possil Ie; m 1St were om'in ed Ihe war would be 0\' r in a mall T of 111
or

~[ilili".

From, ugu 1 ] 14 lhi man of bound! n rgy. que lionable judgement and normOllS 0 10lall 'dominal d Canada' mililar' a livit', During 1911 a plan had b n pI' pard lor mobilizing an 'xpediLionar' force of one division and a avalr' brigade lO(relh r wilh arLiller' and Ilppon unit'. Il' I allalion;' weI' LO I e made up Ii' m omp, nies all d ~ I' a Ii\' dUl' fr m variou olunL 'cr I liliLia regim n and as'embl d at Camp Pel
III ugll't 'md pi mb I' t i l ' of tll u. and' of 111 n from mililia re rim III nO k d into alcani r, I fa e a \I id rang of 'honagc' and liscomlons in Ihis hug t nl il)' whiJe b ill organized il1l IH W ballali n , EF baualioll had eight Illpani s, ea h of thr c Hi I" and 116 nlisl d III 'n. Baualion' w re numb red rath I' than bearin T lhe IraelilionalliLles of long-established mil ilia regim IllS, bUl in pm tice Ih baualions o[ the anadian Division iniLiall 1 s nt to Europe w r larg-I}' mad up fro III melllb rs or th pI' -\ ar \olunt r l'vlililia. Th . were the onl ' fairl' w'lI-train d, unilarm d, equipp d and armedm n who uld b mU.l-·r d qui kl,; civilian volunt rs IV re no king I nli'l bUl Ih I' W re n l en ugh suppli s to equip Ihem all inullcdial I " and th }' had L undergo basi training. Th' n 'w I alLaH n t nel elto I' pre' III 'p ci[i g ographi ar as of lhe Ollnu' r: r, rinstan ,th 1 'I EF Batlalion was rais d mainly frolll 17 mililia unils in we [rn III lio the 2nd fr 111 20 unil in aSI rn nLari , an I th 5Lh gaLh r eI III n Ii' In S'V n lIni~' in th VI I rn provin' s, I bau, lion' weI' a n ar-r incarnation I' ,1 mililia regill1 nL: I" I' in '1, Il C th 3rd CEF had n ,I'I 1,000 III n fr m Tor III ' 2nd Qu n' Own RiJl s; Ih 9Ul C' F I ad ov r ] ,200 men from Ul I 1'1 Edmon 101 Fu. iIi rs; the 131 h EF had ], 0 III n fr m lonu'eal' th Ro 'al Hi hland r (nel 837 or Ih' 15lh .' F . 1.283 men am !i-om Tor nlO's Ih Hi T1I1ander", B· Cpl n b r, Ul firsl EF division wa' beinO' organiz cI in f ur brigad's, ach wilhr, ur ballalion - a struclur lhat la t I Ihroughoul lh \V'u' I' r anadian division, Th di\'i i nal aniller' onsisl I 01" I' field I ri ade' each having Ihr'e six- \lI ba t ri armed wilh 1 po mel 1'•• Th divi ional cavalry quadron had 196 nicer an I III n drt wn fr 111 the 19lh Alb n.a Dragoons and the eli\ ision had Ih u 'ual all un nl of engin rs, ordnan e . ervic and medical crwp. cl La h men ls,

Detail from a painting by Richard Jack, 1917, showing a Highlander of the 15th CEF Bn at the Second Battle of Ypres, 22 April-25 May 1915. The 15th was basically the CEF reincarnation of Toronto's 48th Highlanders. He is shown with the khaki Balmoral bonnet, jacket with blue shoulder straps, and kill of Davidson tartan. (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

9

Colour of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 1914-19. Originally intended as a unit HQ flag, it was presented In August 1914 by Princess Patricia of Connaught, daughter of the Governor General of Canada, who designed and embroidered It herself; its crimson field, fringed with gold, had a central blue disc edged gold with a crowned 'PP' cipher In gold. Nicknamed the 'Rlc-adam-doo' by men of the PPCLI, this became the only unit colour in the whole BEF and CEF that was actually carried with the regiment In battle throughout the war. In February 1919, Princess Patricia further presented the glided laurel wreath for the pole. It was not an official regimental colour until 1922, when a replica was presented with the King's Colours and was carried until 1934. (From an old tinted print)

10

Tit re w I' oLher U'oop' a. mbling b :i I . Ihis IiI' L .EF di\'i i 11, Th" R ';Cd .all'ldian Dra 0 11, and Lord Lnuh na' H 1', formed_ wiLh tw 11l0biliz d RU'ill ,1Il;\clian HoI' ..\nill 1'1 baLt ries - th anadian Mount d Brigad ,Prin c Patd ia' anadian LighllnfantTy, a I' gil11 'nl recruited from BJiti hArm' v L-'rans living in 'mada, IVa' rganizecl ill thi' time under thc 'pon 'ol"ltip f .Hamilton ault, a Montreal businessman. l3'l11icl- cpL'mb-r 1914 lip to .• ,00111 n weI' sent t Lh P nor asp' to I ard a large /l lto I S 01'1 dlo Britain b' ROlal Na\: \\, rships, sailing on ~ l b I' and arriving aL 1'1'111 uth, 0 von, n I t b>r arl I' an un "V nLrtl! v Ie ,F I' th >ir pan, Lh Brili h \ re somewhat wk n aba -k wh n fa 'cd WiLh finding a mtnociaLi n for this huge numb I' of III n, and iL LOok a whit LO on UL Ih in -vilabl pI' bl 'I11S, Th<: anadian troops were finall 'all w cliO land in England all 20 LOl er, and pro e d d LO ali bur' Plain in \\ ilt$hire. on of the Brili. h I' my', tradiLional training ar a'. Prin S' Palri ia's .;llladi'~11 Li III l11fanu" ("Prin ss Pm's') wa initially in orp ral d il1lo the Briti 'h rm', and wa' th fir l anadian unil l arriv in Fran In o ml 1- 19J 4 tI part F lh Brili 'h 29th (R glllar Divi i n.'ler a rath r ell' ar sta uncleI' anva on 'Ollisl ur' Plain, th anaclian Division landed in Franc" in F bruar I 1C IS, and mov d lip th lin into th lrenchs of Flander , First blood: Second Ypres, April 1915 II the combatant armies weI' bin w I adl ked in Ih ir lllinuou lr nch lin ',running 'ome 400 mile (G50km) outh rr 111 til b a he flhelorlll atOlh wisbord"r,lnth .pringorl915th rman pro lu 'c1 a IICW seer l \\ Olp n t br ak lhi' d acllo k: I i 'on ga . The place sclected For its firsl ma s use wa al a junction in th Alii 'd line 11 ar Ypres, where the '15th (Algerian) and 87th (TcrriLOrial) Dj,,' held lh ren h 'm/'s n rtJlern /lank, ac!ja em LO lh outJ crn nd of th BrilL h Exp dill nary For e perimeter; tJl /lank r th BEF's frOI In al' lJulien wa guar I db' the .anadian Divi'i. n. n 22 pril the 'nnan relea 'eel ollie I 0 LOllS of chlorin gas n whal w I' nsid reel gr en and llllr liable lonial lr p, Th g dan w re hit firsl by the sUang and sini ler )' llow-gr en d uds r lIing acros No 1\llan's Land; lip to 1,400 'ren h ro p in the trench s hokeel and di d more than 0 OtJl I' W I' eli abled, anel the urviv r br k and 0 d P ning a four-mil gap in tJle fronl. The rman infallu' I eli I n l xploil tJ un xpe t cI al f h ir u e f III)" an I tJl al adian' unlel~alla k ell I ' lh I ; tJl ir a: lalli w r v 1" high, but lhis b lIghL Lim r I'm r U'O ps l 111 up. n lh nighl f 23/ April LI nnan' laun hed a III re limil d gas alla k on lh -. tlnadians thcl11sclv s, The fighling was d sp I'm bUl, tJlOugh I rotect donI, by watcr-soak d handkercJl icfs a ross tJl ir face and arm d with Ros riJl thtH weI' I ron t jamming th anadian Di i i 11 h Id Lh line until I' in£; I' 111 nl arriv d, Tlli, r at labli h d th anadian' I' pllltuion a a v 1" tough fighting ~ I' - blll a a 0 L f m r lhan 6 000 dead, mi 'sin and w lind d, I th IIi cI lrool wh urviv d tlli ' fir l nc lUll I' with I is I ga' w r d pI" k d b whallh ' on'id I' cI a war crime, and ~ iL a furiou' hun I' for I' venge, II' 'Lllur urri later to ommand the anadian orp with uch

disLiIl ,tion, Wl uld r all Lhal Lh all"ldians 'n ver ft rg t Ihat ga: aLLh ' sc 'on 1 batLle of'lpr'" and we n v r I t [the en my] f rg til ilher. \', 1I1c1 have killed f{il'scd him on \' 1" on ivai I 0 a.ion, and if \\(' Lh \\'h I' ern1"ln ann' b' a w woul I lad I 'hav d n , . 1 From division to corps SUPI ort for Lh wlIr r 'maincd tron r in ,anada, Th 2ncl dn Di,' WilS r I'Il1ed in'nglancl during the "pIing of ]915, and weill inlll Ih Iren hes n XL 10 III n w red 'signaL d I t iv in pt mber. In mil r I. 15 II rd In iv b gan LO Ii rm in 'I
o ('

C"

Chaplain G,McL,Dlx, 106th CEF Bn (Nova Scotia Rifles), 1916. Chaplains attached to unIts wore thetr corps' distinctive cap badge in the shape of a Maltese cross, and their battalion's badge on the lapels, (Private collection)

Internal problems J.) 16 da\l'ned wiLh no nd Lo the carnage in sight anada wa' in r a 'ingl' divided over the i su f enlisLm nl. Th L rribl bl mdleuin on th b'llll fiel Is f 191. led t ren wed call for ma' 'es r volullteer . In Ellg"Ii h-'p aking ;lllach man' still came forward for Lh d ,fen of 'king and . lInLI' ,'; bllt in 'I' n h 'anada Lh responsc LO Ihe call LO arms wa, 1''11' I 5S Illhusiasti, Even under the be'L of irculllsl, nces. an appeal mad to Fren h- anadians to come La the d Ii n or Fran - Lh mOLh r- ollnu' . LhaL had al all loncd them to Ihe BI'iLish ill 176~ - wa lik I)' t r nl it luk warm r cepLion, Prom Lh b gillllin, Lh war, th 0' V rnmclll" poli 'was LO nlisl Fr n h-Carl'ldiall' in lividllall' and spr ad Lh 111 ;-lmong th v'uio IS ngl I h ne EF baLLali n', il rder L pm II ullLlral a il11ilali nan auiLlId L1lat ' ntially p rsi t d LhroughouL Lh . war, Il wa nl' aft r a bill'r polilical figl L lhal a 'ingl \\'holl Fren h- anadian ballalion Lhe f; mOlls 22n I, or '\ an-DoD' wa. alllhOl'iz d in Nov I11I)'r 191,1. fIi 1'"' ommi "i n' r; r Fr '11 h- 'lI1adians' 1" rar ,.mel ni r rank more lit of 106 .;lnadian-born gen ral, ni' G IIr w'r' Fr n h;-Ul.ldhl S. To add ill'ulL to injur', a PI' b't riall minisL r speaking 01 I' Engli. h WiI' - in xplicably - pili in charg rr ruilm nL il LIl pI' dOlllinanLl' alholic and Francophone provin c ( r Quel FI' n -h anadil protested Lhrough iL pre . and poliLi ians an I, 111 t fall, b' vcr' low nli LmenlS. To vitriolic accli alion in the En rli'hanadial pr s r not 'lIppon.ing Lh war, Lh r plied - llnan w rabl,that nl' equal Lrealment was 'I . ptablc r; r 'qual i.1crifi " The 'lIladi, n g vernlll nt" [i ali h policie' Lhus ali I1tU cI fr m th war non

or

1 See Elite 150. World War I Ges Warfare Tactics and Equipment

11

Table 1: Divisions & Brigades of the Canadian Corps canadIen DIVIsion ((rom aulumn 1915, 1sf [),wsiOl1)

1st Brigade: lsI. 2nd, 3m & 4111 Baltatlons 2nd Bela: Sill, 7tl1. 8th & IOlh Bns 3rd Bele: 131h, 14t11, 15th 16t11Bns 41h Bele: 9th. 19th, 11Ih & 12th Bns Royal canadian Artll'ery • lsi 2nd Beles Cdn Reid Any Royal canadian Engineers: 1st Bda Royal Canadian Army Service Corps: 1st Divisional Train Canadian Machine GLIn Corps: 1S1 Bn Canadian Medial! Corps: 1SI. 2nd & 3rd Field Ambulances

An April 1916 view of Canadian Infantry of an unldenllfled unit 'holding the line' In a trench In the Vpres Salient. This Is one of the earliest photos showing Canadian troops wearing the steel helmet issued that March. By that time their dress and arms were mos1ly the same as those used by theIr British comrades: many men had BritiSh-pattern Jackets and greatcoats, SMLE rifles had replaced the Ross, and OB web equipment the leather Oliver set. Here, the right-hand man wears rubber boots in the mud, and the third man from left has the British sleeveless leather jerkin. (Private collection)

2nd Division 4th Bela: 181h. 19th. 20th 1st Bns 5th Bele' 22nd. 24th. 25th & 26th 8ns 6th Bele: 271h. 28th, 29th 30th Bns RCA: 51h & 6th Beles CFA RCE: 2nd Bele RCASC: 2nd DIY Train CMGC: 2nd Bn CMC: 4t11, 51h & 6111 Fld Ambls 3rdDNIsion 7th Bde: Royal Canadian Regt, PPCU, 42nd & 49tl1 8ns 8th Bde: lsi, 2nd &3rd Bns Cdn Mounted Rifles 9th Bda: 43rd. 52nd. 581h & 1\61h 8ns RCA: 9U1 8. 10th Bdes CFA RCE: 3rd 8de RCASC: 3rd Div Tralo CMGC:3rd Bn CMC: 8U1. 91h 10lh Ad Ambls

11th Division 10th Bele: 441h, 46111, '17tl1 11111 Bda: 54Ul, 75th, 87th

50lh Bns 102nd Bns

12Ul Bele: 38th, 72nd, 781h 8. 85th BIls RCA: 3rd & 41h Beles CFA RCE: 41h Bele RCASC: 41h Div Train CMGC: 41h BIl CMC: 11 th, 12111 & 13t11 Ad Am Is

51h DIvision r,n England) 13th, 14111 & 15ttl Bdes 1119t11. 125th, 128th. 134111, 1401h, 1601h, 1561h, 160111, 161sl, 185111 & 1981h Bns) RCA: 5th Div Artiliery CMC; 14111 Ad Ambl RCASC: 51h Div Traln G.,nadian cavalry Brigade (British 3rd Cav Di\I) Royal Canadian Dragoons Lord Sirathcona's Horse Fort Galry Horse Royai Canadian Horse Artillery Machine Gun Squadron CMC: 71h Ad Ambl Army and Corps Troops Canadian Ughl Horse RCA: Canadian Corps Horse Artillery: I st-3rd Garrison Artillery Motor Machine Guns: 1st & 2nd 8des Tunnelling Coys: Ist-3rd Raijway Troops: 1st-13th Bos Labour Troops: HO: 191-4111 Works Cays (plus various sl11all eiemenls e.g, 58Ul Broad Gauge Operaling Coy) In Srberia 16th Bda: 259111 260lh Bns RCE: 16111 Fld Coy CMGC: 20tl1 Coy Royal North West Mounted Poilce: B Sqn

a ommllnir' r pr s ming tl ad a third of th lltlljonal p pulation, s a result, cOll1plllsor mililar 'ervice - an unh >ard-or mea 'ure in e-~nada - was in r a. ingl' d mane! cl b tl1 r \' r11111 111 in ord r 0 meet th demand for mOl" 111· n. When cons ripLi n \ a \' t d in Jul' 1917, French :ana la was against il. :in apart from those .. nt to the 22ml EF Bn th Fran oph lie cons l"ipt llld ont.illu L b eli:p I" ed b tween th nglophone unit. Th> 'l"i is h ight 11 eI aL the end of I\llar h 191 wh n antic 11' ripLion rialS brok III in Queb 'C it' and w'e I lu elilI

12

pUl down b' II' ops .enL from T ron 10. Ha I lhe • 'nnan. lh m' I"e. Ilal1n d L di ouragl' Fren h-Canadhn nli tm IH 'h ' auld hardl' ha\' Stl e d d b'll r. N· ad 'a . nLtlr' later, lhe gO\"1'I m'nl" brlllall' sh rt-'ighL d handling r lhi. i,' 'lI' i: sLill r'lll ml I' dan t r'senL d. Prell hDesl iIe lh s a tors, lhou ands arl'ldian, .Iill slIPlon d Lh war, EVl'numll' anol h I' J Fr nch- .anadian .' f baualions weI' rais d, bUl onl' h 2 n I ("\' d a' a li'lin l uniL on lh \1\ s ern From allli lh r b 'in r 1 rok II III 1'01' I' inlor 111 I1tS an I 10 'l' I I olher unil ; a' on v L·'ran I' call I, iL wa' nol lin 'oml11 n 10 "C a Fr nch- al1adial wearing a kilt. 1 cSLimaL'1 5.000 Fren h- anadian' nli ted, 'wd )f Ihc'c some 5 YOO sen"d in the 22nd - Ih . uIlI' 01 'all wcd LO u Ih ir native Fr n h langu
or

L

(I/wl

((1I/1;/II1t\\ /11/ J/fIgP

20)

StaH oHicers with MajGen H.E.Burstall (right), 1916; all wear standard oHicer's service dress, two with puttees and one with laced field boots - and note that the satchel for the PH antigas helmet was carried at all times. At left, displaying red collar tabs and the red/white/red brassard of the Corps staH, is Col Talbot Mercer Papineau. A grandson of Louis-Joseph Papineau, the French-Canadian patriot leader in the 1830s, he encouraged French-Canadians to enlist, arguing in the Quebec press that the war was a great international crusade. While agreeing with the noble ObJectives, his critics especially his cousin Henri Bourassa, who was the Intellectual leader of French Canada - retorted that to be treated with scorn in an army that promoted the cultural assimilation of his own people was no way to fight a war. Colonel Papineau was killed In action on 30 October 1917. (Photo In Canada In the Great War .... Vol.lIl)

13

Table 2: Canadian units 1914-19 Note: Bold type lrdcal. 1118 oIliaaI desIgrIll,ion of a tnl~ lherealler. any bI'adIeled proYI1CIlII fl¥I18I III fOmaI type nctica18 lltOOS 01 recn..otment. The firSt
Royal CaNdiM ~IiIOOflS Pe".l8Il1 Rllce PlI8'ozed 21 DIIc 18ll31: EnglinI Ocl 1914: FItFQI May \915. ser.oed as If'Iar&ry 'Mlh lSI CdI'llM tnt Jan 19'8: ~ amky!de 'NIItwl CdI'l cav Bdo .ro ser«l811Kh1cl to Ita 8lIi!tl1vmf: QwI8da May 1919 lord Strathcona's HorM (Royal Canadians) P8rmnBnl Rllce forg.1rizecj \ Jl;, 19(1): _ IIllr'o'iCeS lIS ~ CIInElcian Dragoons

--

Fort G~ Hcwse9JlWl19'8~CdI'lc...DIp;lt; ~ 26 feb 1916. ,.... _ • Rc1te' c..dian [)'lIgOO"IS eboY8: detlaoldod 6 Nov

'920

SpecIal SeMce $qua(hn. 19th Albert8 Dr1ogoons 6 AL9 \914: 10 Engk1nd Ocl 1915; ffln;:e Feb 1915 III lSi CdI'llM: no CdI'l Corps Qw A8gl19 May 1918 Squadron of MounlMl RlRn 7 New \9\4: EngIIrc:1 ..kn! '915; France 5epI1915: FQI CarediIro . . . . .s (Special Serw::e 3 Feb 19'8; Inlo co, Cor!» CEIY Rrlgl19 May 1916 3rd 'OY«saos' DivIsional ~ 22 DIIc 1915; England Jan 1916; Fnn::e Apt 1918. no CdI'l Cotps Call Aogl19 May 1916 Royal North_st Mounted Pola Squadron Apt 1918: England .... 1918: FftW'aOcl '918; c.oo.Mar 1919. d8mobIt.z8d III Aegooa 14 Mar 1919 -e' ~ fIoM'MP a.otto'IZ«f 25 Sept. ~ (f\.I5sflll ~ NoY 19'9; dIbeoiOed Nov 1920 Canadlan Corps c.valry RegVCanadian Ught Horse ffan;e 19 May '916 as CdI'l Cotps Cav Regt; Clndiln 1.qlt Horse 21 Feb \917: ClIJ'w:iiIlWld dernc:lbbICI Ap 1919 Canadian ClIYalry Depot Formed England 24 May 1915: absorbed bV CllnaciBn A8Ielve CoY Aegt 5 Apt \9\ 9 Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regl Formed FralCe 20 Feb '911, ImiIIg;:motrIg CdI'l _ aM!JroIlI'1IIS 1st, 2nd. 3rd RelitI', Canlldlan Mounted Rilles 7 Nov 19\4: England JUle '915: FIMCe Sept '915; seNed as lntanlry BmEIIga-naled 10 Iorm 'SI CMR en I Jan 1916. rrt-l lSI h9d a OClr'l1PkJle rTICU1led pipe bMd, seld 10 be worldS fwst: no special cisthclions 0lCC0Pt lor Royal S'ewarl lortan piplI baQsl 4th, 51h, 6th Re9t•• Canadian Mounted Rilles 7 Nov 1914; EogI;nl J4if 19'5: FrlYlCfl Ocl 1915: served as lnIlVllry unl~ amalgamated to Iorm 1st CMR 8n \ JM '918 7th Regl, Canadian Mounled Rilles 1 Nov 1914; England Mar 1915. lIbsorbed by CMR Oopol on 81'....0/ 6th Regl, Cfll1adllin Mounled Rilles 7 Nov 1914; Englar1d OCI 1915: pro.tled reWorcerroMIs: absorbed Into 41h CMR Bn IWld 39th Reserve en. 28-29 JM 1917 91h Regt, Canadian Mounted Rilles 1 Nov 19'4: England Dec 1915: proo.ided roInIorosments: absorbed illO 5th CMR en 29 JM 1916 and Cdn Cav Depot 3 Feb \916 10th Regl, Canadian Mounted Rilles 1 Nov 1914; Engtand May '9'6: prooAOOd rlllnlorcemems.ln1o Cdn Cav Depot 22 May 1916 11th Re9t. Canadian Mounted Rilles - see l1thCMR en bllIow 12th Regt. Canedlan Mounted Rifles 7 Nov 1914: Engtand Ocl 1915; proo,oIOOd ltlI"obC8il .... ll5.IntO CdI'l Cav Depot 3 Feb 1916 13111 Regt, Canadian Mounted RllIes see 13th CMA en 1st, 2nd, "th, 5th Cllnlldilln Mounted Rilles Bns formed France 1 Jan 1918. il3rd CdI'llM: QwIada Mar 1919. d811~ Mar & Apt 1919. ~ blnj ... 1$1- see above. 1$1 Aegt ~ 11th 8n, Can.lldlan MountMl Rifles As 11th FIegI. 1 NoY 1914; becilfT'l8 InllVllly bn AfJI '9\6; Ef9;n:I Jd't 1916; plUIIOdOO ,eiluC8i,.... lIC; inlO 24th Aa9lIrYe en (8OOstl~, 1 .Jan 1911

sen

For"*'

l.lIlI'

"

13th Bn. Canadian Moonled Rlfles As 131h Regt. 7 Nov 19\4; Jd'I 1916. absorbed b

.""""""",.

bec.llrne i1Ianlry bn Af)f 1916; England

Depot Regl Dvllfseas Canadian Moonled Rilles 22 Dec 19\5: England Ocl \917: 0SbBnded 6 NoY 1920 Royal Canadian ArlJllel\' SmaI Perrnanool Force IOfgarozed 20 Oa 187\) and va'IOlIS votunl_ /NIIJiI OOlter18l mobilized III 1914 lJ"OWllJ' 19181031.714" nwlk:s 0YllrSeII!J 19.9&l.,......1llSI Mostt,o~ on W8slern Frent ... 43 ~ 9 $lllglI and ITlIrIy other ris aw::I Stb-
Royal Canadian E ~ PMnarw1t Force ~ 1 Jl;, 1~ and YllUlI_ nWiIIa COlllpOll8lllS rIlCJl*'-l il 1914. Served III ill

.......

Royal Canadian Regt ~ Force Pganzed 21 Dec 1~ BemuiiI Sept 1914. c...aALv 19'5, 10 EngIlnjSBpl: \915; France Nov 1915, III 3rd Cdn l)w; c...» M;w 1919

Patricia.. Canadian Ugtollnfanlt)' 10 ~ 1914; &van::t F,.... Dec 1914. deIac:t-ed 10 32n::f French ON ~ 1915,"'" 3rd Cdn ON ~ DIIc 1915; Qnq Mar 1919. became "9* c..etal Anr'f RIg! 1 Apt 1919. f\le banct I-U1lrog SIewM Iar\afl, blull
Oct 1914.... 271tl &lIIh l)w;

-

...

1st Canadian an (Ontario Reg!) 6 AL9 1914; England Oct 1914: fflVlce Feb 1915, III lSI Cdn 1M; ean.cta and dBod:Jolzed ~ 19'9 2nd Canadian 8n (Easlllfn Ontario Regl) 6 AL9 1914. England Oc! \914; France F1lb 19'5. III '$1 CdI'l Oiv: c.nsdiI and ctBlnot:Jlzaj Ap1919 3rd Canadian Bn (TOI'OI'IIO Reg!) 6 AL9 1914: Engtand Ocl 1914: ffancfI Feb 1915. III lSI CdI'llM: CanDela IWld deulClbilzed J!'f}F 1919 "th (Central Onlarlo) 8n 6 AL9 1914; EngIlVlcf 0cl19'4: Frarce Feb 1915. In lSI CAtlIM; Qrecla and d8mobIt.z8d Apt 1919 5th an tweslern Csvslry)6AL9 1914; EngIandOcI 19'4: Fr.n::e Feb 1915. III lSI Cdn 1M; canada end d8'nobIZ8d Apt 1919 61h Bn lPrehe ~ & NorIt'iern ()1Ifx \919. lBtack walctl & khakl 'Condie lMlVl'; khaIlI BaImoralrtllue G1Mgarry. I1ld & black dier.g; PiP8 blIn:;I Royal Slewa1 14th 8n (Royal Monl"al Regt) 6 AL9 t914; EngtiInd Oct 1914: Fra'1aI Ftib 1915. III lSI CdI'l DiY: Ca1ada inl delllobiized Ap 19\9 15111 Canadian Bn (48th Hl9hlander. 01 Canada) lQntllrlOl6 Aug 191-4: England Ocl 19\4~ Fra-a Feb 1915.... 1st CdI'llM: Qlnada tw1d demoIlAzed Apt 19\9. (Da...clIon lartlVl; khaki ~ ~. I1ld & btIIdl dicrig; JlIPll t/ilInd S1ewa'1 cI RngiIfdl 16th C~ian an (The C.llltdlanSc:ol;tlsh)~6AL9191A: Engtaocl Ocl 1914; FriroOe Feb 1915. III 'SI co,lM: C8nsda
en.

an.

en

an.

dafn(lblz«l ~ 1919. (T8I181l1olmaI1Gl; No.1 Coy. Gordon; No.2 Coy. ~: No.3 COy. Camefon 04 En'lIchl: No.4 COy. Black walCh, Tarlan ('\ EngIancl '" France: MacKenzie: khaki Balmorlll/bkle ~. red '" v.hle 6cw1g: IJIP8 lxVxl red l..soYcl3 11th 8n 6 AI.lQ 1914: EngliJnd Oct 1914; b8c:tlme 17th AeS8fVe en. 29 ~ 1915; tllO 17th AesewYe en (NoYa SootlaJ, 4 Ja1 1917. \Mac;I(Jt 1915: Fr.n:8 Sap 1915, in 2nd C
we

ri:JbOOS"

an.

-""-

26th (N.w Brunswick) On 1 Nov 1914; EngIwIcl f>(Jt 1915; Ffln::e 5epI191S. n 2nd 0...: c...oo III'ld cleInobiized May 1919. f"ipe

em

bend: MacKenzIe lllrIiIn; blJe ~ 27th (City of WlnnilM1l) On 7 Nov 1914: EngIIrd May 1915: Frarw;:e Sept 1915. WI 2nd C(Jt 1916 42nd On (Royal Highlanders 01 Canada! ~ 7 Nov 1914; EngiInj.u. 1915; France Oct 1915. WI 3rd C
en.

en.

eo

no

en.

43rd Sn (Cameron Hl9hlande.... 01 Canada! (M;lr1(\ob8!7 Nov 1914: EngIand..b'le 1915; France Feb 1918. In 3rd Cdn DIY; CenOOa IIf1(j de<.oabiIizOO Mar 1919. (Cameron04EadlllIf1(\ cBrobload.oUt 1919.

en

an.

\APe bIIol1; ~ SlewM kM.; l*.- Glengiwry WIIh bIeckoodc's Ie.:Uh8rl 47th (British Columblal an 1 Nov 1914; EngIanct New 1915; Fr.n::e Aug 1916. n 4th ~ Ow: c...cla Inl deillOt.ad.llre 1919 48th (British CoIumbiel en 22 Feb 1915; became 3n:l C
.........

51$1 (E'*'->tonj On 1 Nov 1914: England ~ 1915; ~ Tl'eGa'nso1o...y&113 Nov 19161rd provdecI .eob"",,,,11$ 52ncl (New Onlarlo) Bn 1 Nov 1914; &1gMnd 0..-: 1915; France Feb 1916. n 3n:I C
an.

an.

an.

"""""",""

60th Canadian On (VIctoria Rln.s 01 Canada) /OuMlecl 20 ApI 1915; EngIaod Nov 1915: Frallc. Feb 1918, n 3rd C
-, -,.."

68th (Reglnal On 20 Apr 1915; Englin::I May 1916; broken ..., lor 69th French·Canadian Bn (Ou!IbecIIOoUt 1915; EngIandAfJl 1916:

broken..., lor ,eob"enellS

IQr&aIoI 10 reo ...Q!..... ils

70th en

~ 1915; England />p 1918;

broken ..., lor

15

Canadian units 1914-19 (continued) 1151 Bn (OntariO) 10.My '915; England ft{x 1916: brOkell up for rei1IOfCeffillfll S

72nd Bn (Seaforth Highlanders 01 Canada) IBr.,;sh ColLmbia} 10.kAv 1915: England May 1916: Flilnce hlg 1916. ~ 41" Cdn Div; Canada and demobilized .hnI 1919. /MacKenne laf1El1l; khaki BamoraiItlUe GIefgany. rod /I. black dicing; plpe band same) 73rd Overseas Bn (Royal Highlanders 01 Canada) (Q.Jetlec:) 10 J\Jy 1915: f.r1gIlnl Apr 1916: FllWUl Al.g 1916. J'I 411l Cdn Div; heaVy casu
'or

lor rtW1foo:emenlS

,. ,.

92nd Bn (481h Highlanders) (Ontarioj 22 Dec 1915: England May 1916: ilia 5th Aesef\oe Bn. 5 Jan 1917. (DaVIdson tanan: khaki BaImoraI. Pipe baod: bIoa GIeogany. Stass band: khaKI Balmoral) 93rd (Peterborough) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England July 1916: 1010 39th Reserve 811, 6 0c1 1918 94th (New Ontario) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England July 1016: Into 32nd Reserve en, 18 July 1916 95th Bn {Ontario} 22 Dec 1915: England June 1916: into 5th Reserve Bn. 5Jao 1917. 96th Bn (Canadian HI9htanders){SasI<.at~22Dec 1915: England O;t 1916: bfoka1 up lor ~iIolC81rlel1lS.lI'\XI bin:l: Royal Siew
97th Bn fAmerlcan Legion) 22 Dec 1915. racnJlted manly ffom US cl103ns .... TOlOfllO: England Sep 1916: broken up lor rtlin'OI'CefIlErlts Sept-Qc11916 98th (Lincoln & Weiland) Bn (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915; England 1916: broken up lor reinfOO'Cefl'lel'\1S 15 OI;:t 1916 99th (Essex} Bn (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915: EngiaIld JIx'oe 1916: :Jnl0 35th Reserw Bo. 7 Jdy 1916 lOOth Bn (Winnipeg Grenadiers) 22 Dec 1915: Engilrd Sept 1916: "to 11th Resetw BrI (Manitoba), 20 J,yr 1917 101s1 Bn (Winnipeg Llghllnlantry) 22 Dec 1915: Engl;n:I.kly \916: Into 17th Aesefve Bn. 16 July 1916 102nd Bn (North BrlUsh Columblans) 22 Dec 1915: England ~ 1916: F,aroce Aug 1916, In 4th Cdn Oi\r; Canada and demobiIzed.klte 1919. (Pipe bal1d: Douglas !llflan: bUl Glengarry. red. Il'een & while

.u.,

'"'"9'

103rd Bn (BIillSh Columblal22 Dec 1915: England July 1916: ~ up lor renforcements 13 New 1916. 104th Bn (New 8nxls\'1ick) 22 Dec t915: England July 1916. n 5th Cdn Oiv Feb 1917-Feb 1918: Into 13th Reserve Bo. Mar 1918. 1051h Bn (Prince Edward Island Highlanders) 22 Dec 1915; England July 1916: ",10 1001h Bn, 20 Jan 1917. (No Hio;tJland dressl l06lh Bn (Nova $cotla Rilles) 22 Dec \915: ~JtAy 1916: Into


cfrLmfllllr. IeopafdskWlllplOt1) 114th (Haldimand) Bn (Brock's Rangers) (Onlllrio) 22 Dec 1915; EngIancf Oct 1916: inlo 351h & 36th Reserve Bns. 1 I Nov 1916 1151h (New BrunswIck) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England July t916: brolwri up for reinforcements 116th fOntarlo County) Bn 22 Dec 1915: E.ng1ancf July 1916: France Feb 1917, in 3rd Cdn DiY: canada and demobilized Mw 1919 117th fEastern Townships) Bn (Ou6bec) 22 Dec 1915: England Aug 1916: reorgafUed as a TrairWlg en. and broken up lor reln'OICl!f11EJ1ts Jan 1917 116th (South Waterloo) Bn (Onlaro) 22 Dec 1915: EJ1glancI 6 Feb 1917; into 251h Reserve Bo. 7 Feb 1917 119th (Algoma) Bn (Onlarlo) 22 Dec 19t5: England Aug 1916. in Slll Cdn Oiv Feb 1917-feb 1916: into Bill Reserve 6 Apl1916 120th (Clly 01 Hamilton) Overseas Bn (13th Royal Regiment) 22 Dec 1915: England Aug 1916: broken UP lor r'llJ1I01cemenls , 121st Bn (Western Irish) (8Iltish ColJmbia) 22 Dec 1915: England ftJ.Jg 1916: broken up lor reinlorcements 122nd (Muskoka) 8n (Onlar1o) - see Cdn Forestry Corps below 123rd Bn (Royal Grenadiers) (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915: bllcame 1231d Cdn Pioneer en. In France and Flanders!rom Mar 1917: broken up tor reJnlorcements May 1918 124th Bn (Governor General's Body Guard) {011arlol22 Dec 1915\ became 1241h Cdn Pioneer en. in Franceand Flanders Imm Mar 1917' broken up lar reinfoo:emenls May 1918

en.

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1251h Bn (1st OversellS an ol38lh Regt Ouf1e.ln Rifles) (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915; Engia'ld ~ 1916. In 5th Cdn Civ Feb 1917....feb '918; bllJkeI'l up lor reinIofCemems 126111 (Peel) Bn K1ntllllo) 22 Dec 1915; EnglaldAl.g 1916: nto tOOth 3lHithBns. 150ct 1918 12711> Sn (12\h Regl York Rangersl !O'llil,iOj22 Dec 1915; EogIinI i\lJg 1916: France. as 2nd Bn Cdn RaI1way TIOOPS• .Afle 1917 12811> (Moose Jaw} Bn (Saskatd1eW
133td en (Norfolk's Own)

,I...,

.......

.n

~22Dec 1915:flVln:INoi/I916;

rII03rd~Bn.·-6""'1917

134th

en

(48th

1916;.-.0 121h

HighI~llQ'lIanot

I Dec 19Hi; England Aug

Resenooe en. 7 M
DiMctsoo tMal;

tILe (i8'lgElrTy WIlh~" ~

135th tM1ddleHx' en Il)ntaiOi 22 oec 1915; EngIn:l Aug 1916: brt*Illn up tar 'iIIO'lbce••u 15 Oct 1916 '36th ~ I en lQnlanoI22 oec 1915: England oa 1916; nto 39lh AIIsllr\.'8 8 Oct 1916 137th (Calgary) en 22 Dec 1915; ErlgIaI'd Aug 1916; nco 21S1 ABseveBn~ 10 ...... 1911 1381h (Edmonlon, AllHrtal Bn 22 Dec 1915; EngIBndAug 1916; IrllO Olher bns Oct & Oec: 1916 139lh (Northtlmbetland) Bn IOrUnOI 22 Dec 1915; Engl;lIro Ocl 1916; no 361h Ae$fIr,oe Bn. 5 Oct 1916 l40th Bn (New ~ 22 Oec: 1915; EngIln:t Oct 1916; inIo 13th Re:gelve Bn. 27 ...... 1911 14151 {Rainy River Dlstrlcll Bn (Bordei'" 8ull Moose) fQntariol 22 Doc 1915; England May 1911; ilIO lB1h Reserooe 1 May 1911 142nd 8n {London" Ownl {()llano! 22 oec 1915; England NaY 1916; nco 23td Reserve en. 12 NaY 1916 143rd 8n (8nUm Columbia Bantamsl - became 143n:t Railway Construction en - see CMadi!In IWN8y Tf'OOPS, page 19 144th Sn (Winnlpe9 Rillesl22 Dec: 1915; ErVand 5ep!1916; broken up lor 100"0";;enllll~S NaY 1916 1451h (New Brunswick) Bn 22 Dec 1915; England Oct 1916; iollo 9th RoseNe en. 7 Ocl 1916 1461h Sn (Oruanof 22 Dec 1915; England Ocl 1916; ioll0 951n en. 6 Oct 1916 1471h (Greyl Sn 22 Dec 1915; Erogland Nov 1916; Into 8th Aesefve Sn (Central Onlaric:ll. 20 Jan 1917 1481h Bn 22 Dec 1915; Englarld Ocl 1916; iollO 20th Reserve Sn ~l. 8 Jan 1917 149th Sn !Lamblons) (Onlariol 22 oec 1915; EnglMd A{Jf 1917: "uo 251h ReseNe Bn. 18 A{Jf 1917 150th Sn (Carabinieri Mont·Royel) (O.Jebec) 22 Dec 1915; Englancl Oc11916. r. 5th Cdrl ON Feb 1917-Feb 1918: into 100h Ae5etve 3 Mar 1918 15151 (Cenlral Alberta) Sn 22 Dac: 1915; Englaod Oel 1916: 6110 9th arid 1IIhReserv&Bns. 130et 1916 152nd (Weyburn·Estevan) Sn (Sasl<8lchewan) 22 Cue 1915: Englald Oct 1916; iollo 32nd Reserve Bn. 21 Oct 1916 153rd (Wellington) Sn (OnIeriol22 oec 1915; England Oet 1916; r.lO 25th Reserve 7 May 1911 154111 (Stormont-Oundas·Glen9arry) Bn 22 Dec 1915; England Oct 1916; i"rto 6th Reserve (Eastern 0nran0I. 4 ...... 1911. ~J unobm app'(Ml(t but not worn. Ape band: khaki IMaIl: khaki ~ness I\ri;; piped whole. khaki GlerlgatTy \M1h two strll8S .unl ~ Camson tartan p,pe b8gs) 155th (Quinte) Sn 22 DIe 1915; England Oct 1916; 6110 6th ReseM:1 QllEastern OnlMll. 4 Jan 1917

en.

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15:

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156lh !Leeds &. Grenville) Bn {OntarIO! 22 oec 1915; England Oct 1916: broken up tor reirJIorcer'T*1lS I Nov 1916; 19COOS1oluled 27 Dec t916, il5th Cdrl ON In Englaod Feb 1917-F'eb 1918; brokeo ~ tor reir\fact!mI;rllS M¥ 1918 157th Sn !Simcoe Fore5Ier.llQ"llflnOl22 oec 1915: England Oct 1916: 1110 I 16th & !25th 6 Dec 1916 158lh Bn (The Ouke 01 Connaught.. Own) 22 Dec 1915; England NaY 1916; ~ lSI Reserve an (8rIbSh Cc:lUnboaI. 4 JiVI 1917 1S9111 Bn (lSI Algonqulns' 22 Dec 19'5; England NaY 1916: tlto8lh ReseM:l (CenIrIl 0ntarI0I. 2 Jan 1917 l60th IBruce) Sn ~ 22 Dec 1915: fnljBnd Ocl 1916. in 5th Cdrl Ow Feb 1917-Feb 1918; nco 4th ~Bn. 23 Feb 1918 16151 IH".on) Sn ~ 22 DIe lOIS; EngIanct Nov 1916. r1 5th Cdrl Ow Feb 1917-f«l 1918; iI1IO 4th As5eNe Bn. 23 feb 1918 16200 (Parry Sound) Bn (()1IiWioI22 Dec 1915; Englond NaY 1916; nco li8'MaI RIser\Ie b"lS ...... 1917 163«1 Bn (French-Canadian) 22 Dec 1915; Berrruda May 1916; EngIanct NcJYo-Oec 1916; Into 101h~Ql~.4~Jan 1911 164lh (Hallon and Outlerin) en (OnlariOt 22 Dec 19\5; EngIlnl Ap 1917, n 51hCOl 0iY.u. 1911-feb 1918:.-.0 6th RaseNe Bn. 16~ 1916 165lh Bn lAcadiens)lNIW ~ 22 DIe t915; &1gIood Ap 1917: ftO 13th ReserveBn. 1" ~ 1911 166111 en (Oueen'$ Own Rifle. 01 Canada) 22 Dec 1915; fnljBnd Oct 1916: inIo 12lh RaseNe en lCer'*1l 0'ltar0I. 4 Jan 1917 167111 ICarutdlen·FI'1Int;'aisl Sn 22 DIe 1915; EngIlnl DIe 1916: tB;;aone 0uiIbec Reo\.IIrog DepoI. 15 Jan 1917. pn;Mding 'OIlbCOiOlerllS many to 22nd en 168th Bn (Oxfords) P-.oJ 22 Dec 1915; England NaY 1916: J1lO li8'MaI ReseMI b"lS kwn DIe 1916. If'\oe bind' HlRng SIewiwI liIr\a'l: l*.e ~ 169lh an (109lh Regtj 15 ~ 1916; England Oct 1916; Into 5th Reserve fCentraI 0run0I......... 1911 170111 an (Misaluauoa Horse) (Ont.,q 15.,uy 1916; England Oct 1916; no 169th en. 8 DIe 1916

er..

en

en

17151 Sn (Ou6be<: Rilles) 15 ,),Jly 1916: England NaY 1916; no 20lh Reserwan~).8Jan1916

172nd Sn (Rocky Mountain Rangers) 15.,uy 1916: England Oct 1916; 6110 241h ReserYe en (Brit19tl CoUTbal. 1 Jan 1917 173rd an (Canadian Highlanders) 15 JtJt 1916: England NaY 1916; inlo 2nd Res8Ne Bn [Call/a! OnlN. 20 Jan 1917. lAr9Jf &. Su\ter1ald l¥Ian; khaki Bamoral PIpe band: bUl G8'ogany v,Uh bIackcock'slealhers) 1741h Bn (Cameron Highlanders 01 Canada) (Milllll00a. saskatchewan} IS July 1916; England May 1917; inlO 141h Reser\Ie 80,7 May 1911. (Can18fOl1 or Ernlchl twllln. PIpe I>;nj: blueGleogatry wilh long black lealher) 1751h (MedIcine Hal) Bn 15 July 1916; England Oct 1916: rllo2151 Resetve Bo (Alberto}. 20 Jan 1917 1761h Bn (Niagara Rangers) (Onla.oo) 15 JiJy 1916; England May 1917; Inlo 121110 Reserve en, 9 MaV 1917 1771h Bn {Simcoe Foresler.) (Onlano) 15 July 1916; England May 19,7; ill0 3rd Reserve 14 May 1917 1761h (Canadlen.Franqels) Bn «)u6becIIS July 1916; England Mar 1917: Inlo 10th ReseMJ 19 Mar 1917 179lh Bn (Cameron Highlanders 01 Canada) 15 July 1916; England Dcl 1916; Into 14th Re$er'IIe BrI (ManItoblll. 4_10 Jan 1917. (Cameron 01 Ernlchl ta<1an: khaki BI*noral. Pipe band: blue Gleng;rry w"l1 red &

en.

--

en,

lllOth Sn (Sporllllltln) tontanol15 July 1916; England NaY 1916: lnIo 3n:t Reserve Ql fCenlnll OntMoj. 4-6 Jan 1911 181s1 (Brandon) an ~ 15Jd.f 1916; England Ap 1917; J1Io 16th ReseNe BrI. 30 Apr 1917 182nd IOnlario) 8n IS.,uy 1916: EngI;'Jnd May 1911; f'IIO 3rd ResBrva Bn. 11 May 1917 163rd Bn (Maniloba Beavenl 15.,uy 1915; England Oct 1915; broI<8'I up lor .etlbce".lIS 1 NaY 1916

17

Canadian units 1914 -19 (continued) 184th Bn IManlloba) 15 July 1916; England Nov 1916; Into 11th Reserve 12 Nov 1916 185th Canadian Infantry Bn (Cape Breton Highlanders) (Nova SColia) 22 Dec 1915; England OCt 1916, In 51h Cdn Dill Feb 1917-Feb 1918; Into 171h Reserve FetrMilr 1918, (PIpe band: Atgyn Su1herland tartan; blue Glengarry Wllh two brown cock's feathers and green central feather) 186th (Kent) Bn (Ontana) 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917, nto 4th Reserve 19 Apr 1917 187th (Central Alberta) Bn 15 July 1916; England Dec 1916: inlo 21st Reserve Bn (Alberta), Jan-Feb 1917 188th (Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916: England OCt 1916; IOtO 15th Reserve Bn (Saskatchewan), 20 Jan 1917 189th (Canadien-Fram;:ais) Bn (Ouebec) 15 July 1916; England OCt 1916: Into 69th Bn, 6 OCt 1916 190th Bn (Winnipeg Rifles) 15 July 1916; England May 1917: into 18th Reserve 8n, 14 May 1917 191st (Soulhern Alberta) Bn 15 July 1916: En91and Apr 1917; Inlo 2\ st Reserve 8n, Apr & June 1917 192nd (Crow's Nest Pass) Bn (Alberta) 15 July 1916: England Nov 1916; inlo 91h Reserve 6n, 16 Nov 1916 193rd Bn (Nova Scotia Highlanders) 15 July 1916; England OCt 1916: into 17th Reserve 6n (Nova Scotia), 23 Jan 1917. (Khaki tartan; khaki Balmorat. Pipe band: Argyll & SUlheriand tartan: blue Glengarry wilh brown turkey feathers with red central feather) 194th Bn (Edmonton Highlanders) 15 July 1916; England NoV 1916; Inlo 91h Reserve (Alberta). 4 Jan 1917. (Pipe band: khaki, later Black Walch tartan: blue Glengarry WIth blackcock's feathers) 195th (City of Regina) Bn 15 July 1916: England Nov 1916: into 32nd Reserve 11 Nov 1916 196th Bn (Western Universities) 15 July 1916: England Nov 1916: nto 19th Reserve 8n (Saskatche 'Ian), 2 Jan 1917 197th Bn (Vikin9s of Canada) (Weslern Canada) 15 July 1916; England Feb 1917; Into 11th R8S8IVe 7 Feb 1917 198th Bn (Canadian Buffs) (Ontano) 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917. in 5th Cdn Div May 1917-Feb 1918; Into 3rd Reserve 8n, 7 Mar 1918 199th Bn Duchess of Connau9ht's Own Irish Canadian Rangers (Quebec) 15 July 1916: England Dec 1916, In 5th Cdn Div Feb 1917-May 1917: into 231d Reserve (Duchess of Connaught's (),yn Irlsh Canadlllfl Rangers), 11 May 1917 200th (WInnipeg) Bn 15 July 1916; England May 1917: InlO 11th R8S8IVe 15 May 1917 201st Bn (Toronto L19htlnfanlryj 15 July 1916; recruited only two cays, absorbed In Canada by 170lh & 198th 8ns, 25 Sep 1916 202nd (Sportman's) Bn (Alberta) 15 July 1916; England Nov 1916, in 5th Cdn Div 13 Feb-27 May 1917, when into 9th Reserve 203rd Bn (WInnipeg Rifles) 15 July 1916; England Nov 1916: Into 181h Reserve Bn (Manitoba), 12 Jan 1917 204th Bn {Beavers) (Ontario) 16 July 1916: England Apr 1917: into 2nd Reserve 8 Apr 1917 205th (Hamltton) Bn 15 July 1915; Into Cdn MG Depot in Canada, 20 Dec 1916 206th (Canadien-FranCiais) Bn (Ouebec) 15 July 1916: sent two drafls to reinforce 163rd In Bermuda, July and Aug 1916; remaining personnel into 167th 8n. 17 Aug 1916 207th (Ot1awa-Carleton) Bn 15 July 1916: England June 1917: Into 71h Reserve Bn, 14 June 1917 208th Bn (Canadian Irish)(Ontario) 15 July 1916: England May 1917, in 5th Cdn Div; "to 2nd & 8th Reserve 80s, Feb 1918 209th (Swift Current) Bn (Saskatchewan) 15 July 1916; England Nov 1916: into 9th Reserve (Alberta), 4 Jan 1917 210th Bn (Frontlersmen, Western Canada) 15 July 1916: En91and Apr 1917; into 19th Reserve 6-10 May 1917

an,

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an,

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an.

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an,

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an,

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211lh Bn (American Legion) 15 July 1916; recruited mainly from US citizens In Brrtlsh Columbia & Alberta; England Dec 1916; into 26th Reserve (Nova Scotia), Jan-Feb 1917 212th Bn (American Legion) 15 July 1916; recrwted mBlnly from US CItizens ,n Manitoba & Saskalchewan; Into 97th in Canada, Jan-Feb 1917 213th Bn (American Legion) 15 July 1916; recruited mainly from US citizens in Ontario, Ouebec & the MaritIme Provinces: part to England, Sept 1916. as relfllorcements: reorganIZed as Draft Giving Depot Bo, 7 Nov 1916 214th (Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916: England Apr 1917: into 15th Reserve Bn, 10 May 1917 215th Bn (2nd Overseas Bn of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles) (Ontario) 15 July 1916: England May ,g,7; into 2nd Reserve Bo, 10 May 1917 216th Overseas Bn (Bantams) 15 July 19t6: England Apr 1917: Into 3rd Reserve Bn, 6 & 14 May 1917 217th (Qu'Appelle) Bn 15 July 1916: England 29 Sep 1916; Into 19111 Reserve Bn, 10 June 1917 218th (Edmonton) Bn 15 July 1915; England & France 1916; Into 8th Cdn Railway Construction 8n, 15 June 19'7 219th Hi9hland Bn (Nova Scotia) 15 July 1916: England OCt 1916; inlo 17th Reserve 8n (Nova Scotia), 23 Jan 1917. (Khaki 1artan; khaki Balmoral. Pipe band: Argyll & Sutherland tartan; blue Glengarry \'lJlh brown lurney flealhers Wllh red cenlral fealher, 8rass band: blue Glengarry With white & red dicing) 220th Bn (12th Regt York Rangers) (Onlario) 15 July 1916; England May 1917; into 3rd Reserve Bn, 7 May 1917 221st Bn (ManitOba) 15 July 1916: England Apr 1917: nto 11th Reserve 30 Apr 1917 222nd Bn 15 JUly 1916: England Nov 1916: Into 19th Reserve Bn (Saskatchewan), 2 Jan 1917 223rd Bn (Canadian Scandinavians) (Western Canada) 15 JUly 1916; England May 1917; into 11th Reserve Bn, 15 May 1917 224th Bn (Ottawa) 15 July 1916: England 1917; Into Cdn Foresuy Corps, Mar 1917. (Pipe band: MacDou9alltartan; blue Glengarry wilh blackcock's feathers) 225th (Kootenay) Bn (British Columbia) 15 July 1916; England Feb 1917: into 16th Reserve 7 Feb 1917 226th Bn (Men of the North) 15 July 1916: England Dec 1916; Inlo 14th Reserve Bn (Manitoba), 4-10 Jan 191 7 227th (Sudbury-Manitoulin-AI90ma) Bn (Men 0' the North) (Onlat'O) 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917; inlo 8th Reserve 22 Apr 1917 228th Bn (Northern Fusiliers) (Ontario) t5 July 1916: En91and & France 1917; into 6th 8n. Cdn Railway Troops 15 June 1917, (Pipe band: Davidson tartan; blue Glengarry) 229th (South Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917; into 191h Reserve Bn, 10 May 1917 230th Bn (Voiligeurs Canadiens-FranCiais) (Quebec) 15 July 1916: England Mar 1917: Into Cdn Forestry Corps Mar 1917 231 st Bn (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) (8ritish Columbia) 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917: inlo 24th Res8fVe 8n. Apr-May 1917. (Pipe band: MacKenzie tartan; khaki Balmoral) 232nd (Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916; England Apr & June 1917; into 15th Reserve 80, Apr-June 1917 233rd Bn (Canadiens-FranCiais du Nord-Ouest) (Western Canada) 15 JUly 1916; inlo 178lh in Canada, 3 Mar 1917 234th (Peel) Bn (Ontario) 15 July t916; England Apr 1917; into 12th Reserve 1 May 1917 235th Bn (Ontario) 15 July 1916; England May 1917; into 3rd Reserve Bn, 14 May 1917 236th Bn (New Brunswick Kitties) 15 July 1916; redesignated (Maclean H hlanders) 15 OCt 1917; England Nov 1917; into 20th Reserve 13 Mar 1918. (Red Dress MacLean tartan: khaki BalmoraJ

an

an

an,

an,

an,

an

an,

an,

I,

18

v.olh blaCk feathefs 1lPP8d vAle. Pipe bMd: blJe Gleogany with

1;lIaCkcOCk's feathlnl 2371h Sn (American Legion) 15 JuIv 1916: recruled rnadt from US 0Ul_ 11 0ulMlec. New 8n.nswIc:ll. NlM1 Scollll & Pmce Edward IIIiIOO:Jnlo911h&'l, t8Sep1 19,6 238th Bn (O..IIlbecI 15 JuIv 1916: FtMCe. inlo CO'! ForesW Corps,

17.li'119T7 239th Dn lNoYa ~ 15 JuIv 1916; EngIaocl1917; inIO 3rd RaiM'iIY Troops, 15 Ju'lll 1917

;

240lh Bn IlJn4
,

Mav

en. Q:rI

ErVIJnd May '917; no 71tl Ae5eMI

1917

241st Bn ICanadian Scolli,h Borderersl fC)ntarJot 15 ~ 1916: E1>gIInj May 1911; Into 5lh Reslwve en. 9 May 1911. (J(haki Ia1afl; tuc cicecl Gleng;wly. F'ic:Jln: MacGreggr tar1
-'-

243rd 81'1 ~ 15.lAy 1916;

EJlIIBr'd ..... 1917; InlO 151tl

FlBIro'e Bn. to.uw 1917 2441h (Kitehe...... Own) p..l6bIq 15 JuIv 1916: England ~ 1917: irtO 23rd ~ 8'l. 28 A4:Jr '917 2451h On (Canadian Grenadier Guards) ~ 15 JuIv 1916; EngllInd May 1917: 23rd Reser.'8 &I. 25 May 19,7

en

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246ltllnlantry Bn I1'bwI SalCIltl14 JuIv 1916; E'ngBld""" 1917: 1f*l17lh Reser.oe en & 185lh en. 10-12 Ju'lll 1917. ~ Ia"tan: IoftIIu Ela/rTll;lra Pipn: blJe !ked GlengarTy WIth bIac:kaId<.'s Iealh!nl 2411h (VIctoria &

Halibur10nl

81'1

tontanol

udeisaeilgtl'l..,.0235ltl &I n Caneda, , •

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1 Mil)' 1917;

1917

248th Bn ~ I May 1911; ~ Ju'lll1911: inI08Ih Aesarw en. 10",,", 1911 249th (Saskatchewan) Bn I May 1917; EI'Igland Mar 1918: nlO 15th Resa'Ye 4 Mar '918 250th (Winnlpegl Sn 1 Miri 1917; irtO 2491h en.., Qwlada, 10 Oct 1917 251$t 8n IGood Fellows' ~ ~ 1 May 1917: EngIandOcl 1917; intO 181h RoseNe en. 18 Ocf 1917 252nd (UndaaYl 8n fOnl8rioll May 1917: England Ju1e 1917;.-.0 6Ih RoseNe 12 Jane 1917 253rd IOueen's UniV1lrsltyl Highland 8n 1 May 1917; recruI1ad ltrougtoul Caoada 1~ tA'WerSlty SIlJ08ntS; England May 1917; Into 5Ih fle8ln'e en. 9 May 1917. ~ bIn:I: Armt & SuIherIand U1nan; BamcraI With f16Y 3 rod l~ rea~ 254lh 8n IOulnle's Own) (Onlarlo) 1 May 1917: EngIandJu1e 1917; i'lto6lhAeser'o'eBn. 10Ju'le 1917 255lh Bn (Queen's Own Rilles 01 Canada) (OnIarlo) I May 1917; England Ju1e 1917: WllO 121h Reserve Bn. 10.,u,e 1917 2S6lh 8n (TOIontol'9'7: EnglMd. 1110 10th BrI. Cdn Aalway Troops. ,5 ....... ,917 2571h 8n (Otll1Wil) 1917: England. lolO 71h en. Cdn Raiway Tloops. 15 .,kr,e 1911 2581h lCanadlen-FraOl;:als) Bn (Clo6bec1 1 May 1917: IIlIO tOth Resarve an. 1 NoY 1917 2591h 8n (Canadian Rilles) lOntllnO & Outlbocjl Nov 1918; served in Sblna, Jao-Mav 1919: ~ada1 V.clona. 1 .,kr,e 1919 260th Dn (Canadian Rilles) \New 6rvnswlck, Nova ScoIIa, F'rBInB PrtMnces & Brill$h CotJmbilIII New 1918: S8Mld III Sitlerill, Jan--May 1919; dernobila
en.

an.

Canadian Machine Gun Corps 15Sep 1914: ~104 bns, 19eoys a'ld MCI00ns WI ~ eI ~ bns WI CIlnadi;Wt COfps. Can.adlan Tank 8ns Formed h FnwQ; 1st en, 1.kAy 1918; 2nd 15 Oct 1918: 3Kl en, 29 NoY 1918 Canadlan Labour lor Constovcllortl Bns 4 bns, Iomled 1916, ffln:e 3 Aandln: lSi 3 4th loIo Engineef$. 2nd allad'e:l 10 ForesIry Corps _ tlalcro'o1,:tId no RailwiIy Tmops, 1917

en.

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2nd Conslructlon Dn AIII$8d III NoYa Sooba lrem 5,).., 1916, ths lirsl and COy Atrical·~I:llltlalkln had whlta oIfioers exeepllor the ehaplarl. ABY w.am A.WhIUI - the Iirlll ~·CanacIan 10 hold an o/IielW'S CQrTYR5:!Iion WI IheClwlildlen ArmecI Forces. Englan:llacloan Pac*: f'laIlway: pO'o'lld ...-y US8U; 6 RatNay Cons!ructlon OOlTlpnes ~ Feb 1917. In:! 14 rurtler8d bns 15 Jl.ne 1917; adciIc:JnBl 5fl8CilIliSl OOl'iP'3'_ bn:Ju!t1I strengltt 10 12.(Q) mer\. alilI nfB'Iy 2.573 miIBs of trad< ard operaIed n'OSl rat.vays of the Brllsh bees .., France. Canadian Pioneer Bns 1111: & 2nd Jom1Id 22 Dec 1915; 3n::I, 4th & 5th, 15.uy 1916. SIIMId France and Ailnclln; i1lo Royal ~ &vr-s. Mar 1916, See aIllo 100th. 123rd & 124th ens. (PIpe b8rd 01 ISI ~ Bn: MaIcklW\le tar\an; khilla ~ Canadian Corps Cyclist an FGrlY*:IIIl FtMCe 12 ~ 1918 fn:m DMsionilI 0JtdisI c.on..-: ea..:ta and d8i,liJtAz«l ~ 1919 e.-tian Forntry Corps k1ilJIIy h 224lh. 23lWt & 242nd absOItled ~ \his COP8 of sI
o.vsoos

ere

ere

.-ern

.-

Ca~ian Army

Medleal CGrf)$ Permarwtt Foroe

fOI9anlzed 2 .uy

grew to 1.35\ n1lKlicsI olices. 1.888 n..- & 12243 IiIIld medics a'td ordIries. SErYed III Englanl1 France. FlintIrs. Greece. 1904~

Em1JI, PaIB5brla. M8«lpotama llIl1q) and f\Jssa C;madi.n Army Veterln.ry Corps Pllr"l!Il.~ Force{organlzed 191~ Ca!\ltd'an Army Oental Corps FormId 15 ~ 1915. grew 10 some 1.500 pel'SOMlIIlIefWlg .., EngIencI, Fnroce. Greac:e and Egypt Can.adlan Army servic. Corps Pe!II1IUlnt Foroe joIganIzed t Doc ~

'9031

Canadian Army Ordn.nce Corps Per~1 Fon::e lorganized 1 .uy

'9031

Canadian Army Pay Corps ~ Force fOrganIzed I Doc 19061 Corps of Mililary $ta" Clerk, PermlInlInt FOIal (otganIzed 1 Sept

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Canadian School 01 Musketry Corps I'8ImarJern Force torQilOizad 15Ap'1914) Corps 01 Guides Inlllligeroe LIflits (orgaIized I Ap' 19(0) Canadian Si9nal Corps Permanenl Force (~ad 24 Oct 1900) Canadian Chaplain Services Grew to 426 ehl\I1lilIflS dumg IhEI W
--

Militia Oralts TflnlXll'Bry unlls attoehllcl to VOk.Iflteer tvWiIia lfttS Ionned J1 Caooda lrom Jl.IflII1917, lOi'loorporllle ewaltssent 0'0'effi8iIS,. U:suatt named afllW tho \IoUlleer Militoa lIflIt ~ was atlaChed 10, e.g. '56th GrerNie Aegrnent (lIsgar Fli/lesJ Qo.oerseas DraIt· Canadian Volunteer Mililla In Canada 36 ClMIIry, 107 ~ and ~ regis 13 tlIOI8lcm'e:1lfo"n SeplI914), 705 CaOeI OOl' ...... lI8S, WIlh \rtlblteer """'a OOl''tlO'l8IU 10 1Wdery, ~,Ql.ideS and sa'W:e corps isled above.

,.

CORPS OPERATIONS To th' hundreds ftholls~nds ofm nov rs as and in the lr nehes. th clivi ive problems al home wer· a world awOl The W 're set on d lealing th ' 'n m ·'tnd. by 1917, th 'an~diments could be chang 'el and rcinf< r d n Lh 'pOl. \ urrie pUl it Iher' \\,a' 'no u. in \ ailing unlil lh 'ne! of the war to make n cessal" hang's', I.

I

LIGen Sir Julian Byng, the British commander of the Canadian Corps from September 1916 to June 1917. In a few months this confident and Innovative general transformed the exhausted Canadian divisions on the Somme into a remarkable assault force; he had an outstanding eye for detail, while keeping a clear grasp of strategic objectives. Caring and approachable, he was well liked by Canadians, and 'Byng of Vlmy' became Governor General of Canada after the war. (Private collection)

I

I

Vimy Ridge

n 9 pril I9 J 7 Easler t\1 nela th anadian orps allack d the pr>\'iou'l' impregnable ;erman po iLi ns 'H \ im Ridge. B I midafL rn ( n the inilial ol~j li\," had I e n Lak n, \\'ith :ollle 4 000 rman prison rs. and its supporting work: II wilhin thre ch's. Thi III >ti ul usl, plann d assault was th I igg st singl ad an III ad n the VI ':l rn Front sillce Ih b>ginning r Ih - \ ar and (h W I rn Front sLandards) with r lali\' I· low asualti,·: 13,500 III n. in luding 2,500 killed. The signili '\11 e uF Vim Ridge for anadians, how v r \\'a far greater Ihan a singl balll Ii lel vi tor'. For th fir L time in anada' hi LOr a large anadian formation had allack d as a nalional unit and had a hi v'd a rou ing viclor '. In Spil all the political and ial di\~ -ions at hom . \ illl had an xU'aordinaq' rr. L on til nati llal p_ ' h: anadians graduall' 111 ve I a",a' frolll .ceing themsel <1' citizens fmlll a s If-gov rning Brili h d minion, ~lnd I. wards a con 'ciousn ,. or J ing proud itizcns f a full' indep 'ndent nation. \ im • Rid' W.l· n w >lcbml d a anada's oming-of-agc as a ountr. n 8.fune M,U n 'Lllul' urn was kni ,hLed on tile balllcneid of \ illl' b I his over ign. ling eorO' \1, and Sll e d d Sir.JlIlian Byng as oml1land r of th .EF. I,

I

I,

I

Passchendaele

1

20

ir Oougla Hai as. i ned th anadian. rp. to til allack at ] 'sch n Itl I n lh Ypr s fr III ver urrie s prote'lalions; h carre II I 'slilllalC 1 the Cenl1<11l c1ercn es lO be v I' I strong. On 26 clOb -rig 17 the '\lndians and Briti h auacked 0 er d -ep Illud in appalling weatl rand, a' pI' Ii led. th op ralion prov d lO be a

bloodbath, The hi h round wa' finally se ured b' 10 NO" 'Ill bel'; LL en Currie Ind pr'dicted that there would be abollt 16 000 asualLie, and til> Ep's but h >1'" bill am' LO 'xactl 15654 kill d, missing and \l'ollnde I. he 'trategic gain II' 'rc minimal.

Arras and the 'Hundred Days' B' U'U'L 1918 part f lh lost ground lIa I b n regain d and '0 had th' initiativ ,G I eral Hai r now planned a l11~or IIrpri allil k on lhe \rras area b' the Brili 'h Third and Fourth Anni s r inf r 'd \\ith th> :anadian orps, ,,\ ell known to the erman' by n w a 'lit· as 'ault lroop', the corps wa' 'hifted to its jUl11pin r-olT po 'ilion' in "crec)'. 'neral urri recall d: 'Th 'Inadian 'orps was In ved down to f 1'111 til' 'P arh ad lha alla k. Th II' op' n lh righl and on Lh I II' r rd r d LO tak th ir lim fro III , an I mak til ir ad m " a ording to til wi Il' f, Ih anadian l'( S.' On 8 Augu't th aniller)' 01 'ned ul ,m r than 00 Bri i 'h tan k ' lumb 'red forward, and the infantr . advanc d: Lh surprise wa' 'omplet , an I th C 'ntnn lin> ollap ed il whaL Lud ndorrr hims If lat r d ril ed as Ih' 'bla k da' )1' th ~ 'rtnan Arm)", POI' LII' first tim 'inee 191 Lh 'truggle b am a war 111 \ cmenL, and the Canadian .orps prov 'C! a I pt at mavin J' f~I't in :1 iL of bcin heavil)' IULnulllbcrcd, The 1 clivi'ion of the Third Ann' all I Lh' :atl'ldian orp' fa 'd 33 rman divi"ions, while Ih> Furth Arlll' s 16 clivi, ion' fa d an th'r ~., ivlor British livi ions II' 're c mlllill d whil Ih' Fr>neh and Am ri ans laull h d alia k t k P th C rmallS upi cl rllrLh I' lllh, Th anadian orp

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n

The Vimy Ridge bombardment, 20 March-9 April 1917; a 4,5in howitzer is shown in this detail from a 1919 painting by Richard Jack. Even in the chilling cold and rain the tiring work of serving guns at high rates of fire made men so hot that many worked In shirtsleeves or stripped to the waist. Success at Vi my owed as much to meticulous preparation as to courage in the infantry assault. Many miles of rail tracks, water pipelines and telephone cables were installed, and tunnels were dug that allowed troops to come forward under cover. For two weeks some 983 guns hammered the ridge, and for the first time thorough observation and the reporting of intelligence allowed the Canadians to locate and knock out some 80 per cent of the German batteries before the assault. (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

or

21

lh n La 'k'c1 b' Haig wilh pier ina Lhe bup Lin, whi h wa
Hind~1

11 N "emb r L [lh om rs] w re l Id lhal II 'lilili would a al I Lam neXl cia', v\c slill reCu _·eI to b 'Ii'v it. Jl ",a LOO go d I b lm, v\ h lei a parad al LI am an t l Id til ompal1}' lh war wa' v r. The b Y' w r aIm l sllInn d, n l a h r. Il was • 111 thina lh I had II' am-d aboul but n vel' exp n d to· . Th 'w r' ing hom. Il wa LOO '0 n to w 1'1" what ",a' l happ n n Xl. Th parade di 'mis ed and il graduall dawned on lhem what il meal l.

1

22

Portrait by Sir William Orpen of LtGen Sir Arthur Currie, commander of the CEF from June 1917 to 1919. Rarely in history has a truly outstanding general come from such an unlikely background. An Ontario farm boy, by 1914 Currie was a businessman and militia officer In Vancouver. His talents blossomed in the field, where he had a meteoric rise to senior command. At first glance, Currie had few of the traditional qualities of a dashing military commander; he was physically heavy, with a rather lugubrious expression and a taciturn manner, but he had an outstanding tactical mind. His talents were widely recognized by senior AlIled commanders; he was knighted on the battlefield of Vlmy by King George V, and succeeded Sir Julian Byng In command of the CEF, which he led to victory and an Incomparable reputation. As seen from this painting, Canadian generals wore exactly the same uniform as their British counterparts though note the fur-collared coat. Currie disliked this portrait, and it was withdrawn from pUblic display in 1923. (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

Th 10lh 'EF mar h d inl o up, li non Lh R.hin. 11 I D lh U' lS r .ologne wilh fixed ba 01 'ul1en and man' m n in lh I' wd cm d ,. for 20)' ar' in lh fUlur.

f LI arm I of mar h llhro p ople S In -d v 1')' an I' '.' JLwac an men 11

I'

I

:::

anadian u'oops I rovided garrisons on lh arrib an i lands of B rmuda and I Lucia; small d La hm nlS f 11O'in rs op nlt'd barge n lh R.iv I' Tigri and EuphraL in Iraq' anadian in 'll'll lor wenL La lh nil d Lal'; a anadian ho piml w, t up in ree to U'ed Galli) Ii casualLi ; and a 'izeable Canadian cOllling III ,a s I1l LO RllS ia. Intervention in Russia Following the Russian Revolulion, Lh parale peac Bol h vik rime, an I th Ulbreak r i,'il war betw V\ hil armi s. in 191 lh Allie d i I d l II' m u'al ic port and lin s of Ol11llluni ali n in uppal' wh )J 1 til I all'lllpl I l uppJ}' and rain. In th umm I' f 191 min nlS frOIll AlIi d armi 0 upi d ~lurl11an 'k and Archangel; anada \las I' qu l d to pro ide in 'Lnt L I' , and a p cial mobil unil of1S fficers an 170 N \I' nLlojoin the BriLish in lurmansk during Lar' S pleml r. The onLing I1l at rchang I h, d no gunner, so n I clobel' h 1 offi I' and 469 m n r lh 16Lh B Ic, anadian Field Anill 1" join d lh 1', ub quenLl}' ing aClion again L 01 hevik ro ps. M anwhil AJIi d f I' \ ladiv Sl k in ib ria inc ~ I' and. from Lober 1 1 . the 259th 8.; 26 th EF Bn - numb ring am 4,000 men \ ith artill... and olher uppOrt uniL - sailed from

I'

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Middle East n th r ll1eau· a war in ",hi h smalJ J umber of Canadians served wa Palestin and 'ria, FoIl wil gar qu t f; r xpen brid --build r., Lll 1st Cdn Bridging , (256 all rank) wa [, rmed fr m eight r Lh allaclial Raihv< Troops battalion Lh n in Fran . Thi 'mall unit ail I fr I Jar' iJI - I 20 S pt ml I' J 91 arri\'in in Pal stin 12 da)' lat r. Dama u Il d fall n n 1 tab I' and iL was n \ vilal t xt nel I
Moving trench stores and supplies up to the front line required such manpower that a battalion 1n every 8EF brigade usually had to be devoted to logistics rather than lighting. In 1916 head straps or 'tump lines', used for load-carrying by Canadian voyage un; and woodsmen for centuries, were tried out (apparently first in the 11th 8de, 4th Cdn Div), and soon spread throughout the Corps. This device was so efficient that one 'tump line company' per brigade was found to be enough; this was apparently an element in the CEF's maintenance of fourbattalion brigades throughout the war. The tump line was made from oiled leather; web or canvas were 'absolutely useless', as they became 'soggy, stringy and wrinkled' when wet. (Canadian Defence Quarterly, October 1928)

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23

weI L LO Lh BriLi:h "lilitar' Mis'i Il in 'ib'ria. No .anadian a'tmlLi s weI' r p r d, p s ibl)' a lIniqu insLan ill '"Illada onu'ibllLi n'L Ih 'r'aL War, The Newfoundland contribution

Men of the Newfoundland Regt in a trench at Suvla Bay, Galllpoll, during autumn 1915. Arriving In Britain In October 1914, the regiment was trained and, in August 1915, sent out to the Mediterranean. Before embarkation they were Issued the standard British khaki tropical uniform with the Wolseley helmet, the Jacket shoulder straps bearing their brass 'NFLD' title. After a stop In Egypt the Newfoundlanders Joined the British 29th Div on the Gallipoll peninsula in September. The regiment suffered its first casualties while manning the trenches there until Its evacuation on 16-17 December. (Private collection)

On I Jul' a h 'al" anadians 'lebraL Canada Oa, Lip IHILion'l1 h lichl)'. How','er sine 1919, when th Brilish 01 n I or Newroundland I eeame anada's t nth provin ,Lhe 111 rning '-lcbraLions are iniLiall 1 \~cr solellln, with r mcmbrance er monies at the wal' memori"ls in tJohn's and Ollawa: inc 1916, l.lul l ha' b 'n a da)' I' mourning in Newr undhnd, L abOUL 9. I'-am on lh morning or lhat da th Newloundlancl R gim nl 'wenl over the bag' in rrolll or B 'aumonl Ham -I in lh·· olllme vall ,; n Lhi fil"l cia' I' Lh' Hi nsiv th unil was s ning with LII Bd' or the Brilish 29th Oiv, in Vlll :orp, or Third Ann', AI lh~ appointed lime, 801 ollie'r 'mel men left their u'en h '" 'mcl advan dover ll1 r alllrele's halk' gra s[;ll1c1 l ward til' nnan-(orLifie \ village. I'll alia k lasled abouL an hour; an \ at roll all lh rollowing clay, ju l 6 III n of the ballalion an w re \ lO their nam " w~ undlan \' r 'pon' II Britain's all t arm' ha I been nthusia ti . Nead' 12,000 nli'le I in th' N wfoun lIan I R gl, lhe ,,"0 fal j aval Res r e an I the 'wfoundlancl' I' Str I 01'1 s: thi ' figure represenLeci nead' 10 per cenl or the wlal mal populalion or more lhan 35 p r en f f lin III n b lW n th· a (;' I' I9 and 35, In 'Lob r IYll· Lhe N wfoundlan I Regl'. 'Fit"t Five Hundr d' lancl din Brilail . In. ugllsl19b LI e ballali n was i 1I cI with u' pieallinirorm , and cI ployc I with lh· Brili h 29Lh Div 'II ~lIvla Ba Gallipoli, where iL 'ervecl from 0 LOber lO De mber. It wa Lhen senl with it, clivi 'ion to the '''est rn Front and, a' r hued abov', was nead)' wiped out 011 Lh First Da f of th Somme. In spite of Lhis disaster the regimenl wa c'-raised, granted the 'Ro ai' Litle in recognilion of ils aliI tanding sa rilice and eOl1li nued lO erve on lh \\ [rn Fr n l unli I 1h nd of lh war, b 'ing atlachecllo the 9th ( 'c lti h) Oiv rrom ept Illber 1918. orne 1,964 Newfoundland I'sj in Ilhe Royal Naval R serv ; ani}' s amen all I fi h 1'In 'n wer ligibl, Th 'w r' 'all'r I throughollt Lh Ro al 1.1\', and I lost th il' live' in Lll ourse or th war, Til 500·slr ng N \ lounclland For str)' orps wa' raised in 1917 and' rved in cOLland, >

I

a

UNIFORMS, ARMS & EQUIPMENT lllte b ~inlling ol'lh 20th nLur anadi.. n r ular and militia unil w r issued alamrlll s ad l, dark blu or I'in -gr en unifi rms, ince I 63 the ba'i kil i Sll d to anadian volume r had in luded a Farag I

24

(mll/;Ulln/lill

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·ia. 1: Private, 96th Lake Superior Regt, c.191Q-14 2: Corporal, 15th Light Horse Regt, c.1908-12 3: Officer, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (Vancouver). c.191Q-14

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1: Private at summer camp, undress, 1913-14 2: Officer, Corps of Guides, full dress, c.191o-14 3: Officer, 38th DUfferln Rifles of Canada, 1912-13

B

1: Inlantry private, CEF, autumn 1914 2: Inlantry private, CEF; England, winter 1914-15 3: Piper, 13th CEF Bn (Royal Highlanders of Canada), 1914-15

2

3

c

2

3

1: Warrant Officer, 8th CEF Bn, 1915-16 2: Private, 14th CEF Bn, 1915 3: Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery, 1914-15

D

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2

1: Sniper, Canadian Corps, 1916-18 2: Pte, 43rd CEF Bn (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), 1917-18 3: Pte, 22nd CEF Bn (Canadien-Fran
E

1: Officer, 1st Bn Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 1916-18 2: Pte, 31st Coy, Canadian Forestry Corps. 1917-18 3: Sergeant major, Canadian Light Horse, 1916-18

2

3

F

1: lieutenant-colonel, CAMC, 1917 2 & 3: CAMC nursing sisters, 1914-19

3

2

G

1: Pilot, Royal Flying Corps, 1917-18 2: Seaman, Royal Canadian Navy, 1914-18 3: Lieutenant, RNCVR, 1914-18

3

H

cap, a tllni

or 'frock' and Lrollsers, ,am Lim, with addiLi nal items, raised funds t illlprov the basic i.-slIe \I'lh, u'lnll '. 1'1111 eire. itelll. ,lIch a ht:ll1le~' or bll bie for parad " In cili's lhe lI'eallhi r \olunLecr Militia rc rimcnls would Ofl n nlis~' 'ubsl'ulLial ('und, t il11prO\ Lheir eire, S; in rllral ar a til illlpro\'elll nl \l'ere lIsuali ' reslJ'i 'I d 10 'I few field onic 'I" acquiring full dr . s uniforms, Th O'OVCrI1l11Clll'S traditional polic' was to 'pend as IitLl' as possible on dd~ nce while ke 'ping lip a basi lI1ilitar [urce, The lea t 'xpcn'ive \l'Cl' LO clo Lhi lI'a' LO k ep the L n' of Lhousand, of "ulllnl r l' S rvi t COIH nL WiLh basic 'drill pa " and aLlracliv uniforms, A d 'bale over having c10Lh dre S llmi s in'Lead of." drill frock had b 'n ' ltl d in !{ 96, ancr a fa 'hi >n b' Lh ' i sue or 'erge frock. Thes \lpr' Illad ' more :ILLraclivc b' reLaining th' arm of s 'n'ice's ba ic 010111', Lrimm d wiLh heings and pipin r. Thus, the infantr' ' '1'1"' frock was sCilrl'L wiLh dark blu collar, cuI"!' and 'houldcr slrap', pip 'd aL the bOLlom of th ' collar, Ihe shoulder sLraps and lhe 'ulI~ with whil . the latter II' l' linish 'c1l1'ilh a 'CI"OII". fU01' lr foil knoL. a f alllr~' uf :anadian infal1lr' uniforms 'ince 1 'd7fl-77. .unners had a dark blue fro 'k wiLh sedrl I fa ings .mel y 11011' piping; Rill,s had rine-gn: 'n Irimm 'ct wilh scal'I t; cavalr had s arl lOl' dark bILl(" frocks lrilllm dll'ilh regitllenral racing"' d·p ncling on Ih ir titles as dragouns, hussar" t, ince the earl' 1900' ba'i headdress wa,' a clark bill' p ak'd ap, Regim>ntal baclg" worn ol1lh h'addr s' andja k'l ollar, wcr' iner asingl' adopt d, hesc lIniforms would b is. ned La la, I for a p riod of abonl liv y ars, ,0 it LOok r ars bef."or an r 1l1,~j()r hang's in regulalion, b· am' aplYlrenl. Individualunit~ai'

I

The debate over khaki Following the Boer \<\ar. khaki lathing b· ame III' I' gulaLiol liell dres' in the BriLi hArm', This dc\' 'Iopm III was considcr'd by tl c authoriLie' in tlawa and, in pril-i\ola' 1903 il \\'a approved in principle 1'01' .anadian regulars and militiamen. The small regular force lhus rc eiv'eI a distin L anadian-pauern khaki 'Iothing i, sue in arl} as Januar' 1905 th '(I/we/inn Milil(//)' Caulle ditorializ d that 'LIl '
Two Canadian soldiers in August 1917. Vlmy Ridge area. This Informal pIcture shows the Canadian pattern khaki shirt with collar, the high-waisted trousers (with khaki suspenders on the left, and belt at the right), and one man (right) wearing high laced field boots, They are posIng with medieval-looking German caltrop planks found in trench stores before they could be installed. (Photo in Panorama de /a guerra .... 1917)

33

£11'0 pI' fl:IT d to wcar s ad'l ur lark blue ' rgc ja k I', orten wilh l tson hal . whi h <1\" them a d'i 'hing look (. e Plat r\2), Th 'IT was. nl:\'cnhele.s. a slow realiZtllion Ihm lh adoption of khaki \Va' inevilable, and thal for rllral ullits in particular il would be the onl uniform i Sill', fel\' unilS xp rimenlcd with making khaki unil' rill lIlore allractivc b 1 adding !~Icing., I ul l.1t 'se weI' . d Ill'd to be sh rtliv d (' c Plat' BS). \ landmark d i ion wa' mad in .!anu.lr)' 1913 f, I' all vohml 'I" t rc 'eivc khaki "Ickeu, trousers and peak cI cap t lasl fiv "~I; in addition, cit· uniLS wOllld ha\'c colourful cloth luni '. I rous '1" and p ak >d ap' t lasl nin ~·ears. The. e is, ues would ,'Lart once lhepr's'lllc!olhin had\ Ortlollt-lhus,in 1914"om militiaunilsdicl nOI 'et have khaki uniforms. \ ith this order came 'm iS'lIc of ervi 'Iothing - shirts. 'trllw Itals, l. - r r llSC at the sUl'l1m r lraining amps, Two privates of the 195th CEF Bn (City of Regina), 1916, provide a good Image of the Canadian pattern seven-button khaki Jacket Issued throughout the war to CEF units raised in Canada. The 195th was organized In Regina, Saskatchewan, from mid-July 1916, but was absorbed Into the 32nd Reserve Bn Immediately It arrived In Liverpool, England on 11 November 1916. (Library and Archives Canada, C 43258)

34

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for the ficld anill r '. liar badge' '011 'isled or thc I (leI' .. f I' below). m jack Ls I ere no I ng I' made with poillt cI Cliffs; oth r assllm I a slandand-f n wane.' Th uniforms weI' so n W I'n in ani n: in F'brllary \ndr w n t d lhat h an I hi. omrad' 'were kicked out of on rSlallral1lb ur loth 'SIll II dofth gaswehadbeenlhrolhHl d '. ur butt n' w I' all eli oloured b' gas and it took a lot of w rk gelling them I aned again (ga' llIrned I rass a green oloul', Coloured distinctions n item thai did n t quile vani h during 191- wa th h ul I I' 'u't\1 ,Men f th fir't ana lian n ingent in ran on We rin il; lhi' qu slion w ntllp to til high 5t
A Royal Canadian Artillery warrant officer (left) wilh an officer of a CEF Scottish battalion, c.191S. The WO wears an officer's open-collar jackel wilh shirt and necktie, a fashion assumed by some of lhis rank early In the war; lhe pholo suggesls that this seldom-seen garment was not as well tailored as the officer's jacket. The Canadian military authorities disapproved of this fashion, and by 1916 all WOs were wearing lhe older officer-style jacket buttoning to the neck (see Plate D1). From his badges, the officer at right probably belongs to the 13th CEF Bn (Royal Highlanders of Canada). (Private collection)

Idiet" p di nning ertain function, n th' \\e,l I'll Front w re a vari A[' f armbands or bras 'ard . F I' in lance, lin >-of- Inmunicalions pel"onn J had L.of .. in black n a red armband; ignal- had armbands hal v d bluA-abO\' '-whil ; mililar 'poli had' lP' in I' d on black, and str Ich 'rob 'areI" "B' in black III whil, om platoon 'P ialisls ill lh I 'I an I pos ibl ' Lhe 2nd and 4th ,dn Di\" used disLin uishing armband instead of 'houlder Lrap: inJanuaq' 1917, Pl David tvl L an of the 15th :EFll1entionedb'ing'inLh'grcllad ' ti n,lhalisbombswe us , 'v\ e w ''II' gr n band' ar und our arl11. , laff officer wore lh usual Brili 'h-'t '1 ri III arm bra' ard' in 'lppropriaL' colour-, 50111'LII11 ' WiLh a mall J af d vice: red/\ hile/I" d for Lh 'C rps 1-1 all red for a divisional Hand blue for (I brigad 11Q. Unit and formation patches From 1914 Princ :s PaLri 'ia's :ana lian LighLlnlilntr 'wore ,ll U1C t P of a h 51 val' d clOLh ar wllh the whiL Liue •P,P,c.L. I. ,

Pte T.W,Holmes, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Regt, photographed in January 1918, Note the crimson ribbon for the Victoria Cross, which this 19-year-old soldier earned lor outstanding heroism at Passchendaele on 26 October 1911; since January 1916 his regiment had been absorbed Into the CMR battalions of 8th Bde, serving as Inlantry In the 3rd Division. The stand-and-fali collar of the Canadian-pattern seven-button jacket is made nearly 'standing' by two hooksand-eyes, and note the rifle pads on both shoulders features often seen in photos of Canadian Corps soldiers. The 3rd CMR Bn battle badges can just be seen on his upper sleeve: the triangle of the third battalion of a brigade, in the red of the second brigade 01 a division, here worn above the 'French grey' (light blue-grey) rectangle of 3rd Cdn Div Initially the latter had been black, but was changed for better visibility. The 4th CMR Regt had a distinctive moosehead badge, retained here on the cap and eoliars. (Library and Archives Canada, PA 2352)

36

in addili n l lh' bra s naLi nat LitJ, on Ih shoulder su'aps, B' plel11lpr 191 the n 'd l i lemi!)' di\1si n', bligadc and uniL~ in the BEF 'It a glanc AWOl' I ading to lh unl' guJaL cl adol Lion of m Triad differenl 'baILie badg in th fot'111 of coloured Imh shapes on lh III p'r Ie ves and Is wh re on th khaki ja k l. In Lhal monLh UIC Eft inLroduced a unili d sy l III of hould 1'1 alch· in '1 \'(tri t)' (r shape' and c I ur. The \'\ ar Oiar' r h 24Lh ,'F r or Is Lhat, on 9 pl Illb r iLS 'disljn rui-hing mark of blu I" Clangl 'quar ['i] urlll LlIlt I \lilh I' d "mi-eir I \\' I' 5'W Ion ea h (ja k (' ] sh ult I' I' the men' ( R 9, m03, ~)3~), Th AS' 'lem for infanu' , ballt liol1' is cI s .-ib d in II aplion La th ilh.lsu·aLion on pa re 4 (and s> Plat '2 . , ), Headgear

h Igor; "lI1acliall-pallern khaki field s rvic 'ap, with il' rigid I liflen del' wn, ga\' a dislinCllo k lO EF III n in 1914-15; whil lhi I oked 'man, il wa rather un 'OI11[onabJ in lh ll' n hand lhe men I' n LOok OuL Lhe wir- Liffen r LO make th ap III I' plial I , 1-1 adqlnners frowned lIpon lhis throu h ulth war ahhou h, as ady a 1915, Illan' C' , units were al 0 weal-ing lhe British-p'HLern cap wilh it sofl visor and unstiffi ned crown, nOlher Brili 'h head T ar popular in Lh E','p iall' in 1915-16, wa lh . fL 'G r' Blim Lr n I cap wiLh i side naps a la hing vel'lh r wn, InaI'l 1916 III BI"i i'h Mk ) Sl I helmeL \\'<1 gradually i ued in the BEF in I ICling lh . F units, and wa - paim d a mall khaki I ur. In Lhe anaelian rp, 'P iall' in J9], me unit alo painl d tJ, ir unil pal he' or l'n ill dlh unil badg' n h 1m LS; h w ver, Illan f lhe surviving example' were probabl 'a Ieled aft r II November 1918, t

t

Protective clothing

'or wint 1', tlnadian' w r initially i u d Wilh a khaki gr al oaL life rin{J' from Lhe BriLi -h palten in havin v n fr III bUll n ralh I' lhan liv . In anada, wh r lh wim r old i' m re ver blll·~1. llluch ell' er \\inl I' fur cap an I s melim III ccasin and now h . wcr i' 1I cl, bUl non of these were suilabl in Ellrop , In February 1915 lhe anaclian Oi\ 'sion was also is 'u 'd wilh goatskin jackels linger!

wooll n milLS an I mllm rs. . Ihe war w 1ll on. Brili h gr 'll ' j ' I ccam vel')' common a did Ul brown I alher leeveles j - rkin, and khaki wool Baiachwa helm-I. anadian boOl. al 0 f rav dun. uilabl I' l' C ndilion' in Europe 'md Briti h I' pia III illS w l' i', u 'c1 frolll lh clld IJanuary 19 \.). In the mudd, tr n h sa vad t. rwat I"J I' r d l' rubber bo t' w re wom I ' ana Ibn trO ps' 01 p pulaI'I 'p was lh 'Larrigan' b l, r 'achin high up lh calf and la ing in 1'1' nl. \n Ih 'r p puILlr item menlione I by Pl David McLean f' lh 15th ." in 1 ov mb'r IY16 was 'hip rlll bel'l OOLS wh n in th tr n h .. so w an kc'p rair!' dry - i.. trench wader. a. ofien i sued in th BrilL h \nn)'. Highland uniforms Til dr ss of' ,anadian Highlan I r. g n rail, I' 1I0w d lhaL of' BritLI Highland I' , with kilt, 'P rran, h ,and th' lengarr. an 1/or lh Balllloral (l'lIn-o'shant r) a h "Iddre. S' all of Ihes il Ill' W r di ·tin ti\'e to a h Highland EF I allali n ( abl 2). In 191':1 th khaki jacket was lI,uaIly of th lIt-awa' d III I l t rle a. worn by B.'itish Highland rs: whil this r maincd Ul usual dre:s through til th war Ih high r-numbel"d El' ballali n might also I s n wearing lh g n ral is. lie Cana liall or Brili 'hjack lS. g'~in lik Briti h Highland rs, III khaki kill apron, with III in gral I k 'l whi h LU k the pia f the sl nan, w'~ als i' 'lied f I' \ ar in lh tr n h s or for faligu c1l1li·. Earl' in lhe war h sllppl' of tartan 10lh for kill bccalll o' il probl m. om I' lh ell initially h en I' r EF ballalions did not xi l in th Bri ish Arm's uppl' s'sl m and w 1"('; qui kl' 'hang d. t\ -illlplill d khaki tartan wa al 0 d'vi d an I Clme imo weal' in 'om unils during 1915; this Ind a khaki gr und wilh a 'impl \ indowl ane eh qIl ring of verti al and horizonlal sUipe made up ofnarrm I' d/gr nldark bIll lin .. B' April 1917, khaki ( I' 'drab') kill w I' i ued to all Highlander in I' erv units in England lh s bing . I an red for tartan b men \Vh were' m l a f'rom lin Highlal d unil as r infor J enLS, B then th di tin l Highland dr .. was' n a. 1 th stl' and traubl som , and the 'lIppll S'I"\ ices demanded thal all CEF Highlander - be i, "lled u'ous -rs. Appareml)' th. were an va flCI \ orn in I ad f' kilts in Ih trench s; Pl" I L an flh 15lhCEFm mi n dinD I1lb r UlG that 'we have III panls just now bUl th I' i' alwa I m of til' ol'fi I' waring th kill'. h . bureallcrat eventuall, g t th ir wa " and b' Novemb r 1917 anI I trOllS r were i'sued to reinforcem nl drafl. 'ear later kilt, weI' 11 I ng I' is II d, bUl n al'l all anadial Highlander still po s d a kiltlo w ar when th nni. li am.

Lt A.H.Finlay, 16th CEF Bn (Canadian Scottish), c.1915, wearing his battalion's dress uniform. Note the dark blue Glengarry with a band of red and white diclngj the 'doublet' cut of the Jacket, Including the cuffs with their distinctive arrangement of the officer's cuff rankingj and the Mackenzie tartan breeches wo,," by officers of this unit. (Library and Archives Canada, PA 7187)

3~

Rank distinctions

fo.l SI ,OS wore th sam uniform and quipmclll ~lSjllnior rank, with the appr I ria e rank h \ ns n both upper. 1 v s. Warral1l r had a .ia k t of the ame cut as th ommission 'd alIi er 'jacket worn between 1904 and 1912, bllttoningLO th throat. Th )' a1' II' re brm n leath r am mmi si n d Br wne bel like meers rather than th oldi r's w bbing equil III nl. Rank badg for anadian I : s and warrant in the officer \ ere the same Briti hArm '. rs fall w d British ell' s regulau ns quit, clo cl '. Th 01' n jn k t e liar xposing a light khaki shirl nnel ti' was approved for anadian rIi 1" in Februal" 1913. The 111(~or eli[li I'en betw n anadian and Bl'iti'h offi ·1" at the beginning f the war la' in the pia em 'Ill of rank badge; man' anaelian ffi 1" initid n Lh uffs; phOLOS sh II' tint 'ollle am el' to k their time to ,dopt thi., whi! olh 1" W I' bOlh III tal sho tid r strap and \ ov n uffbadg', rei rs of (temb 1'1916 onlil'm eI Ihatthe rank badg II' I' 10 b worn all the cuff:, Phot 'how oni rs WiLli addiLi nal baclg 'on th ir divisic Ilal sic ve pat hes, .g. a g lei 'IT' within' 'in 2nd In Oiv, alld a gold maple leaf ill 4th Oivi ion. IL 'hould I [tell II' re privates' ja k ts and m nli n d thaI orTi er quit quipm Ilt in th Lr nch to av id the all ntion I' erman nip rs,

me

Painting by Eric Kennington showing a squad of the 16th CEF Bn (Canadian Scot1lshl In November 1918. The men are shown without helmets or kilt aprons; they wear khaki Balmorals, cut-away jackets, Mackenzie tartan kilts, red garter flashes on their hose, and have web equipment and SMlE rifles and bayonets. The soldiers shown are actually portraits of surviving and fallen members of the unit. The ranks of Canadian Scot1lsh units were not exclusively filled with Scots; many French-Canadians are recorded wearing the kilt and, at the centre of this painting, we see an African-Canadian. Note that he lacks shoulder titles, apparently wears pistol equipment, and carries a small rolled flag Instead of a rifle. (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

38

Personal equipments

Fr n 190 I. anadian 1'001' liS I th quil m nt, a fairl ' mpli at I t brown I ather' it uld 1 conCi lIr d in various wa)", but its mo t ve nLra I pouch. J'v1eanwhil Britain wa dj 'unctive feature was alar ad I tin)' 1I 0 web quipm nl and, in 1913, anada order eI and iv'c1 5000 trial set f thi . Excel I for IIv 1)':1 talions, the troops in
uniLS in .anada and l lh 4lh .dn Oiv when il for Fran thal. ugUSl. Th i \' or,i 11 had a 11 w canvas hav I"a k, and lWO I 'alh I' p u he' of 75 I' uncI. capa il'; III I"a Lcning su'al arran emenl mad th I ok a' if Lh • \\'cr up ide down (, PIal' '2). h 4th Oiv did nOl wear this 1916 liver cquipmen for long and il was replaced in carly lOber l.ll (j wilh British 0 II' bl ing b' dir ord r of . n Haig. lher unil followed uil: on 26 O\'emb'r 1910, shortly b fi re the baualion was I roken up for r inforcem'lll, Pl alllu'l G.Ban r f lh' 1·1 Ih .EF in England nOt d lhal w turn d in Ollr I alh I' li\er quipm nl and gOl \t\eb eqllipmenl today'. \\ h n 13aner and his c mrad joined the 261h Bn in Franc , all had web 'quipm Ill. How v r. 0111 unil b hind the litles in Fran e app ar to ha e onlinu d using liv r guipm 'Ilt as did ullits in Canada.

In· ngland

Ir k

)f d <\ t. n

's Il

n

n II

d

o n

's II 11

d

'r

k il

d 11 l. 11 I.

.s

o :1

r

F

Rifles: the Ross and the Short Magazine Lee Enfield

.anadian soldi r arrivin r in 'urope in 1914-1915 were arllled wilh Ihe . 03in Ross rill manufa tured in anada to a d 'ign b' Ir .har! s R ,,9th Bar n t of Balnag Wll lR72-1942), for a rille iniliall'lll ani for hUllling and target-·hooling. During the B r \<\'ar III anadian g v('rnm nl sou~1I1 to rc-arm Ihe Volulll er ivlililia; ullable l onvince a Brilish manul"a ·tur r to make L 'C • nft II rines in allada, the r v rnm 'nt ac pted a suggeslion b ir harl" to lry a militar ver. ion 01" hi rifle. II c s ful lrials \ 're held. and in 1902 an inilial r ler was pIa eI for lh N nh \t\ l ~/I llllled P Ii al d Ih Marine D p'lrLm nl wilh h· Ro Rifle ompan ,', n'w fa lor' in Quob it,. In I 5 h IUlll r lililin lan d r ivin lh Ro.. Ithough lh r ini i, I probl m ill d si nand produ ti 11, acUuslm nl. w r mad; lh 1k III R . rifl inlJ'odu cd in 1910 won an cnviabl r putalion at im rnati nal lar t malch 'U h a' th "e h IdalBi-1 ,in Enghncl. Fwm 1912allunit of lite anadianregular lroops and Volunl el" Militia wer guipp d wilh the Ross Mk ]]1. he Ro 1k III fi aLUr d lightl' con x bUll lock and low r I rofil ; barrel I n III was 30.5in (77 ..)cm) and v rail len "llt 50,2: in (J 2 .. m). Il ha I an Xl nd'd -r und box magazin forward of tit lri r uard, and l ok slandard British rimm d .303in ammunition; lh Mk III auld b 1 ad d frOIll stripp r lip. Th . lrai hl-I III' bolt ha I inl rnal turnin 10 king lugs; lh barrel had lour-gro ve rining \ ilh a left-hand nisI. and on turn very Win (25.4 m); there was an adju ·table rear sighl moul1led all lhe recciver bridge, and a blael front sight. carbine version of lhis rill wa mad; EF gunn rand avalr'lll n w r ann d wilh L Enfield b ~ r going to Fran F 1I0wing lhe eI laratian I' war, lh Canadian gO\'ernm 111. illllll dialcl, ord red lens of thousands r Ro's Mk III rille, and in lh n xl lW ' aJ" ome 00 000 w re prodllc d Or whi h n arl, L 0,000 welllov r as wilh lh EF. H wever, altl10ugh an ac urat w apon. 3

L

A major of the 22e batall/on canadlen-fram;als, the famous 'Vingt-deux' or 'Van-doos', photographed on 21 June 1918 at Bellecourt; he sports a pinned cravat rather than a collar and tie, and wears the ribbon of the MIlitary Cross. His cap bears the 22nd's bi-metal badge: a silver crowned garter, coat-of-arms and '22' set on a gilt beaver and log with the motto 'Je Me Souvlens'. On his shoulder straps are the crown of his rank above the national title, and on his lapels 'C' above '22', The sleeve patches (see commentary to Plate E3) are a red disc above the dark blue rectangle of 2nd Cdn Dlv, with the officer's addition of a gold 'II' set within a 'C', (IWM CO 2774)

• n 'in Ihe Ir n'h Ih R s rev aled i Ir LO be un lual L) xLcnd I under II ' oncliLi n r th mod rn balll fi'ld. he boll t nel d t b ar 011 on r Ih king lug' burrin a it· edg " and the rin was 'ul~jc L t malfull Ii ns Wh'll mud and lin Klint Lhe a tion. M n rcp rL d til ir rilles jamming during rapid fir' - til -re were cas or . lc:tier in balll having to kick tll bolttu force it upen. It alsu 'ufTcred f"rc 111 weak extraction, and mighl cv n hal11ber and fire a round wilh Lh boll lugs IInl 'k'd (wilh I ot'nliall ,raLaI 'on 'cqu nees): indeed there w r' gen ral probl ms wilh it· Inndling or BriLi. il-mad as oJ po 'dt anadian-l11ad all1l11l1niti n. tori's r "nadi"n soldi r. in a lion I"1ml ling to grab LIl . 1 'S rr 111 dead British soldi 'I'. spr ad lik \ ildlJr , an I m re than 3,000 ,anadi'll were do '11In 'J1lcd a having Ion '0 at ond Ypre . Til ,anadian Division \1<\ re-armed wilil Lhe M E inJull I 15. '" h nail lhi' bad new gOI back to "nad, LlI m di'~ and parliam J1l,1r}' )PI .. iLion onrromcd a sLubborn ir Hm Hughe • and\' nlllall' Ih· \I lrSI ,anadian politi al s 'andal of the W
1

or

40

A sergeant of a Canadian Scottish unit armed with a Ross rifle to demonstrate the use of the 'MacAdams trench shield shovel'. This novel device had a hole large enough to admit a rifle, and in theory was supposed to protect the soldier. The enthusiastic Sir Sam Hughes rushed one of his secretaries, Miss Ena MacAdams, to the Patent Office to sign the official documents; she thus gave her name to the 25,000 shovels bought In Philadelphia at the rather high cost of 51.35 each. Issued to the 2nd Cdn Dlv In 1915, they turned out to be useless, and were never used except when worn slun9 at Inspections. These shovels soon caused a political scandal; they were recalled Into Ordnance stores and sold as scrap metal for 51,400, being replaced with the British entrenching tool. In fairness to Sir Sam and his acolytes, several Great War armies tried out various devices for personal protection which had no more merit than the notorious MacAdams shovel, (Private collection)

d L

IiI..

en or cd Lh ,d, as

a' _r1 :I~ 111

ar iiI' v vs

II wever, Lhi. wa 110l Illite Lhe nel of thc Ro:s I'ill', Lill ne or th fine L wrg 'L rilles in th world, iL onLinll 'd L b 1I ed on the VIC 'lern PI' nl b' . m"cmll 1'1' m 1 5, ,nd I LW n 1916 al1d ]922 anolh I' 011'-'11,,1 up rated in Lind 'a', nlari, I m llh increa cd d manel, Ordnance III the carl' pan or the war lh eI'man I 1'01' mililar I qllipll1'lll 'mel Ilppli . or all sorts inCl'eas d ov rwh '1l1ling1', I Ulan th whol lit I ro Ill' ment and supply s, "l III - mainl ' th anadian rdnan e '01'1 s tInd I he Canadian. rill' ~ 'rvi e 'orp' - m Llh d mand. pOlS were 'ct lip in Clnada and in Englan I; 'lI1d I h II 'anadian 'orp' troop' lukl l10l obtain sUPI lies or arl11s. unilorms t: r eguiplIlcnl from nnadi Brilish; from then on, it did n t malleI's milch ifil 111' wer-' c1l1adian 01' British so long a. the' got 1 th 111 n '\Vift1,. Be~ re Ih - war anadiHn'lrtill 1" Inel r--armed \liLh th n '\I' Brilish I -pdr g"n., whi h b '1111 Lh mainsta of Lh ,EF fi 'leI "rlill I' ': th' older 12-pelr gUll, w I' th' main arLill'r ' u'aining w apon in ell ·Ida. During Ih I' al \t\ar, :anaelian orelnan II' nl From a ~ \ dozen moelern Ii lei guns (first nrc I at lh 11 m' on 2 t"rch 191!1 • 10 lh usan I: ['gun: fall' rts. B' th laL 1'1 an fLh war a h ana lian Ii III rig-ad had Lhree I -pdr ball ri - and on 4,-in howitz r I all ry. TIle h exp n (ilm r ammunili I ould b V-I" high: aL \ il11' Rielg , n arl' I~,OOO rounels II' I' IiI' d n •aster ~'donda I of] 17, Th .Ull"elian Railw,l}' Troops inslall d alld operal'd narrow-gaLig railwCl)'S lending righl up to the balteri lO k ep ul the 'Lippi)' ammunition, n lher asp CL f anadian I 19i li S II a Lh naLi 11 's tr m nd u' ni n in 'LippI ~n amn unilion La all he British Ii rc s, In 1914 :an"c!a I ael a rr eel LO 'uppl' up to 000 I ell' a w k, bu g ared lip l provide Illtl h mur , B' I 17 .anadian fa LOri suppli d hall' r Ih 'h II· U' d b' the BI-ili'h force: b I th . 'nel r th war the' had 'uPI Ii d 2!l million shnl( nel sh II • 41 million mh I' compleL pr~j > lil , 4 milli n hell a e and 14 million pound' of xpJo-iv , >

or

An original armoured car of the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Bde, c,191B. This unitoriginally the 1st Automobile MG Bde, raised in 1914 - was the brainchild of Maj Raymond Brutinel, an emigrant from France who had become a Canadian millionaire. It initially had nine officers and 114 men, to man eight armoured cars (paid for by a group of patriotic citizens), armed with two Colt 'potato-digger' machine guns; this was the first motorized MG unit raised In the British Empire, The unit eventually had 20 of these MG carriers. built by Autocar of Ardmore, PA, USA; they served in France until 191B. The vehicle shown here, armed with the later Vickers MGs, had a 2-ton chassis. with 5mm front and 3mm rear armour; powered by a 22hp engine, It could reach a maximum of 25mph (40km/h) on roads. On the front of the olive-green hull note the brigade marking (top left), above a dark red arrow (the usual MG symbol) and a bright red bar on a white panel, together with a tactical sign and vehicle letter in white. The arrow and bar were also painted on the front 01 the men's steel helmets, (Canadian War Museum. Ottawa)

4

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Th Hi'lOI' and Helita Oir 'IOlrlllCr Nalional Libr"r ' ,mel ali nal AI' hi\' s f anada) ha: CXlen, h' , rec Irds pt'rlaining I l lh 'real \·Var includin lh' unil War Oiaric.• man' or whi h ;'Ire i\ , it I on-line. The alllh r wa killdl, P rmill 'd t ron 'lIlt III Xl 'nsivc eliarit,s and not .. of amu J ,B'u'ler in lh pas 'sion ( r hi' ell'S' 'n lanl. happell, M ike The Cal/fidilll/ 11'/11.1' al 1\1Ir ( sprc', i\ IAA ] 64, I( 5 \ milch re 'ommended mpanion I lhi. lllel)'. co\'c,'ing I' 'pr . 'enlali\,c lroop. fr m Lh Bo r \-VlU' lO lh J( r an War. Inpp 'II, Mik • Blilish lilfilllll), Eqlli/JlIIl'IIl.1 19(Jtg-200{j ( 'prc~', 1\IAA 1H~, 20()O) urri ,ArLhllr. 'Th last I IIndr'd da),s Iflhe \\,Ir', TIll' I~/II/,irl' CII/Ii IIfClllliula ,S~JI!l'chf. 1919 (11 I' I I ,Th 'mpirc Illb of anada, J .120) DlI lIid, ,F., II QUl',lioli of ,0IlJidl'l/fl': IIII' flo,,~ Rijlt' il/ II", Trl'l/rllI',\ ( lla\\,I, I ublicaLion • I 9) Duguid, . '., OJJicial Hi 101 • of Ihe Crllll/dil/ll FmTr.\ ill Ihl' ;mll 1\(//; 1'01.1 ( llawa, 193 ) Gagnon,] an- i IT .l.l'221'IJfllllilliOIl(fflllfitliI'll1mllfflil) 191-1-1919 ( llawa - QII'b pI f 'ali n~1 0 I' ne' c'· niv rsit ~ L;I\'al 198 - heflin lam I1lal (nd 1I landing' i-military .llIdy on 'r nch :anada in Lh war ( , \II II a a unit hi t 1". rave, 0 11( lei '" '11 I Ill)' lIf· '('Iovirl': Iltl' /-li.\IIIIJ ofIIII' SOlllh Alberla LiK'11 How' r IllO. R bin Bra's Ludio, 2 5) fill, w II-illu. Lral d wd' lhal overs earl' \II t'rn lighl hoI" uniLS. rc nhou Brerel n. c" lcph n J.Harri;" Callfulll (//111 Iltl' BIIIIII! of 11111)' /?ii/gP, 9-12 /)/il 191/ ( Ual (I lIppl anacla, ] 992) Law, live M., KIUthi: 1IifOrlll of lit I' ClIl/l/"irl/l EX/Jl'flilionar' Force (llawa, rvice Publication. 1997). fine lire n Lhi' l pi ; unique chlla on vnri u' t pc of baclg and 'igl1 , Legaull, Ro h .lean Lamarr , cd., La PUll/iff/' Cuenl' IIlOlIdiale elle emllldo ( 10nLr'al, M -rieli n, I 9.) u " R g I' V., Tin Lids: Illfidir/1/ Coli/bill /-11'//11/'1 (llawa, rvi PubJi ali n', 1997) Th utslancling , urc .

h I ,W,L., Tit/' .nlllidiflll E,\1J1'dilifilIlIlJ FOITI' 1914-191 ( lta"(, 1962) Rani', \' illiam F., d, To lite Tltlll/derl'r His AnI/.\': Till' Hoyt! u/1/adian Onlnmue '1) (Lin 0111. nlario. 19
42

R/'/){)rlofllte \1il/i II)': 0 el.l'(/ MilillllJ FmTl's a/CIII/flda 191. (L nd n.l 1.)

'Your motherland will never forget'; In fact, homecoming veterans were left to cope on their own with little help from the government. The nation had been deeply traumatized by the losses of the Great War, and wanted to forget, heal its wounds and march Into a promising future. Hundreds of thousands of ex-soldiers had to undertake a new struggle for social justice; they organized the Canadian Legion - stili one of the largest associations In Canada - and obtained some redress from the politicians In the 1920s. This plate by Joseph Simpson, published in Canada in Khaki during 1919, shows the usual appearance of 1he CEF soldier by the end of the war, The souvenir German Pickelhaube helmets are not artistic embellishment; it seems that tens of thousands of these came back to Canada with the returning troops.

har! s 1-1., 'OT/I'm'fl '; Th/' Lilll'flgl' alld IIHigllia of 1/". Cal/f/(fiflll E.\1//'lli/ol/fII)' Fom' 19/4-1919 (~ I' rHo, 1971) ummel's Ja k L. Tan fl'ff HHJ: (I)/adiflll II/frill/I)' I(mllm'III!'I// 18---1<),'{5 (Bloomfield, Museull R lor. li 11 ni ,19 5) 11 OUl wnding . ur e

SLCwan,

on bOlh anadian an 1 British equipm I l . Tuck 1', ilben lorman, The I mut! Sl'fuirl' ufCallf/{lrl.· f/s Wida! History 1'01.1 ( Hawa, 1952) 'IeI', Gralll, Drab I'Igr fill/I KJIfIJ:i Dlilf (Park anadil, \ >'l rn 'mada I'Vlce enu'e il1lernal nutnual, 2 ()~) "I erlalil' llid' of anadi'ln ambat jackeLS frOIll 1 99. Wi e, .F., Cal/at/ian \il'll/I'II allli/hl' FiI./ Horld WM: Thr OJftcia/ HiS/III)' of/hi' RO)'ftl ,({Iweliall Air Forf'(' l/of.1 ( llawa c' Tor I LO, J 9 0)

THE PLATES A1: Private, 96th Lake Superior Regiment, c.1910-14 This figure shows Ihe typical uniform worn by many Canadian Volunteer Militia infantrymen from 1896 right up to the time of the Great War, especially in rural units. This militiaman wears the M1896 Canadian serge frock wilh breast pockets. which was similar for nearly all infantry units - scarlet with brass buttons; dark blue collar, cuffs and shoulder straps edged with white, the cuff piping finished with a 'crow's fool'. It was worn with dark blue trousers with a narrow scarlet stripe, and a stiff peaked (visored) cap with scarlet piping. The brown leather equipment is the basic belt order of the M1899 Oliver set; the standard infantry weapon from 1905 was the Canadian-made Ross rifle. A2: Corporal, 15th Light Horse Regiment, c.1908-12 The new regiments of Volunteer Militia cavalry raised in Western Canada at the beginning of the 20th century usually assumed a somewhat 'frontier' style, featuring the popular Stelson hat with a 'Montana peak' made famous by the North West Mounted Police and by Canadian mounted rifles in South Africa. The 15th Ught Horse was formed in Calgary, Alberta, in 1905. Its uniform consisted of a scarlet serge frock with yellow collar and cuffs, dark blue trousers with double yellow stripes, Stetson hats, brown cavalry accoutrements and laced boots. It was armed with the M1894 .303in Lee-Metford Mk I carbine (40in long and wilh a six-round detachable magazine), until issued Ross rifles In about 1912. It also had a squad armed with lances for parades, as well as a band. This figure is based on photos of the unit in 1908-12. (Afler Donald E.Graves, Century of Service ... - see Bibliography) A3: Officer, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (Vancouver), c.191 0-14 Several Canadian volunteer regiments, especially those raised in cities, were uniformed as Highland regiments. They often took the name and, except for the badge, wore the uniform 01 a famous Highland regiment of the British Army. In July 1910 approval was given to form the 72nd Regt in Vancouver, prescribing that its uniform 'would be the same as the Seaforths of the Imperial Service, with the Mackenzie tartan.' Thus oHicers of the 72nd wore scarlet doublets with buff facings, gold buttons and lace, a feather bonnet with white hackle, Mackenzie tartan plaid, sporran with six gold tassels, and red-and-white hose. In spite of the expense,

most officers of regiments in Canadian cities purchased full dress uniforms, those of Highlanders and hussars being the most expensive. (After B.McEvoy & A.H. Finlay, His/ory of the 72nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. Vancouver, 1920) A Canadian-pattern seven-button khaki jaCket, c,1917-18, with the British turndown collar (featuring two hooks-andeyes to make it stand) and rifle pads on both shoulders - an example of the improvements made to this pattern during the war. While most of the CEF eventually had the British five-button jacket, modified Canadian-pattern jackets were also seen. (Grenville Museum, Quebec)

43

Distinguishing upper sleeve patches of the 1st Cdn Dlv, 1916-19, as worn from September 1916. The basic rectangle Identified the division: 1st, red; 2nd, dark blue; 3rd, light blue-grey ('French grey'); 4th, medium green. The shape above the rectangle Identified the battalions within each infantry brigade: disc, half-circle, triangle and square for first to fourth In seniority. The colours of these battalion patches identified the brigade within the division: medium green, red and dark blue for the first to third. Dark blue grenades and bars In brigade colours identified trench mortar and dark red arrows machine gun units; there were also many other types for artillery, cavalry and other corps troops. (Dept of National Defence, 71-844)

44

H.Q. IIt Inf 8de

I.. T.M.8attery

I't 8n

3rd 8n

5th 8n

8th 8n

ilth 8n

4tl1 Dn

16th 8n

14th 8n

t 1st Diy

DlyH.Q. and Ele.mcnu

B1: Private at summer camp, undress, 1913-14 From 1913 all units were to be issued khaki jackets, trousers and caps, with 'service clothing as required for camp'. The latter inclUded khaki shirts of the Canadian model, with turndown collar, four buttons and a left breast pocket; and summer straw hats with wide brims turned up on the left side. The khaki trousers were held up by off-white suspenders (braces). The Oliver pattern belt with 'snake' clasp, bayonet frog and scabbard for the Ross rifle bayonet was only worn 'under arms', I.e. when the rifte was carried. By 1914 many units had been issued this undress kit, which was also worn by the CEF volunteers at Camp Valcartier. The straw hats were left behind but other items were taken to England in autumn 1914. (Minutes of the Militia Council, 1913) B2: Officer, Corps of Guides, full dress, c.1910-14 This corps was an intelligence staff unit organized in 1903, primarily made up of volunteer officers assisted by a small company of 27 mounted NCOs and men in each military district. It was the very first Canadian unit to adopt a khaki uniform for its full dress. This consisted of a lancer-style jacket with scarlet facings. khaki lace, cap lines and shoulder cords, khaki girdle with two scarlet stripes, khaki trousers with a scarlet stripe 1:hin (3.8cm) wide, and a white helmet with a khaki and scarlet puggaree. The corps was disbanded in 1929. B3: Officer, 38th Dufferin Rifles of Canada, 1912-13 With the inevitable advent of khaki uniforms, Volunteer Militia officers sought ways to make the new and rather drab clothing more attractive - this was crucial to attract recruits. In about 1911-12 some Rifle regiment officers thought of changing the collar, cuffs and shoulder straps on the standard khaki issue jacket, and the band of the cap, to riflegreen edged with scarlet. The attractive result was worn by some officers of the 2nd and 38th Rifle Regts; the lalter unit even received permission, in March 1912, for the whole regiment to wear 'coloured collar and cuffs' on its khaki jackets, but it is uncertain if this actually went into effect. In

1st 8n M.G. Corps

H.avy & Medium T:.M. BatterIes

ht M.T.Coy

1st Diy Engine....

any event. it was short-lived: in February '913 the new British officer's jacket with open collar, shirt and lie was ordered for Canadian officers. (Minutes of the MillUa Council,1912-13) C1: Infantry private, Canadian Expeditionary Force, autumn 1914 This figure shows the typical fUlly equipped Canadian infantry soldier as he left Canada and arrived in England. He wears the Canadian field cap with its rigid crown; the Canadian khaki jacket with standing collar and seven front bullons; more tightly tailored trousers than the British model, with puttees and shoes. Most Canadian troops had the brown leather M1899 Oliver equipment. and all carried the Ross Mk III rifle. CEF battalion badges varied greatly, but many had the shape of Canada's maple leaf. The dark blue shoulder straps on the infantry jacket brought some colour to an otherwise drab outfit, and proved very popular in the CEE C2: I nfantry private, CEF. winter dress; England, 1914-15 At a distance the Canadian-made greatcoat looked much the same as the British pattern, but it had seven brass buttons down the front rather than five. The fall collar was also wider. and had a hook-and-eye arrangement to make the top half 'stand' - although this feature seems not to have been widely used. This coat was initially the standard issue for the CEF, but as time went on the British pattern became prevalent among Canadian soldiers on the Western Front. C3: Piper, 13th CEF Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), 1914-15 This unit was mainly made up of officers and men from Montreal's 5th Royal Highland Regt, the senior Highland unit in Canada. Its men wore the British pattern khaki Highland cut-away 'doublet' jacket with five buttons and a fall collar, here apparently smartened up at unit level. The battalion's tartan was the Black Watch sell except for the pipe band, which had Royal Stewart kills and pipe bags; the pipe

I·Stt Squadron H.Q.16th A..N.W.M.P. Inr Bde

259lh Bn

260th Bn

16th Field Coy C.E.

Disllngulshing patches worn on the upper sleeves by the Canadian units sent to Siberia and North Russia In 1919. In Siberia the formation rectangle was pale violet, the unit symbols a red bar, disc, semicircle, letters 'CE' and a dark red arrow. (Lef1) The RNWMP detachment sent to help fight the Bolsheviks wore - ironically - a red star on a violet square; the North Russia detachment sign (right) was a dark blue square with a white star. (Dept of National Defence, 71-844)

ribbons tied to the drones were a mix of Black Watch and Royal Stewart tartans. The dress sporran was white with two black tails. Pipers also had black-and-red hose with red garters and, early In the war, their headdress was a dark blue Glengarry with a red tourri but no dicing. Indeed, apart from badges, the dress of the 13th CEF was the service uniform of the 5th Regiment. Its pipers made an impressive arrival at St.Nazaire, France, in February 1915 with the Canadian Division, an event commemorated by a large canvas by Edgar Bundy that now hangs In Canada's Senate chamber. 01: Warrant Officer, 8th CEF Battalion, 1915-16 This figure is based on photos of a warrant officer of this Rifle unit from Winnipeg, which was nicknamed the 'Little Black Devils'. The 8th CEF was the only official Rifle unit in the 1st Cdn Div, and had rifle-green shoulder straps rather than blue as in other infantry battalions. Warrant officers wore a uniform midway between that of commissioned officers and enlisted men. The most notable item was lhe M1904 officer's khaki jacket, which had a closed collar until the open collar with shirt and tie was introduced for commissioned rank; warrant officers continued to wear the officer's earlier style, but with their own rank badges. Warrant officers had brown leather Sam Browne belts and officer-style breeches. but also wore enlisted men's puttees and boots. 02: Private, 14th CEF Battalion, 1915 Of the changes made to the equipment and uniforms of the CEF battalions as they were deployed on the Western Front from early 1915, the most visible was the replacement of the leather Oliver equipment with the British 08 web equipment. Many Canadians. like this soldier, also obtained the soft British field service cap in preference to the stiffened Canadian type. Brass 'CANADA' shoulder strap titles became widespread, as did collar badges with 'C' for Canada above the battalion number. The blue shoulder straps were seen on the jackets of nearly all Canadian infantrymen until the summer of 1915. Thereafter, uniform replacements with plain straps appeared, and reinforcements arrived wearing various patterns of Canadian or British jackets, but the blue straps would be granted as a continuing distinction of the first contingent to arrive. The standard weapon at this date remained the Ross Mk III. 03: Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery, 1914-15 The field batteries that went to Europe in 1914 and 1915 wore the Canadian seven-button khaki jacket with (initially) red

branch-of-service shoulder straps, the stiff Canadian cap, breeches. puttees, boots and spurs. Later on heavy artillerymen wore trousers and discontinued the spurs. The N. A.m.la 20th equipment consisted of the M.G. Coy M1903 British 50-round bandolier to carry their rifle ammunition. The red shoulder slraps seem to have vanished gradually during 1915. and the British five-button jacket was widely iSSUed, but Canadian jackets were still occasionally seen as late as 1918. Although steel helmets were issued dUring 1916, photos of the period show gunners serving guns still wearing peaked caps. jackets and - sometimes - bandoliers. The RCA gunners had a brass cap badge nearly identical to that of their Royal Artillery comrades except that the motto 'UBIQUE' above the gun motif was replaced with 'CANADA'. The brass collar badges were the general issue Canadian maple leaf type. E1: Sniper, Canadian Corps, 1916-18 Some of the most lethal soldiers in the Canadian Corps were snipers; most of them had been raised in the backwoods and had handled rifles since they were children. and many of them were Canadian Indians. Henry Norwest, son of a Cree and French Metis couple from Alberta, joined the 50th CEF Bn in 1915; he achieved a sniping record of 115 kills. Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwa from lhe Parry Island Band in Ontario who joined the 1st CEF Bn in 1914, was another outstanding sniper and trench raider, who became the most decorated aboriginal in Canada, with awards including the Military Medal with two bars; he survived the war. and went on to become chief of his band. Snipers wore the standard uniform without any badges or coloured patches; a common head covering shown here was the khaki 'sniper's hood'. The usual weapon was the Ross rifle mounted with a telescopic sight, here the American 5.2x power Warner & Swasey. (Law, Clive M., Without Warning: Canadian Sniper Equipment in the 20th Century. Ottawa, Service Publications, 2004.) E2: Private, 43rd CEF Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), 1917-18 This figure is typical of the fully equipped Canadian Highlander of Vimy Ridge or Passchendaele. He wears the steel helmet with a linen cover, and a British-supplied Highland cut-away jacket with his regimental coliar badges. From September 1916 a unified system of battle Insigniacloth patches worn at both shoulders to Identify units, brigades and divisions at a glance - was introduced in the CEF; that for the 43rd was a disc (for senior battalion) in dark blue (for third brigade, in this case 9th Bde), over the light blue or 'French grey' rectangle of the 3rd Canadian Division. The kilt - of Cameron of Erracht tartan for the 43rd - is covered with the khaki apron in front; he wears khaki hose and puttees, and black boots. His 08 web equipment. small box respirator slung on the chest and SMLE Mk III rifle are standard British Issue. E3: Private, 22nd CEF Battalion (CanadienFranltais). 1917-18 This soldier serves in the only completely French-Canadian CEF battalion maintained on the Western Front, all others having been dispersed into mainly Anglophone units. He wears the usual dress in the trenches during the colder

45

seasons. The head was kept warm by a khaki wool 'baJaclava', and the sleaveless goatskin jacket was a popular item for wear over the khaki jacket. Photos of the 22nd show the men wearing both Canadian- and British-pattern jackets. They might also wear rubber boots or these 'trench waders' in particularly wet conditions. The cloth unit and formation signs adopted for the 'Vingf-Deux' on 10 September 1916 were a red disc (senior battalion, second brigade - here, 5th Bdel over the dark blue rectangle of 2nd Canadian Division. The steel helmet had been issued since early in 1916. and these battle insignia were later painted on some helmets in the 22nd Bn - a fairly widespread practice in the Canadian Corps during 1918. The 22nd was armed with the SMLE Mk III from August 1916. (Joseph Chaballe, Histoire du 22e Sa/ail/on canadien-franr;ais 1914-1919, Montreal, Chanteclair, 1952; Venat, Pierre, Les 'Poilus' Quebecois de 1914-1918, Montreal, Meridien, 1999-2000,2 vols.; regimental museum of the Royal 22e Regiment, La Citadelle, Quebec) F1: Officer. 1st Battalion Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 1916-18 Although part of Canada only since 1949, Newfoundland is closely linked to the colonial history of Canada. In 1914 many Newfoundlanders volunteered and the Newfoundland Regiment was formed, nicknamed 'the blue puHees' from the colour of their legwear in the first months of the war. Once in Europe the battalion was issued standard British Army khaki uniforms. equipment and armament, with the brass title 'NFLD' at the end of the jacket shoulder straps. The

regimental badge, worn here on the SD cap and the collars was a moose head, the traditional insignia of Newfoundland: above a scroll. This figure is based on photos of regimental officers; his uniform conforms to the pattern worn by officers in the BEF, but he retains the metal shoulder strap ranking worn by all Canadian officers in 1914. When divisional Insignia were worn, that of the 'incomparable 29th' was a broad, shallow scarlet triangle on the upper sleeves. The Newfoundland ballalion, rebuilt after its virtual annihilation on the First Day of the Somme in 1916, went on to serve for the last two months of the war in 9th Div, which wore a white metal thistle badge pinned through a blue disc on the upper sleeves. (GW.L.Nicholson, The Figh/ing Newfoundlander, Government of Newfoundland, 1964) F2: Private. 31st Company. Canadian Forestry Corps, 1917-18 This figure is based on a photo of Pte R.Tilburt, a native of Chicago who came to Canada as a boy in 1907. Ten years later he joined the Canadian Forestry Corps at Sussex, New Brunswick, and was sent to France. The Canadian pallern khaki tunic is worn with the rigid peaked cap, but the most noticeable feature is his Canadian M 1916 Oliver 'dismounted equipment'. This featured two cartridge pouches with two small straps buckling on the top, giving them an odd, 'upside-down' look. Most of the Canadian Corps continued to wear web equipment, but the M1916 Oliver set was issued to some units, including the Canadian Forestry Corps. For their forestry work. the men usually wore a soft hat with a brim, a khaki shirt and work trousers. (Canadian Letters and Images Project, Malaspina University College and University of Western Ontario) F3: Sergeant major, Canadian Light Horse, 1916-18 Photos taken in France show that these troopers from the Western provinces retained their distinctive Stetson hats when not in the front lines. Many NCOs and men pinned the badge of their Volunteer Militia regiment to the side of their hats and the collar of their jackets; this badge of the 19th Alberta Dragoons, featuring a horse above the unit's designation on a scroll, is that most commonly seen in images. The Canadian Light Horse wore the British jacket with a light blue!scarleVroyaJ blue slip-on loop for the shoulder strap and brass 'CLH' shoulder titles. Cavalry breeches, puttees, boots with spurs, brown leather bandolier and the M1908 cavalry sword completed the outfit. G1: Lieutenant-colonel, Canadian Army Medical Corps, c.1917 This figure is based on photos of possibly the best-known medical officer of the Great War, L1Col John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) from Guelph, Ontario. He is shown in the standard British officer's khaki SD uniform with cuff ranking; the CAMC badge was worn on his cap only. McCrae was a fine doctor, a sensitive man and a talented poet.

46

A rare back view of the Canadian Army Medical Corps nursing sister's ward uniform (see Plate G2). in a detail from a 1918 painting by Gerald Edward Moira of No.3 Stationary Hospital at DouUens, near Amlens. The white veil and apron are worn with the light blue dressj stockings and shoes are black. In total, Canadian hospitals maintained some 13,500 beds In various war zones. (Canadian War Museum. Ottawa)

In May 1915 he wrote 'In Flanders H1: Pilot, Royal Flying Corps 1917-18 I Fields', one of the defining poems of the Great War: the poppies worn No uniform distinction was worn by countless individuals in many before August 1918, When a curved countries every 11 November are 'CANADA' shoulder tille was added due to his famous verses, beginning: in gold on khaki for officers and red In Flanders fields /he poppies blow on khaki for other ranks (in the RNAS Between the crosses, rowan row ... in goid and pale blue respectively, o~ On 28 January 1918 L1Col McCrae black). Like all nationalities, aircrew died of pneumonia and meningitis. dressed to face the cold in open Before he died he had the satisfaction cockpits, in a variety of issued and of knowing that his poem had been privately purchased flying gear. The an outstanding success. It was head is protected here by a soft translated into many languages, and leather helmet, the face by a fur-lined used on billboards advertising the mask and goggles. This full-length sale of the first Victory Loan Bonds flying coat is made of rubberized in Canada in 1917; expected to raise canvas lined with goatskin and has a $150 million, lhe campaign raised large sheepskin collar. The fleece$400 million. lined gauntlet mittens have separate G2 & 3: Canadian Army thumbs and forefingers to allow Medical Corps nursing operation of controls and guns. Rear Admiral Sir Charles Klngsmill, sisters, 1914-19 Sheepskin-lined thigh boots were flag officer commanding the Royal The CAMC nurses wore a light blue introduced in 1917, as planes now Canadian Navy, c.1915. Sir Charles dress, which gave rise to the flew higher Into colder air that made Is shown In the 'undress' dark blue affectionate nickname 'the bluebirds' earlier footwear unsuitable. Many uniform with gold buttons and lace, as from grateful CEF personnel who pilots carried pistols; for instance, usually worn for most duties. A white came under their care. The hue of the Lloyd Breadner had a 1911 Colt summer cover Is added to the dark dresses varied - they could also be with a specially adapted holster. blue crown of the peaked (visored) a light blue-grey - and they were (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa) cap, which has a black lace band and trimmed with brass buttons in lancer H2: Seaman, Royal Canadian a patent leather peak with gold foliate style. The walking-out uniform worn Navy, 1914-18 embroidery of rank. The badge Is over the dress was a dark blue The uniforms worn by enlisted men in the Royal Navy's sliver anchor set double-breasted overcoat lined with the RCN were similar in almost every in a crowned gold wreath. (Dept of red, with deep cuffs; all CAMC respect to those of Britain's Royal Nallonal Defence, History & Heritage nurses held officer's commissions, Navy. The Canadian distinction for Directorate, Ottawa) and their shoulder straps bore the lhe ratings was seen on the black cap 'pips' of their rank. It was worn with a tally, with the gold let1ers 'H.M.C.S.'broad dark blue felt hal wilh the CAMC badge. The veil, for 'His Majesty's Canadian Ship' - followed by the name dress cuffs, collar, blouse and the apron worn with ward of the ship. e.g. 'Rainbow' or 'Niobe'. From 1916 Canadian dress were white, and the uniform was completed by a vessels were largely deployed on North AIIantic patrols, brown leather belt, black stockings and shoes. Nurses also and the following year a 'warm clothing issue' was had a grey smock and. for those doing duty in operating approved for these crews. This consisted of a 'winter cap rooms, an ali-white uniform and head covering. (Uniforms or balaclava helmet', mills. a jersey, a comforter, thick and art at lhe Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, and stOCkings, wool drawers and thick socks. Engine-room period photos, notably lhe Canadian Lellers and Images ratings had two flannel vests and petty ofticers had a Project, Malaspina University College and University of cardigan waistcoat instead of a jersey. (Canadian Naval Orders 1912-1919, Ottawa, 1919) Western Ontario) H3: Lieutenant, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer H: AIR & NAVAL SERVICES Reserve, 1914-18 Nearly 23,000 Canadians joined the British Royal Flying The RCN officers' uniforms were exaclly the same as those Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, of whom some 1,560 of the RN, and even their crown-and-anchor buttons did died. Of 65 British and Empire pilots who shot down more not bear the word 'Canada' until the 1920s. In 1917. than 20 enemy aircraft, 12 were Canadians. The leading however, officers were allowed to have their undress surviving British and Empire 'ace' was LlCol W.A.'Billy' uniforms made of blue serge for warm weather. The Bishop. VC, OSO", Me' (72 confirmed kills); the third was members of the RNCVR had similar uniforms to those of ltCdr Raymond Collishaw, OSO', OFC, OSC (with 60). the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, which were identical to The Royal Canadian Navy grew from some 350 all ranks those of the RN except that the officer's gold rank lace was and a handful of vessels in 1914, to over 100 vessels and set in undulating 'wavy' bands on the cuffs and shoulder straps. The rating's cap ribbons bore RN.C.V.R (crown] 5,500 personnel in 1918; more than 3,000 others served in Ihe Royal Navy. The RCN patrolled both Atlantic and ATLANTIC', 'R.N.C.V.R [crown] CENTRAL', and 'RN.C.v.R Pacific coasts, but lIs major contribution was to the war (crown] PACIFIC' for the naval reserve's three regions. They against German U-boats. did not display individual ship's names.

41

INDEX Fil:;urcs ill bold rdc,' 10 illllSll~ui"I1"

,\cti,'c

~liIi.i;l

,,(::111,,11:0 (n,glll,lI,1

"rri~~,"·C:ll1:u1i:m< :U1I1ltlll1;I;UIl

11"1:110:." SirS:t111\tcl 8. K-9, 20, :II.-W llllli,m,. ClI1adi:m :>,6 1~",1;

-II

.\lili',lI") Cnllegt', l.:illh";UHI

Ku,.i:1I1 r.lIup:ligu Sc"i'>'(~III:111iaIlS

:lJi

\tllil :1(;,4·1. -15

2~-:t

J

StlIl1l11". hallie ..flhe 2·1, 41i

Su''''' lby I;tlldillg~ 2'1,2·1 I;h"l;i

:11111:11"<:111$ 3!J.....11

.mulland.' :11,

:Id"pli"n "I 3:i,

:ll'l1luw'c,1 GU', 41

':lrl;LlI~

Y"

C:11l:Hli:l1l l{"gillH'1I1 :1

I{"I~II

in'i)(llia

1:'1

f\mlrcws. 1.1 22 ,\lIdrc\\'s, ['Ie Alfred :1:,

:ll"Ill)'

R")~ll

Ani,..' ~lilili:l "f DIU:ul,.

(rcgllbl'lI): (~l11:llliall t:X1K:diti\,u,u\

•. ,H

:t~:

T"nJlllU :1

IInlllllill"S (~''''''1ing 11,,:1.1 ~lml") 23

"I :17

C3 (27), E:2 (2.;;), :'17, 38, .l'l, 4;;

~il1s

1.:'"g_lI1ill. RAtlUi Sir CII:ul", '17

2'1-!\~1

llllil
(~lI"l\li:1ll

Force (CEF) l.,'~'

'\Il,1S 7.7.21-2

EIlIi.-ld. Sh"n

~bI:Mill"

(5,\11.£)

Fr~·llch·f'';I11:ldi:lI1'

,ilk, 12. 'lU-1 buOls. I'llhhcr 12. 37 ~h,,\'<'1

Ilnlll"ss:t,llcnri 111

.\1:lI·Ad,lI11S Ill'neli ,lIi.,ld

Ilnrsmll. ~1:!iGCllll.E.13

.\lcI.C:I11, I',,, :17

U)'l1g. LiGen SirJlIli:'lI Up'!; 11.20.20

l\lc1\,III/:hl"lI. G<:II "-I.. 20

2.3-:. C:matlian Expeditiun''') F"rce «(:t:n ...
'10

U1:1j"r 39 pril,II'" £3 !;ulIuer

2:\~'

ulill,II,··,·:!'! ..ulI)I:'igll

C:1I1ac1a. l1:li;0I1:11 ctllupusiti'lll "r

Esll",lili.lIm...· F"rl'c 9

("loull""d "i,I'uc,i,,,., :1:...li

.\lililia "'1'1' Ani,'" "milia "1'<::'11:,,1,,

l)

(~I).

j;'l'l;el 4:1 I;h.,ki,

list.'

"I' 33, :\:1_:., 34

I;h"ki 1:11'1:111' :17 1Ia1~

In (:12), '17

(r"gul:lr,.); N'HI·I\'rm:n'clll ,\{',i,'"

l.i"ulen:ulI.

,\Iilili:, (\,•• hllll~'"rs)

lIIilil'" ,\1 (2.-.).,\2

.\1"ulreal :'I, :., 1:1

4:.-(;

(21'l). I:,

lillI'S'"

(~:,).,,~

5. G2 (:II), C3 (:II). -16, ·Ii

,,1t.... C1"~ 112 (21;). U3 (21i). Fl

crc:.liol1 !l-IO

cKpaminll 11 lInits<)f 12. I·I-I!)

""',\'I''III1.II:lIl
l\lilili.,

01lholi<: Church ;nlhwm:l.-:i

',,:i

chrollolot,'), &-S

10-11. 'tU,

nis. Ch:opbin C.McL II

1','pi"":lIl, C:,,11,111,,-" ,\1<.:n:"r 13

h:lllalioll "rIk"rs 35, 37

l'''p''W
lIighl:lIullltlilS 9, 35.

Elll;li.~h-C;l1ladian~ 'I,

13

I'rinc".... Pall'idOl's GIIl:ld':ll1 Li/:hl JIlf:"lll'~'

37, 38

piper C3 (27). 'i4--:> pri'~llcs

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978 1 841763026

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anadian f rc

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Men-at- I'm

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he Ru ian Army 1914-18

978 I 84176 486 3

len-at-Arm

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The US

978 1 84176 398 9

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The Italian

rmy of World War I

978 1 84176 399 6

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The Ilriti h

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978 1 84176 565 5

Men-at-Arms

394

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The British Army in World \ ar I 2) 1916-18

978 I 84J76 566 2

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407

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978 I 84176 71 7

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151

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978 1 855324695

Elite

56

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84

World War I Trench \ ar ar (2) 1916-18

978 1 85532 541 8

Warrior

16

British Tommy 1914-18

978 I 84176 76

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cotti h Divisions in the World Wars

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The Canadian Corps in World War I

The uniforms, equipment, history and organization of the world's military forces, past and present

Thi book de cribe the organization, lists th units and illu trates the uniforms and equipment of the four anadian divisi n which earned an lit r putati n on the Western Front in 1915-18. anada' 600,0 0 troop - of whom more than 66,000 died and nearly 150,000 were

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wounded - repre ented an xtraordinary ontribution to the British Empire's struggl . n grim battlefields from the Ypr s Salient to th

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