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The Canadian Corps

in World War I
Flfst pubUshed in Great Bntaln in 2007 by Osprey Publishing Dedication
Midland House. West Way. Solley. O.f",d 0X2 OPH. UK
443 Park Avenue Soulh. New Yorll. NY 100\6. USA To the memory of my greal-uncle, Albert Vermelle. 22e balaillon
canadien-franqais. kOled in action 6 August 1916.
Ema~. InfoOospreypubllshlng.com Lost but never lorgotten.

C 2007 Osprey Publlshlng ltd.

All nghts resOlVed. Apart from any lair deabng I", Iho purpose of prIvate study. Author's note
research. cnhClSm or rovlew. as petmllled under the Copynghl DeSIgns and
Patenls Act. 1988. no part 01 thIS pubhcauon may be reproduced. stoted 111 This slim volume allempts to provide a necessarily very concise
a relneval system, or Iransmllted In any fOfTll '" by any means. electronic. account of the background. organization. uniforms. arms and
eleclncal. chemical, mechanlcal. optical. photocopylOg. recording", othel\'/IS", eqUipment of the Canadian Corps on the Western Front. with brief
wlthoulthe pr/O< wnlten parmisslOll 01 the copylight owner. Enqultres should additional notes on other Canadian land. sea and air forces. A list
be addressed 10 the Publishers. 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
ISBN 978 184603 186 1 exist masses of data on this topic. and much thaI Is contained
herein comes from manuscript sources; the bibliography selecls
EdItOr. Martin Windrow a lew. but by no means all of the published sources used.
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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 Estimated 1914 population; 7.870,000 Total enlisted in Canadian services: 628.462
groups for all five divisions, with Regular army strength In 1914: 3,110
some 20 (mostly field) brigades Total males enlisted in CanadianS In Bntish aIr services; c.23.000
Canadian Expeditionary Force: 616.557 Of which, killed or missing; 1.563
and 12 siege batteries, served
Of Which. served overseas: 421.510 Canadians in the British Royal Navy: c.3,000
by nearly 44,000 men, of whom
MIlitary nurSing sisters In CEF 2.854 Of WhICh. killed or missing: c.300
2,565 were killed. Canadian Of which. served overseas: 2.411
gunners quickly became Total Canadians killed or m sslng
proficient and Innovative In the Total enlisted In CEF: 619.636 (from Book of Remembrance): 66.655
development of artillery barrage Of which. killed or misslng: 58.990
tactics. By 1918 eight Canadian Wounded; 149.710 National debt 1914; $544.000.000
sIege batteries were equipped Prisoners of war: 2.820 National debt 1919: $2,500.000,000
with the 61n howitzer shown
Royal CanadJan Navy strength 1I11914: 350 Ne moundland population: 230.000
herej it could fire a 100lb (45kg)
RCN strength 101918: 5.500 Newfoundlanders enlisted: 12.425
shell to a distance of 9,500
RCN killed or 1TlISS1ng: 150 01 which. killed or missing: 1.602
yards (5.4 miles, 8.7km).
(Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)
THE CANAD AN CORPS
IN WORLD WAR I

Regulars of the Royal Canadian


INTRODUCTION
Regt in full dress, c,1913 - from
their medals, some are veterans STilE 2()Lh CENT RY DAWNEI, ,ana ta was Cl bOOlllil g OunLr
of the Boer War (1900-02). They in rull develupmellL, £1 ormou on Lh mal iL had onl a fell'
wear white helmets with scarlet million inhabiLilnt sl read froll the AthlllLic to Lhe Pa ilic, Ill~arl
puggaree, brass fittings and
all f them :eLLlc I wiLhin th rough I , 200 mil . ( .30 kill) or 1110:L
regimental badge; scarlet tunics
with dark blue collar, cuffs and
'asil r habitable unlry north of Lhe on tin ~I L-wid bord ~r wiLh its
shoulder straps, white piping onl, ncighbour the nitc I tales or mcri a. in IS r the U"aIlS-
and chevrons, brass buttons cOllLincntal rail",a r link" had opened th . WesL Tn prairic' to. ulem I1L
and collar badges; dark blue and hundr d' 01" Lhousal 1 or immigrants had pOLlr d in ver r I ar'
trousers with a narrow scarlet
I ' Ih - earl, 1~1O() ciLi s, L wn rarm. all I ranch s werc nllt hrooming
stripe. and low black boots, with
the brown leather belt of the
I til' 'n Lake upcrinr, nd Ih anadian Ro kics. atLlral I' .Ources
M1899 Oliver equipment, and W re being xploil·d 'ver h re, and 'iz', hi indusLri : had b -en
Ross rifles. (Private collection) 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'· 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'
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 -
A member of the Volunteer Aid
orli iall' ~iv n til I( ngll -II i:ling namc of 'N n-PcnmlllenI \cti,'
Detachments (VAD), trained in
nursing care by the Order of
MiliLi.· - wa.' 11101' il 1"1" Ling an I. wilh .. bOlil 75,000 om er and III n
5t John. The uniform was a in 191 , il \\la, Lh' onl' 'iz .. bl for c Ih' OllnLr' might Lilli upun
grey single-breasted dress with in all cmergenc', It had abulIl 110 ingle-batlalion inf'lI11r' regimenl:.
detachable white cuffs and ~5 regimellL 01" 'aval I' '. '10 baucrics and J':- cUlIlpanic 01" an iller " and
collar, a white apron and small
varioll, 'uppon s n~ > , Il was Elirly \\"cll organiz' I. and iLS III n w I'
white cap; note the black-and-
white armband of the Order. The
Sill P Is('d t coml1t'I.' I ria's 01" lraining ;11 th ir area', militia amp
VADs worked In Canadian and, (V 1")' 'c:tr, ~Iililiam n gOI a 'mall 'drill' pay; II }' W re i.sued with I a.i
from 1916, overseaS hospitals, (and on n slill carl l) uniform, arlll and qllipm III and mighl v n
In England, France, Italy, Greece hal' . ,I ees lO an armour' I llildin ,
and Egypt; by November 1918
Rliralul1ilS di t not far a, II' II as orp. in I ig iri ',,11'1 i h tended to
the Order had some 400
members from Canada and
g t the cream of til 'wailable rf'SOllr S IIHlIlk to ollle 01" lheir IIsuall '
Newfoundland serving overseas. wealth, and innuenlial ,eni r officers. Indeed, politic- were a (;Ictor in
The Germans twice bombed the lh (mmi,sion,granl c11O: niornrfi rs;th "ew reuuallysucc :sful
Canadian Order's large hospital busillC's.m n in h ir omnllmil~', looking for lhe.o ial prf'.tig Ihal J

at Etaples, France, in May 1918,


Ih 'up rb pI' -ll 14 om'r" filii dr s. uniform, cI"l'~inly lent th m,
destroying ten wards and killing
a nurse, several patients and
Tn In li apart from i~ annual Irainiu , Lhe only lime a militia mil
orderlies and wounding many was lik 1)' t I '1II'd n a u," dUly lI'a" in 'Aid l .iviJ POll' 1", Ill( sll)'
others, (Private collection) 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<lking I ara-military all 'nwlivc:
the 'Rcgim nl 1 s Zouave' pOlllilicaux <Ina Ii n.' (Regiml'1H or
C'lIladian PaJ al Z< Ut\\' ,), wcaring a Fren It-st'l grey 'lIld searlel
unili rill \\iUl a k·pi. had th I"ull uPlort of Ihe powl:rflll .~l1lloli
lerg)'. B' lh 'arl, 1900s 111 'l large I ari 'ill'S in IIcbec prewillt' ' Itad
th ir Zouave coml ani' ,
Becallse of the '(lnaclian armed forces' anglncentric pnlicies Lhe
potelllial r Fr n h .anada', mililar I manpower lI'a: larg 'I~' ignore 1.
h 'am exclu. in' appli cl 10 lht" numerOliS ,alllOli Irish-Calladi"ll
omlllUlliLi . an I to anacla' Fir L NaLions ... nadian In lian:). BlIt
Lh n af{ain, m L anadians ill arl}' 1914 had many mol' imp 1'1 all I
Illing to lhink ab ut limn lhc militia; non·' ofthi: r ally mall reI in lit
J a'l, 0 long as Ih rc was n majOl'inl l'Ilalional Tisis .. , 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., <md declaralions of w'lr b IW n tJ,
clltral Pow r. ( usu'ia-Hungary and erman ') and lh' Em nte
('ranee Russia ,Ill I Great 13ritain). n 4 Augusl 'crmany invaclt:s
n utral B Igiul11, and rcal Brilain dcclaJ'C' war on crman}'- Carmela,
as part of Ih Brili. h Empire, i: aUlUm.lli all' al war.
3 Octob J' ·Iecl carrying som(' . 3,000 Canadian lroOp' 111 31 'hips
I av Ca:1 - lor Brilain alTiving al PI 'moulh on 1 Ih - half' of .ana la'
pr -Augu I 1914 I wi regular and mililia for e and al Ihal date b' far
th larg-stnum!>'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
NhD 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'.
Six Nations Iroquois Indians SMayrP LI rvingwilh Briri.h 27th iV,redli ed 10150 rli eth·s in
enlisted In the 114th (Haldlmand) baltl of Bellewarde Ridg in sOluh rVpr ali nl.
CEF Bn, Ontario, 1916. 'Brock's
May-June ,In Oiv . urfer . nearly _ ,OliO asualties at ' stili rt anel
Rangers' had many Iroquois
volunteers and two of its
iv n h'.
companies were entirely made SeptembeJ' 2. I C II Di\' ani\"s ill Franc , cOlllmanded I ' I h~iGen
up of Indians, officers included. R.E. \ .Turn '1~ \ C; c.., dieH \nn' ,orps, .38,000 ·trong, form'd
They were dispersed among und r Lt E. I I rson, with anadian ~'Iaj 'n nhllr CurTi
other units in November 1916
promol 'd t I11mand original formation, redc. ignatcd I S[ £In Di\'.
when the 114th was broken
up to provide reinforcements.
nits prcvi usl, dispel' ed under Briti h di\'ision (e.g. PP , I and later
About 4,000 Canadian Indians R )'al anadian R gt transferr c! in.
are believed to have served Wi.nter 1915/16 tlnadian .orp holds lin 111 Flancl I' I lw n
in the CEFj some became Pia g leen \'\ood and l EI i '0 \lit or YI r ., ~r I , In i\' (M'!i n
snipers, putting their traditional
'LS.M rcer) Ii I'm d in 'r n
hunting skills to deadly effect
(see commentary, Plate E1).
(Detail from photo in Canada 1916
in the Great Waf .... Vol.lII) 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
6 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 The very different appearance of


February rman WiLh lraw b lwe n isson and I'm LO I I' par d Canadian troops on the Western
Front, 31 August 1918: these
'hon I' from d f nd d in I plh - Lh 'Hindenburg Lin "
are men of Princess Patricia's
9-12 April V'ter IWO wck' f. ophisli ale I arLill 1" I I' panlliOIl, th' Canadian Light Infantry resting
our-di,'ision 'anadian 'orp - fighling- togcth'r for the iiI'. t time - at Arras, scene of the first
aptllr th stnn gi and .upposedl)' impregnabl erlllan posilions on Canadian triumph in the great
Vimy Ridge. The ermans are pushed ba k mile' in some places and Allied counter-offensive. Under
magnification they can be seen
Ih ,rp apLllI' mar than 4,00 prisoner' and 54 guns. AJI hough
to wear the brass 'CANADA'
th st is 13,500 kill eI, mis ing and wound d, this I' .~ounding vi tor' title at the end of the shoulder
sparks illllll ns prid in anada and arns gr 'al prai from IIi d straps, above the while·on·red
command I' , F ur (I' a\ ard'd to tlllaclian oldier', and I I ,dn arc-shaped title 'P.P.C.L.I.',
iv IltU n urd is knighted. above the battalion's 'battle
badges' introduced In
n B n takes command of Third Arm', and LtGen ir f\nhur
September 1916 - a semicircle
'u ceeds to on mand of anadian orp. (second battalion In brigade) In
n cription ,ot d inro 1m in an ada, green (senior brigade, 7th), over
August u ful anadian as, ault on Hill 70. the blue-grey rectangle of 3rd
EF nur ar the fil"t .anadian wom n granL d lh righllo \' L ; Ul Cdn Division. One man has the
regimental badge brazed to the
n / 'ur I c me g n ral fr m S pL mb r.
front of his helmet; behind him
Octob r <U1adian rp ord r d l Ypr s S( Ii III to lak part in Briti h the stretcher-bearer has no
rf n 'ive - Third Battle of Ypr s. ·P.P,C.L.I.' title and a square
26 October-l0 November Battl ofPassch nda I : in appalling weath r battalion patch, presumably for
th Canadian orps take ground in costly aHa ks, 27th 'F Bn cmcring 49th CEF Bn - see Table 1, page
12, and insignia chart, page 44.
th ruins rpa "ch ndaele villag iiI' ton G ovemb r, ana lians surr I'
(Imperial War Museum C03175)
om I ,00 ca ualtie .
6 De ember lIisi nand xpl sian f th allll11l1ni i n hip \[01/(-
Blol1r and the [1110 in Halifax harf OUI', the a '5 I11bl)' poin for on\'oy'
sailin I Europ _ Thi, cal<Jstroph kill' mol' than I 600 and injur '
,000, n arl' all ivilian, and partl Ie els th it, N venh les, nvo)'s
ar ailing again from I alifax b' mid-Decemb r. 7
1918
21 Mar h-17 Jul ,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.
Sir Samuel Hughes (1853-1921). 8-11 ugllst ;\l1adian )rp' sJ -arhcads lIied surprise alla k, 'Il
the vain and self-willed Minister Ami ns, ..dv'lI1 ing 12 mil s,
of Militia and Defence at the 26 AlIglist-lO No emb .. 'Can'l la's IlundlTd Da)'s - th'
outbreak of war. A newspaper
Corp: a hiev s unbroken advanc s. Switched nonJI to
owner, Volunteer Militia officer
and politically powerful member 'anadians a'sault th Hind 'nlllrg Line, and pi r e it n 2
of Parliament, Hughes' character Th ' , r ss th 'anal du lord 11 27 eptcmb r, tak mi n' on
may be read from the fact that 2 Clol r, and apwr am brai on 12 t b 'r. The , rman begin a
he had actually asked for the
g neral withdrawal an I III Canadians pur u th 111 sweepin y a 'id
Victoria Cross for his service In
all pp sition: th . ov rrun the 'nnan d Ii nc s al \ £lIen i Ins on
South Africa. This was refused,
but he did secure a knighthood. I ovc1l1b r, anel ea'h t\1 ns n th' 10th.
and political manoeuvring Septem.ber aud lob I' :anadian ontingenl . nt La Ru, sia La aid
brought him promotion to White armi s again.t Bolsh viks in th 'i\'il \\ar.
general rank. The outbreak of
11 ovember rmi tiel' agr d with rman ': n I rlh real "'ar.
war catapulted Hughes from
a relatively minor cabinet post
to international s1ature. He 1919
often ignored military planners, 2 June r at)' f\ rsaill" 'igneel, finali7jng t 1111 of erman urrcnd r.
the worst case probably being o lober a t :anadian onling nts I ave Ru. 'ia.
his scrapping of the existing
scheme for moblllzation,
which created massive and
unnecessary administrative CANADA IN THE GREAT WAR
chaos. His political stance
as a passionate Orange Order Wll n th 'all to arms was soun 1 d in anada in August 19J
supremacist did nothing to rally
cmhusiasn ran high a ros. the countr', and t ns r thou:and. or 111 n
French- and Irish-Canadians
to the war effort. His term as
volul1le'r 'e! to g t war.Th 'anadian gO\ernl11'1 I olT r··d tl'() p: L
minister was both a political and Britain for ov rsea' 'ervin' II'hil . ordering th' l11obilizmion or part
military failure, and Increasingly or the \olullt 'cr ~I'[iljtia, Th ' idea was to get as man' troops OV'r La
an embarrassment to the England as qui kJ . as possil Ie; m 1St were om'in ed Ihe war would be
Conservative party. Stubborn to
0\' r in a mall T of 111<lnl hs,
the last, he finally had to step
down In late 1916. (Print after It lI'a, .anada'. lui iou' f« rUtI1l' t ha\'c ir amuc! Hugh. a. til
'S.B.'; private collection) millistcr r sionsibi Ii)r th ' P 'nmlnent For e and th \o!tlnte r Militia
sin C 191 I. A man or greal harm, wit and driving encr :. alii d with
(' n.lIl11malC p lliti al skills, 'ir a 111 , \IIa' also a stubb 1'11, pomp II
ra 'i 't who would admil no contradiclion to hi \Ii w. s hi' own 'on
put it,' ael help he who goe' a rainst 111 • f~llher' will'. [ is -ar!' plan
II' r to turn th .ana lian i\lilitia into ,sam thing lik· Ih wis. III d I
f balllc-r -ad' res'I"\' '. his COlli I not b achi v d in anada a v r I
dir~ r I1l .oci ty f'n 111 witz'r1and; but I ugh . did "lIr :ubst;mtia!
8 Illdg t incr a. . that I mug-ht marke I il11J r v 111 nl. to th lunt r
~[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<H awn, n nh f Uawa.
111 Augusl ]9] -, Sil' am Hu he. W II a i I thi'
s nsibl n bilization plan, InSI ad, he hose to I' al
an Illir II new arm I b, forming he anadian
Expedilionary Force (soon known simply as the 'F),
II EF volunleers were direcled La as mbl· aL
akan.i r, a larg n w camp bing s Lup n 'ar lI'b
.il', his new m biliZ'llion sch m I' al d m(\ siv'
,\(In inistraliv probl m and onfu iorl' a \ hoI n w
forc~ \\'a bing rea led lhal had n elir t c nn L.i n
wilh the xisLin mililia while 11 ding all ilS I' sour s
and man p wer,

The Canadian Expeditionary Force


III ugll't 'md pi mb I' t i l ' of tll u. and' of 111 n from mililia Detail from a painting by
re rim III nO k d into alcani r, I fa e a \I id rang of 'honagc' Richard Jack, 1917, showing a
Highlander of the 15th CEF Bn
and liscomlons in Ihis hug t nl il)' whiJe b ill organized il1l IH W
at the Second Battle of Ypres,
ballali n , EF baualioll had eight Illpani s, ea h of thr c Hi I" 22 April-25 May 1915. The
and 116 nlisl d III 'n. Baualion' w re numb red rath I' than bearin T 15th was basically the CEF
lhe IraelilionalliLles of long-established mil ilia regim IllS, bUl in pm tice reincarnation of Toronto's 48th
Ih baualions o[ the anadian Division iniLiall 1 s nt to Europe w r Highlanders. He is shown with
the khaki Balmoral bonnet,
larg-I}' mad up fro III melllb rs or th pI' -\ ar \olunt r l'vlililia. Th .
jacket with blue shoulder straps,
were the onl ' fairl' w'lI-train d, unilarm d, equipp d and armedm n and kill of Davidson tartan.
who uld b mU.l-·r d qui kl,; civilian volunt rs IV re no king I (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)
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, 9
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
Colour of Princess Patricia's a rath r ell' ar sta uncleI' anva on 'Ollisl ur' Plain, th anaclian
Canadian Light Infantry, Division landed in Franc" in F bruar I 1C IS, and mov d lip th lin into
1914-19. Originally intended as
th lrenchs of Flander ,
a unit HQ flag, it was presented
In August 1914 by Princess
Patricia of Connaught, daughter First blood: Second Ypres, April 1915
of the Governor General of II the combatant armies weI' bin w I adl ked in Ih ir lllinuou
Canada, who designed and lr nch lin ',running 'ome 400 mile (G50km) outh rr 111 til b a he
embroidered It herself; its
flhelorlll atOlh wisbord"r,lnth .pringorl915th rman
crimson field, fringed with gold,
had a central blue disc edged
pro lu 'c1 a IICW seer l \\ Olp n t br ak lhi' d acllo k: I i 'on ga . The
gold with a crowned 'PP' cipher place sclected For its firsl ma s use wa al a junction in th Alii 'd line
In gold. Nicknamed the 'Rlc-a- 11 ar Ypres, where the '15th (Algerian) and 87th (TcrriLOrial) Dj,,' held
dam-doo' by men of the PPCLI, lh ren h 'm/'s n rtJlern /lank, ac!ja em LO lh outJ crn nd of th
this became the only unit colour
BrilL h Exp dill nary For e perimeter; tJl /lank r th BEF's frOI In al'
in the whole BEF and CEF that
was actually carried with the
lJulien wa guar I db' the .anadian Divi'i. n.
regiment In battle throughout n 22 pril the 'nnan relea 'eel ollie I 0 LOllS of chlorin gas
the war. In February 1919, n whal w I' nsid reel gr en and llllr liable lonial lr p, Th
Princess Patricia further g dan w re hit firsl by the sUang and sini ler )' llow-gr en d uds
presented the glided laurel
r lIing acros No 1\llan's Land; lip to 1,400 'ren h ro p in the trench s
wreath for the pole. It was not
an official regimental colour
hokeel and di d more than 0 OtJl I' W I' eli abled, anel the
until 1922, when a replica urviv r br k and 0 d P ning a four-mil gap in tJle fronl. The
was presented with the King's rman infallu' I eli I n l xploil tJ un xpe t cI al f h ir u e
Colours and was carried until f III)" an I tJl al adian' unlel~alla k ell I ' lh I ; tJl ir a: lalli
1934. (From an old tinted print)
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,
10 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. \',
f{il'scd him on \' 1" on ivai I 0 a.ion, and if \\(' 1I1c1 have killed
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
o (' mil r I. 15 II rd In iv b gan LO Ii rm in 'I<ln e an I wenL inLo
Ihe lin the (i lIowil g , pring LO be joined by Lh 4th in SepL mb r
1916, Fr m Lh Lim' \I'h n Lhe ISL Di,' w'nL W'ran Lh Canadian
gov rnlll nL Ila I I - -I a lamanL LhaL lh baLtalions it ' nl to Europ
hould nOL b dis('r dint Lh'r rormati ns of Ihe BriLi, h
Exp 'clitionar 'For e, and the arrival of the 2nd Div allow d Lhe creation
of iI mall anaclian corps, B' cLOb'r 1916 the anadian Corps had Chaplain G,McL,Dlx, 106th CEF
gr \\'n to lour infanll')' clivi i ns. lIppon d I ' trang anill 1")', avalr., Bn (Nova Scotia Rifles), 1916.
Chaplains attached to unIts
'ngin r and auxiliary Ii rc. LOtallil1CT lIlor han 0,000 men,
wore thetr corps' distinctive cap
Olllman 1 of LI anaclian orps rram [\(a' 1916 LO ./une 1917 was I cld badge in the shape of a Maltese
I . a Br'iLish I ral ir Julian Byng - n' r Lh fi, c Illmanders to cross, and their battalion's
III -rg [r rn the Dardan II, i.1mpaign wiLh any redit 5th C" Div badge on the lapels,
IVa formcd in I3rilain n 13 F bruary 1917, bilL remain d ther ,i1nd wa (Private collection)

broken lip in F I rlIilry 1918 lO provid r inforcemcnl .

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, or
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 n-
an 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'h-
anadial 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

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, 12Ul Bele: 38th, 72nd, 781h 8. 85th BIls
1sf [),wsiOl1) RCA: 3rd & 41h Beles CFA
1st Brigade: lsI. 2nd, 3m & 4111 Baltatlons RCE: 41h Bele
2nd Bela: Sill, 7tl1. 8th & IOlh Bns RCASC: 41h Div Train
3rd Bele: 131h, 14t11, 15th 16t11Bns CMGC: 41h BIl
41h Bele: 9th. 19th, 11Ih & 12th Bns CMC: 11 th, 12111 & 13t11 Ad Am Is
Royal canadian Artll'ery • lsi 2nd Beles
Cdn Reid Any 51h DIvision r,n England)
Royal canadian Engineers: 1st Bda 13th, 14111 & 15ttl Bdes 1119t11. 125th, 128th.
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps: 1st 134111, 1401h, 1601h, 1561h, 160111, 161sl,
Divisional Train 185111 & 1981h Bns)
Canadian Machine GLIn Corps: 1S1 Bn RCA: 5th Div Artiliery
Canadian Medial! Corps: 1SI. 2nd & 3rd Field CMC; 14111 Ad Ambl
Ambulances RCASC: 51h Div Traln

2nd Division G.,nadian cavalry Brigade (British 3rd Cav Di\I)


4th Bela: 181h. 19th. 20th 1st Bns Royal Canadian Dragoons
5th Bele' 22nd. 24th. 25th & 26th 8ns Lord Sirathcona's Horse
6th Bele: 271h. 28th, 29th 30th Bns Fort Galry Horse
RCA: 51h & 6th Beles CFA Royai Canadian Horse Artillery
An April 1916 view of Canadian
RCE: 2nd Bele Machine Gun Squadron
Infantry of an unldenllfled unit CMC: 71h Ad Ambl
RCASC: 2nd DIY Train
'holding the line' In a trench In CMGC: 2nd Bn
the Vpres Salient. This Is one CMC: 4t11, 51h & 6111 Fld Ambls Army and Corps Troops
of the earliest photos showing Canadian Ughl Horse
Canadian troops wearing the 3rdDNIsion RCA: Canadian Corps Horse Artillery: I st-3rd
steel helmet issued that March. 7th Bde: Royal Canadian Regt, PPCU, 42nd Garrison Artillery
By that time their dress and & 49tl1 8ns Motor Machine Guns: 1st & 2nd 8des
8th Bde: lsi, 2nd &3rd Bns Cdn Mounted Tunnelling Coys: Ist-3rd
arms were mos1ly the same
Rifles Raijway Troops: 1st-13th Bos
as those used by theIr British
9th Bda: 43rd. 52nd. 581h & 1\61h 8ns Labour Troops: HO: 191-4111 Works Cays
comrades: many men had (plus various sl11all eiemenls e.g, 58Ul Broad
RCA: 9U1 8. 10th Bdes CFA
BritiSh-pattern Jackets and RCE: 3rd 8de Gauge Operaling Coy)
greatcoats, SMLE rifles had RCASC: 3rd Div Tralo
replaced the Ross, and OB web CMGC:3rd Bn In Srberia
equipment the leather Oliver CMC: 8U1. 91h 10lh Ad Ambls 16th Bda: 259111 260lh Bns
set. Here, the right-hand man RCE: 16111 Fld Coy
wears rubber boots in the mud, 11th Division CMGC: 20tl1 Coy
and the third man from left has 10th Bele: 441h, 46111, '17tl1 50lh Bns Royal North West Mounted Poilce: B Sqn
11111 Bda: 54Ul, 75th, 87th 102nd Bns
the British sleeveless leather
jerkin. (Private collection)

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 I 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 anti-
c 11' ripLion rialS brok III in
12 Queb 'C it' and w'e I lu elil-
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.
Desl iIe lh s a tors, lhou ands or Prell h-
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<l rc on . r"i e turin the lI'ar. Arri an-
~·Illadian.. allh ugh makin r lip onl' al utll
9.000 S 1I1', were als orten barre I rrom enlisling
b ausc or 1I cir rae', and th 2nd Con ll'll 'lion
I3n.·j hb tlr tlllii. was d'cmed Ihe ouly pIa f l'
lh'm. I c\'enhelc' . 'onll: weI' seen in the rank-
or olher EF batl.alion '.
\llhuugh I ubli I, all 1'01' lh war, '0111 ' Eugli 'h-Canadian also had StaH oHicers with MajGen
lh ir pri\'tll d ubls. "VI1 non. -riplion time in I 17 lh miliwr' H.E.Burstall (right), 1916; all
wear standard oHicer's service
aUlh rilie' lI'ere dismay d LO find thal nwr d nmncls for x m(Jlion'
dress, two with puttees and one
anw from nlario Lhan from Quebec. In the nd, onscription did n l with laced field boots - and note
pI' due the an li ci pal 'd n k or n 'W re ruits and was a failur' a "ru.s that the satchel for the PH anti-
lhe nati 11. The growlh or Canada' ,ar industries, Ioem d main I ' gas helmet was carried at all
in MoulI'cal and Tor nl r'stdted in labour shonages b' J916; times. At left, displaying red
011. Cqll nll' 1 n. r thou an l' rwol11 name into \h worklor ',bul collar tabs and the red/white/red
brassard of the Corps staH, is
more 111 n weI' al 0 needed.
Col Talbot Mercer Papineau.
7 n li.uncl1ll nd c1lo Ie relali" Iy low in Ih Ma.-ilim pI" in s ancl A grandson of Louis-Joseph
u')) c.lhepercentag 'risinga'on w nlfllrLh'rw '1. Thi. wasdll'lo Papineau, the French-Canadian
cI 1110 I"aph' a I11U h a to nad nali 'Ill: Ih l' II' l' lib t'lIlliall' 111 I' patriot leader in the 1830s, he
m 'II Lhan w 111 n in Lhos pI' \ in - s III 171 r' encouraged French-Canadians
to enlist, arguing in the Quebec
an I over 2~ per enl 11101" in Brilish ·ollllllbia.
press that the war was a great
ll1, 11 L1ch high I' pr p nion of nli lin nt among anadian. born in international crusade. While
Britain - 'Olll 2 7, 0 , P l' 'em of lh EF. The pI' ponion agreeing with the noble
of enli lmenLS alllong h· m r I1llmer 1I English- ,anadian wh ObJectives, his critics -
famili h, d b en in h - untr' r I' v ral g 11 rati n wa low r. especially his cousin Henri
Bourassa, who was the
TI! r is n d ubI lhal anada'- nuibuli n ould hav b' n
Intellectual leader of French
gr 'al r, Tn 1110' 'olln des, n. lion, I armies are a fo u of I e'i 1 Canada - retorted that to be
wh r' lh various gr up' unite ~ l' a common 'ause. In alnda. on lh treated with scorn in an army
01 lrar " the mjlilary or anizalion acumll ,divided dl nalion through il that promoted the cultural
I' fusal to'l ommodat lh IIILlIr of Ihe untr 's largesl min lit '. 11 assimilation of his own people
was no way to fight a war.
pile of' all Ih probl 'ms,' anacla'" Atrw 1" to II all to arm duril g
Colonel Papineau was killed
ll! I' at'" ar I' Ill. il 11 lable. Th nation a a wh I I Ii 'veel that il wa' In action on 30 October 1917.
aju.1 ",ar: lhll', wI al was an unmilitar)' C LIntI' in ugu·t 191 el1lcr ed (Photo In Canada In the Great
• a nati n Wilh a izcabl nd ulslandingly 'U e.. ful army))' 1918.
L War .... Vol.lIl)
(I/wl ((1I/1;/II1t\\ /11/ J/fIgP 20) 13
Table 2: Canadian units 1914-19
Note: Bold type lrdcal. 1118 oIliaaI desIgrIll,ion of a tnl~ lherealler. 13th Bn. Canadian Moonled Rlfles As 131h Regt. 7 Nov 19\4;
any bI'adIeled proYI1CIlII fl¥I18I III fOmaI type nctica18 lltOOS 01
recn..otment. The firSt <lBle QUOted lor wamne·1tlised uI1IlS IS \he
oIllcllIl <lBte oIlonn811On 'EngIand. Frantl!I' ale n:Icales 'shpped 10
.""""""",. Jd'I 1916. absorbed b
bec.llrne i1Ianlry bn Af)f 1916; England

Depot Regl Dvllfseas Canadian Moonled Rilles 22 Dec 19\5:


England. FtMce· e«: ro month Iisled. 'Beca'ne' Jncates vhlIesaIe England Ocl \917: 0SbBnded 6 NoY 1920
oorMlrSionIr~ inlo fl8IlHnefllooned lI'1II: ·intO· i'ldicales Royal Canadian ArlJllel\' SmaI Perrnanool Force IOfgarozed 20 Oa
'~amllIgMIaled inlo' IhIJl r i or Iris. 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
Royal CaNdiM ~IiIOOflS Pe".l8Il1 Rllce PlI8'ozed 21 DIIc Stb-<nts, e 9 IoYilZe' and Ir8I'Ch tTlOfta' lI'1IIL NtIo dIlclOl 19Ser'\Ie.
18ll31: EnglinI Ocl 1914: FItFQI May \915. ser.oed as If'Iar&ry 'Mlh IIfTWTU1illon CXlUm. and Ktlool 01 ~ Canacian Gamsoo Ar1iery
lSI CdI'llM tnt Jan 19'8: ~ amky!de 'NIItwl CdI'l cav Bdo lnUi li8Mll:l ro c:oasI ballen. III e..ta 1914-'9. e:speoaIIy Halila:r
.ro ser«l811Kh1cl to Ita 8lIi!tl1vmf: QwI8da May 1919 and E.QMnaII; 6Ih Co¥ et 51 t..ueia. WeSlIndies. 1917-19

--
lord Strathcona's HorM (Royal Canadians) P8rmnBnl Rllce Royal Canadian E ~ PMnarw1t Force ~ 1 Jl;, 1~
forg.1rizecj \ Jl;, 19(1): _ IIllr'o'iCeS lIS ~ CIInElcian Dragoons

Fort G~ Hcwse9JlWl19'8~CdI'lc...DIp;lt; ~ 26 feb 1916.


.......
and YllUlI_ nWiIIa COlllpOll8lllS rIlCJl*'-l il 1914. Served III ill

,.... _ • Rc1te' c..dian [)'lIgOO"IS eboY8: detlaoldod 6 Nov Royal Canadian Regt ~ Force Pganzed 21 Dec 1~
'920 BemuiiI Sept 1914. c...aALv 19'5, 10 EngIlnjSBpl: \915; France
SpecIal SeMce $qua(hn. 19th Albert8 Dr1ogoons 6 AL9 \914: 10 Nov 1915, III 3rd Cdn l)w; c...» M;w 1919
Engk1nd Ocl 1915; ffln;:e Feb 1915 III lSi CdI'llM: no CdI'l Corps Print;ess Patricia.. Canadian Ugtollnfanlt)' 10 ~ 1914; &van::t
Oct 1914.... 271tl &lIIh l)w; F,.... Dec 1914. deIac:t-ed 10 32n::f

-
Qw A8gl19 May 1918
Squadron of MounlMl RlRn 7 New \9\4: EngIIrc:1 ..kn! '915; French ON ~ 1915,"'" 3rd Cdn ON ~ DIIc 1915; Qnq
France 5epI1915: FQI CarediIro . . . . .s (Special Serw::e sen 3 Feb Mar 1919. became "9* c..etal Anr'f RIg! 1 Apt 1919. f\le
19'8; Inlo co, Cor!» CEIY Rrlgl19 May 1916 banct I-U1lrog SIewM Iar\afl, blull <icetI ~ WIIh lllac:Io;a:xXs
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
...
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
.... 1918: FftW'aOcl '918; c.oo.Mar 1919. d8mobIt.z8d III Aegooa 2nd Canadian 8n (Easlllfn Ontario Regl) 6 AL9 1914. England Oc!
14 Mar 1919 -e' ~ fIoM'MP a.otto'IZ«f 25 Sept. ~ \914; France F1lb 19'5. III '$1 CdI'l Oiv: c.nsdiI and ctBlnot:Jlzaj
(f\.I5sflll ~ NoY 19'9; dIbeoiOed Nov 1920 Ap1919
Canadlan Corps c.valry RegVCanadian Ught Horse For"*' 3rd Canadian Bn (TOI'OI'IIO Reg!) 6 AL9 1914: Engtand Ocl 1914:
ffan;e 19 May '916 as CdI'l Cotps Cav Regt; Clndiln 1.qlt Horse ffancfI Feb 1915. III lSI CdI'llM: CanDela IWld deulClbilzed J!'f}F 1919
21 Feb \917: ClIJ'w:iiIlWld dernc:lbbICI Ap 1919 "th (Central Onlarlo) 8n 6 AL9 1914; EngIlVlcf 0cl19'4: Frarce Feb
Canadian ClIYalry Depot Formed England 24 May 1915: absorbed 1915. In lSI CAtlIM; Qrecla and d8mobIt.z8d Apt 1919
bV CllnaciBn A8Ielve CoY Aegt 5 Apt \9\ 9 5th an tweslern Csvslry)6AL9 1914; EngIandOcI 19'4: Fr.n::e Feb
Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regl Formed FralCe 20 Feb '911, 1915. III lSI Cdn 1M; canada end d8'nobIZ8d Apt 1919
ImiIIg;:motrIg CdI'l _ aM!JroIlI'1IIS 61h Bn lPrehe ~ & NorIt'iern ()1I<ri:ll6 ALv '914; England Oct
1st, 2nd. 3rd RelitI', Canlldlan Mounted Rilles 7 Nov 19\4: 19'4. prtMded i1lif1lorcements: intoCO'! Cav Depot. Carllartuy. 6 M;v
England JUle '915: FIMCe Sept '915; seNed as lntanlry l.lIlI' 1915
BmEIIga-naled 10 Iorm 'SI CMR en I Jan 1916. rrt-l lSI h9d a llh Canadian Bn (lsi British Columblal6 AL9 '914; England Oct
OClr'l1PkJle rTICU1led pipe bMd, seld 10 be worldS fwst: no special 1914: france Feu 1915. in 1st Cdn Orr, CMfIdlI {lnd defroblize(I
cisthclions 0lCC0Pt lor Royal S'ewarl lortan piplI baQsl Apt 1919
4th, 51h, 6th Re9t•• Canadian Mounted Rilles 7 Nov 1914; EogI;nl 6th Canadian Infanlry Bn (9Oth Regtl (ManIoba) 6 Aug 1914:
J4if 19'5: FrlYlCfl Ocl 1915: served as lnIlVllry unl~ amalgamated to E1lgland OCt 1914; FrtWlCfI Feb 19'5,1n ,st CdI'lI)v; Canada Apt 1919.
Iorm 1st CMR 8n \ JM '918 demoblzad May
7th Regl, Canadian Mounled Rilles 1 Nov 1914; England Mar 1915. 9th Bn 6 Aug 1914; England Ocl 1914: becana 9th Reserve en.
lIbsorbed by CMR Oopol on 81'....0/ 29Apf '9'5; hto 91h Res8Ml8n ~a), 4 Jar1 1917
6th Regl, Cfll1adllin Mounled Rilles 7 Nov 1914; Englar1d OCI 1915: 10th an (Canadians) (Albefla) 6 Aug \9'4: England Oct 1914; France
pro.tled reWorcerroMIs: absorbed Into 41h CMR Bn IWld 39th Reserve Feb 1915. In '51 Cdn DiY: 10 Canada and ctemobiized Apr 1919
en. 28-29 JM 1917 11th Bn 6 Aug 1914; England 0Cl 19": bec8mlI9th Reserve an.
91h Regt, Canadian Mounted Rilles 1 Nov 19'4: England Dec 1915: 29 Af/f 1915; rllo l11h At!$efve an (Mar~I~. J<V11917
proo.ided roInIorosments: absorbed illO 5th CMR en 29 JM 1916 and 12th 8n 6 klg '9'4; EnglMd Ocl 1914: became 12th Reserve an.
Cdn Cav Depot 3 Feb \916 29 Apt 1915: Inlo '21h AeserWI en (Coo'flll On'anD/. 4 Jan 19\7
10th Regl, Canadian Mounted Rilles 1 Nov 1914; Engtand May 13th an (Royal Highlanders 01 Canllda) (Ou6bec) 6 Aug 1914:
'9'6: prooAOOd rlllnlorcemems.ln1o Cdn Cav Depot 22 May 1916 EngIfInd Oct 1914: France Feb 1915, In Is, CdI'l Drv: Canada <nl
11th Re9t. Canadian Mounted Rilles - see l1thCMR en bllIow dellltltWzOO I>fx \919. lBtack walctl & khakl 'Condie lMlVl'; khaIlI
12th Regt. Canedlan Mounted Rifles 7 Nov 1914: Engtand Ocl BaImoralrtllue G1Mgarry. I1ld & black dier.g; PiP8 blIn:;I Royal Slewa1
1915; proo,oIOOd ltlI"obC8il .... ll5.IntO CdI'l Cav Depot 3 Feb 1916 14th 8n (Royal Monl"al Regt) 6 AL9 t914; EngtiInd Oct 1914:
13111 Regt, Canadian Mounted RllIes see 13th CMA en Fra'1aI Ftib 1915. III lSI CdI'l DiY: Ca1ada inl delllobiized Ap 19\9
1st, 2nd, "th, 5th Cllnlldilln Mounted Rilles Bns formed France 15111 Canadian Bn (48th Hl9hlander. 01 Canada) lQntllrlOl6 Aug
1 Jan 1918. il3rd CdI'llM: QwIada Mar 1919. d811~ Mar & Apt 191-4: England Ocl 19\4~ Fra-a Feb 1915.... 1st CdI'llM: Qlnada
1919. ~ blnj ... 1$1- see above. 1$1 Aegt ~ tw1d demoIlAzed Apt 19\9. (Da...clIon lartlVl; khaki ~
11th 8n, Can.lldlan MountMl Rifles As 11th FIegI. 1 NoY 1914; ~. I1ld & btIIdl dicrig; JlIPll t/ilInd S1ewa'1 cI RngiIfdl
becilfT'l8 InllVllly bn AfJI '9\6; Ef9;n:I Jd't 1916; plUIIOdOO 16th C~ian an (The C.llltdlanSc:ol;tlsh)~6AL9191A:
,eiluC8i,.... lIC; inlO 24th Aa9lIrYe en (8OOstl~, 1 .Jan 1911 Engtaocl Ocl 1914; FriroOe Feb 1915. III 'SI co,lM: C8nsda <nl

"
dafn(lblz«l ~ 1919. (T8I181l1olmaI1Gl; No.1 Coy. Gordon; No.2 Coy. 43rd Sn (Cameron Hl9hlande.... 01 Canada! (M;lr1(\ob8!7 Nov 1914:
~: No.3 COy. Camefon 04 En'lIchl: No.4 COy. Black walCh, EngIand..b'le 1915; France Feb 1918. In 3rd Cdn DIY; CenOOa IIf1(j
Tarlan ('\ EngIancl '" France: MacKenzie: khaki Balmorlll/bkle ~. de<.oabiIizOO Mar 1919. (Cameron04E<rachl1Man: I<hilkl~
red '" v.hle 6cw1g: IJIP8 lxVxl red l..soYcl3 Gtengany. red & bIac:lI clir::Illll; Pi08 bind &lWre)
11th 8n 6 AI.lQ 1914: EngliJnd Oct 1914; b8c:tlme 17th AeS8fVe en. 44th (Manltoba) en 7 Nov 1914; EngIanct Oct 1915: Fnrlce Aug
29 ~ 1915; tllO 17th AesewYe en (NoYa SootlaJ, 4 Ja1 1917. 1916. l'l 4th C<h DIY; Canaoalrd dendliIIled.llre 1919
we
\Mac;I<er\Zl8 l8IllWl; bUl GllIngauy. red " IlIBcll diang: lxVxl samej 4Sth (Manitoba) en 7 Nov 1914; England Mar 1916: became 4Sth
18th (Weslern Ontario) Canadian 8n 7 Nov 1914: EngliInd f>(Jt 1915: Ae5eNe an. 7 A.p 1916; inlo 11th Reserve &1, 7 .)J 1916
Fr.n:8 Sap 1915, in 2nd C<h DH; Canada Ird dei.lObIiZ9d May 1919 46th (South Saskatchewan) an 7 New 1914; EngIanct Oct 1915;
19th lCentral Ontario) Canadien On 7 Nov 1914: England A.p 1915: Fr.n::e Aug 1916. n 41tl C<h DIY; Qv>adlllIf1(\ cBrobload.oUt 1919.
Fnn::eSllpt 1915. in 2nd C<h Ow: CarlIldB Ird~May 1919. \APe bIIol1; ~ SlewM kM.; l*.- Glengiwry WIIh bIeckoodc's Ie.:Uh8rl
jF'\I» biw'od: BIlJck WdIdllaUn; btA GlIr9lfTYI 47th (British Columblal an 1 Nov 1914; EngIanct New 1915; Fr.n::e
20th [central Ontano) Canadian Bn 7 Nov 1914; England ~ 1915; Aug 1916. n 4th ~ Ow: c...cla Inl deillOt.ad.llre 1919
FnIn08 5ePt 1915. in 2nd C<h Dill: CarlIldB III'ld dei.lOt*ed May 1919 48th (British CoIumbiel en 22 Feb 1915; became 3n:l C<h ~
21st (Easlern Ontariol Canadian 8n 7 Nov 1914: £ngIan:lA.p 1915; Bo 8 Jiri 1916, n 3rd C<h DIY; Iistl8i decl May 1911
Frarv::eSept 1915. n 2ndC<h Ow; CInada IrIl dei.lOt*ed May 1919. 49th Canadian On (EdmOOIOfl Relilt) 7 Nov 1914; France Oct 1915;
J'lpe biw'od: 8lack Watdl tartwo: N\lIki GIIr1gany wolto wh&e ~ piplI n3rd em Ow: c...oo.-cl dal.lllt:lIiz.:t Mar 1919. f'p bird: I9Ql&
ri:JbOOS" bBg Mac::leoO 01 Halllsl triorm but Roy.Il ~ lIII1a'l ppe btigs " ri:lbo'\s. Tl'e 49th atso
22nd (French C808dlan) On lQu/ll:Iel::J 7 No¥ 1914; ~"fJI1915; had a ~ Cl.b rNSCOIl

.........
50th (Cal9arYl On 7 Nov 1914; &1QlBncl Nov 1915; Fr.n:eAl.g 1916,10
Fran;la Sept 1915. n 2ncI C<h 1M; CanadlIInd clenlOt*ed May 1919
23f'cl On 21 Oct 1914; ErYtJlencl Mao 1915; bk8me 23Id Reserw an. 4f1 Qtl {)jy; e..:ta Ind ... 1Clb*ad ..... 1919. " . . '-'cl: EIsdt
29A{Jt 1915;nlO23rd~en~...,1917
~1h On (IIlclorie Rillesl7 NoY 1914; &1gIend "fJI191S; Fr.rc:eSept 51$1 (E'*'->tonj On 1 Nov 1914: England ~ 1915; ~
1915. n 2nd C<h Drv; Canada III'ld dei.1CII*iitcl Mil)' 1919 Tl'eGa'nso1o...y&113 Nov 19161rd provdecI .eob"",,,,11$
25th Bn (Nova Seotia Rift••) 7 NoY 1914; Engtancl A{Jt 1915; FrilrICe 52ncl (New Onlarlo) Bn 1 Nov 1914; &1gMnd 0..-: 1915; France Feb

-""-
Sept 1915. WI 2nd ~ Ow: Ca-ecle Ind dlln1llt:lUlcl May 1919. (Pipe 1916. n 3n:I C<h DIY; Clw'ilCIs a'Id clerTdIllzed Mar 1919
bPI: Mad<8nzJtl1a't8n; blJe ~ red & 'IIIhte cb'lg. bIIIckod<'S 53rd (NortlMlrn Saskatchewan) en 7 Nov 1914; EngIancl Ap 1916:
broken loP 1oI.eoibce.ellS oUt 1916
26th (N.w Brunswick) On 1 Nov 1914; EngIwIcl f>(Jt 1915; Ffln::e 54th (Kootenay) an IQ1tlstt CoUnbraI 7 New 1914; EngIEn:t Nov
5epI191S. n 2nd em
0...: c...oo III'ld cleInobiized May 1919. f"ipe 1915; FrilnceAug 1916, n 4th C<h DiY: CIIrIIIIIa Ird der.ltdz8d.b1e
bend: MacKenzIe lllrIiIn; blJe ~ 1919
27th (City of WlnnilM1l) On 7 Nov 1914: EngIIrd May 1915: Frarw;:e 55th (New Brunswick & Princ. Edwarcllsland) 8n 1 Nov 1914;
Sept 1915. WI 2nd C<h Ow: ClnJcle III'ld ~ May 1919 EngIancl Oct 19'5; bIIcame 55ltl Reserve an. 9 Feb 1916; no 40lh
28th [Notth_sll Bn 7 NoY 1914; ErYtJlencl.knl 1915; frBnoe SepI AaseM! an. loUt 1916
1915; n 2nd O:*l DiY: C8recl3 May 1919. dllnUlAzed .knl1919 56th [CalgarylBn 7 Nov 1914; EngIBnd ~ 1916; no 9th Reserve
29th {Vanc:ouyerl On 1 Nov 1914: England May 1915; frBnoe Sept an. 7 Jd.t 1916
1915. n 2nd C<h DiY: Qw'IIcla Ird cleo.lllb52fId May 1919, {Pipe lxVxl: 51. Bn (Canacllen-Franltals) ~!20 Ap 1915: ft9and ......
khaIu kit: bUi GlengivTy: piplI rtlbor1s '" beg Mac:t<n'Ol1artaoj 1916: broken up lor Alir1Iorcerre'ls to 14th" 22nd ens ~ 1916
30th On I Nov 1914: En!jand Mar 1915: became 30lh Aeserw en. 58lh Bn (OntaIoj 20 AfJl 1915: England Nov 1915: Fi1IOCl!l Feb 1916,
29 ~ 1915; i'Ito 1st Reserve en (Bribsh CoUnOOI. 4 JiWl 1911 In 3m Cdn Div: Canada lnl ~ Mar 1919
31st (Alberta) en 1 NoY 1914: England May 1915; ffanceSept 1915. 59th Bn (Onlarlo) 20 ~ 1915; EngIaod ~ 1916; broken up lor
ln2nd Cdn DiY: Qwlacl,) May 1919. dei.lObIzed 1 .lire 1919 """""",""
32nd On 7 Nov 1914; England Mar 1915: became 32nd Reserve Bn. 60th Canadian On (VIctoria Rln.s 01 Canada) /OuMlecl 20 ApI
2 May 1915: i)l() 151h Reserve en (Sllskalchewa1I. 4 ../tVl1917 1915; EngIaod Nov 1915: Frallc. Feb 1918, n 3rd C<h DiY: abliorbed
33rd Bn (Onlario) 7 Nov 1914: England Mar 1915; becalle 33rd inlo other ,,"Is 30 Apr 1911
Reserve en. 7 ~ 1916: inlo 36th Reserve en. 7 JU 1916 6151 (Wlnnlpe9) Bn 20 ApI 1915; England Apr 1918: broI<en up lor
34lh On lonulliol 7 Nov 1914: EogIIlnd Ocl 1915; became 341h renlorcemenls
Reserve en. 9 Feb 1916: Inl0 361h Reserve en, 7 JU 1916. 34th Bn 62nd (Brillsh Columblll! On 20 Apr 1915: England ~ 1916; brokIln
rllOl"~27Nov 191611s34lh·Boys'Bn.~ 11 ..U 1917 up tor reinfon:;emerlls
351h Bn 7 Nov 1914; Er'(lIand Ocl ,915: becamlI35lh Reserve 811. 63rcl[Edmonton! an 20 Apr 1915: England Apr 1916; broken up lor
9 Feb 191(1: Inl0 41h Re_ Bo \V'Iestern OnlariOl. 4 J8Il 1917. (Pipe reinforcements. (Pipe band: bkJe Glengarry, red '" bIadc dicingj
bald: DavIclson 11ll1ill1: bIu8 Glet'lijllfl)') 64th Bn (Mar~1ma Pn:Mncesl2O Apr 1915: Engtand ~ 1916; broken
36lh Bn 7 Nov 1914: Er1gl8nd Jl.n 1915; becIIme 361h Reserve en. up for re!nforcemenlS: reorgarized 7 Dec 1918, IIbsorbecJ .k.o1e &
14 JU 1915: inlo 3rd Reserve Bo lCenIr/ll onlariol. 4-e Jan 1917 oUt 1917
371h lNorthern Onle<lo) eo 1 Nov 1914; England Dec 1915: bec<rne 651h [Saskatchewan) Sn 20 ~ 1915; England Jt.ne 1916: broken
371tl Resef\oeen. 27 Jan 1918; l'l10 39th Reserve Bo. 8 JU 1917 up for .enIO!ceroonlS
381h (Onewe' en 7 Nov 1914; Berrruda Aug 1915: England May 66th Bn (EdiTlO<'ilon Guardsl 20 Apr 1915; EngLn:l Jul8 1916;
1916; France ......-.e 1916. In 41tl Ccln Dlv: Ca1ada lIf1(\ cIemobiil:ed broken loP 10I rein/orcemenls
..knt 1919 611h an {Weslern Scotsl 20 A4X1 1915; Engtand Aug 1916; brokIln
39th Bn 7 Nov 1914; Englzn:t Jd.t 1915: became 39th Reserve Bo, ..., lor re.nlorcemems 28 ~ 1917. (Pipe baod; Oc:luljas tartal kit;

-,
19 JU 1915; no 6th Reserve Bo (ElISlem OnlllnO). 4 JiWl 1917 bUl G81gIIrry, reel. green '" ...me cicing. Brass lxVxl: Douglas
40th (Nove Seotla) Bn 7 Nov 1914; EngIanct Oct 1915; Dee.IIme 40th -,.."
~ Bro, 9filb 1915: inI026Ih Reserve en, Feb 1911 68th (Reglnal On 20 Apr 1915; Englin::I May 1916; broken ..., lor
41sI(Freneh·Can&cllan) On (OuMJec. EIISlem 0nIa10l7 Nov 1914:
Enp1cl Oct 1915; nto 23rd Reserve en. 20 f>(Jt 1916 69th French·Canadian Bn (Ou!IbecIIOoUt 1915; EngIandAfJl 1916:
42nd On (Royal Highlanders 01 Canada! ~ 7 Nov 1914; broken..., lor ,eob"enellS
EngiInj.u. 1915; France Oct 1915. WI 3rd C<h DIY; Ca1aclII <WId 70th en IQr&aIoI 10 ~ 1915; England />p 1918; broken ..., lor
demobizecl Mar 1919.lBIBCk WMdl tartan. net. piplI blInclI reo ...Q!..... ils
15
Canadian units 1914-19 (continued)
1151 Bn (OntariO) 10.My '915; England ft{x 1916: brOkell up for 97th Bn fAmerlcan Legion) 22 Dec 1915. racnJlted manly ffom US
rei1IOfCeffillfll S cl103ns .... TOlOfllO: England Sep 1916: broken up lor rtlin'OI'CefIlErlts
72nd Bn (Seaforth Highlanders 01 Canada) IBr.,;sh ColLmbia} Sept-Qc11916
10.kAv 1915: England May 1916: Flilnce hlg 1916. ~ 41" Cdn Div; 98th (Lincoln & Weiland) Bn (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915; England .u.,
Canada and demobilized .hnI 1919. /MacKenne laf1El1l; khaki 1916: broken up lor reinfOO'Cefl'lel'\1S 15 OI;:t 1916
BamoraiItlUe GIefgany. rod /I. black dicing; plpe band same) 99th (Essex} Bn (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915: EngiaIld JIx'oe 1916: :Jnl0 35th
73rd Overseas Bn (Royal Highlanders 01 Canada) (Q.Jetlec:) 10 J\Jy Reserw Bo. 7 Jdy 1916
1915: f.r1gIlnl Apr 1916: FllWUl Al.g 1916. J'I 411l Cdn Div; heaVy lOOth Bn (Winnipeg Grenadiers) 22 Dec 1915: Engilrd Sept 1916:
casu<Wlles at VltllY & Wllhdlawn Irom Ina 14 Apt 1917. absofbe<l .....'o "to 11th Resetw BrI (Manitoba), 20 J,yr 1917
OIher ..nts 19 Apr 1917. ('Khaki lanan' kill - khaki grou1d with 101s1 Bn (Winnipeg Llghllnlantry) 22 Dec 1915: Engl;n:I.kly \916:
rodIQleanlda<k blue Sl~: khaki G/m9i1rry Wllh redI~dark liJB Into 17th Aesefve Bn. 16 July 1916
Slripe artlln:l base; khaki BaImor8I from J\Jy 1916; plpII band same) 102nd Bn (North BrlUsh Columblans) 22 Dec 1915: England ~
74th Bn (Onlario) 10 Jlty 1915: Engmd Apt 1916: bl'oken up for 1916: F,aroce Aug 1916, In 4th Cdn Oi\r; Canada and demobiIzed.klte
fllIIlfon:;emel1ls 18JlJy '916 1919. (Pipe bal1d: Douglas !llflan: bUl Glengarry. red. Il'een & while
75th (Misslssauga) Bn (OntaJlo) 10 Jutv 1915; England A4:Jr 1916;
France Aug 1916. in 4111 Cdn DiY; Canada and demobiized.hxle 1919
'"'"9'
103rd Bn (BIillSh Columblal22 Dec 1915: England July 1916: ~
76th Bn (Ontario) 10 July 1915: England May 1916; broken up lor up lor renforcements 13 New 1916.
roooo:eme!11S Juty 1916 104th Bn (New 8nxls\'1ick) 22 Dec t915: England July 1916. n 5th
77th (Ottawa) 8n 10 July '915; EngIa'1d June 1916; broken up lor Cdn Oiv Feb 1917-Feb 1918: Into 13th Reserve Bo. Mar 1918.
r~orcemer11S 22 sept 1916. (Pipe barXl: khaki hverness tUOlC piped 1051h Bn (Prince Edward Island Highlanders) 22 Dec 1915;
while: khakl~: khaki Glengarry with two whte sulpllS arOUld band) England July 1916: ",10 1001h Bn, 20 Jan 1917. (No Hio;tJland dressl
18th Bn (WInnipeg Grenadiers) 10 Jt..Ij 1915: England May 1916: l06lh Bn (Nova $cotla Rilles) 22 Dec \915: ~JtAy 1916: Into
France Aug 1916. in 4th Cdn DiY: Canada and clomolJIzed Jl.ne 1919 <tOthReserveBn.501;:119l6
791h (Manitoba) Bn 10.kly 1915: Englwld May 1916: broken up lor 1071h (Winnlpe9) Bn 22 Dec 1915: becarr'oll 1071h Cdn Pioneer Bn, n
renl0r0emerlls 12 Jl*t 1916 FIance and FIandefs from Mar 1917; broken up for ~llorcemenls May
80th Bn (Onlllrio) 1O.uy 1915: Engl<n:l May 1916: broIIen up lor 1918. iPipe band: Argyl: & Sulherlan(f Laf1an kilts tor pipers. bkJe
relnlOI'alITlIlnts.uy 1916 GIerlQiWfY wllh double red & wt.te dicW1g: dl'Lrnl1IllfS. ~ 01 Aif1(t
81st Bn (OrrIario) 10 Jt..Ij 1915: England May 1916: broIIen up 'or tartan ltllWS. p\'.lrn bkJe Glengarry)
reJnloroemerus 7.My 1916 l08th (Selkirk Manitoba) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England Sep 1916: into
82nd Bn (Ablfta) 10.uy 1915: EngI<n:I May 1916: Into 91h Reserve 14111 Rese<ve BrI (Manltoba). Jan 1917
BrI, JI~ 1916. (Pipe banl:l. bu1 had no SPBCial disllnctoonsJ 109th (Victoria & Haliburton) BrI (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915: Eng\ancf..kAy
83rd Bn (Queen's Own Rilles of Canada) (Oniano) 10 July 1915: 1916: nlo 12th R6seNe 811. 8 Dec 1916
Engllnd May 1916: inlO l21h R8seIve BrI. 7 July 1916 110th (Perth) Bn (Ontano) 22 Dec 1915: England Nov 1916: nto!llh
841h Bn (Ol1arlo) 10 July 1915: Engand Jme 1916: broken up 'or ReseNe Bn. 2 Jan 1917
ffli1torcementsJlly 1916 1111h (South Waterloo) Bn (Onlano) 22 Dec 1915: Engru1d Oct
85th Bn (Nova ScoUa Highlanders) 10 July 1915; England Oct 1916: 1916: inl0 35lh Reserve BrI. 6 OI;:t 19\6
FrMOe Feb 1917. In 41h Cdn DiY; Canad.1 and dernotliized.o16 1919. 112th (Nova Scolla) Bn 22 Dec 1915: EnglalldJo.Ay 1916: bIOken up
(Khaki tartan kit: khaki 6aln1on:lI. Pipe band: Argyll & Sutherland tanan: for r6lfl!orcemenls
bt..Ie Glengarry, brown tunooy lIoolhe!s wil" red CllIltr'll leather) 113th Bn (Lethbridge Highlanders) tAlberta} 22 Dec 1915: England
86th 8n (Royal Hamilton Light Infantry) 10 July 1915: Engtaod 01;:1 1916: inlo 17th Reserve Bo, 8 OI;:t 1916. (Pipe baf1d: ArQ)t &
~ 1916: Fon:e Aug 1916: into Macth Glro BrI - see Cdn MG Sutherland lartan: blUe Glengarry with blackcock's 'ealhel'; basS
CorPS. page 19 cfrLmfllllr. IeopafdskWlllplOt1)
871h Bn (Canadian Grenadier Guards) (QOObe<;) 22 Dec 1915: 114th (Haldimand) Bn (Brock's Rangers) (Onlllrio) 22 Dec 1915;
England Apl 1916: France Aug 1916. in 41h Cdn DiY; Can3da and EngIancf Oct 1916: inlo 351h & 36th Reserve Bns. 1 I Nov 1916
demobIl.zed Jlm 1919 1151h (New BrunswIck) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England July t916: brolwri
88th Bn (Victoria Fuslliera) {13n1lsh CoIt.mbial22 Dec 1915: England up for reinforcements
Jlm 1916: blOken up lor ,einlorce!'nllOts 116th fOntarlo County) Bn 22 Dec 1915: E.ng1ancf July 1916: France
89th (Alberta) Bn 22 Dec 1915: Eogland JlnJ 1916; llIOken up fOl Feb 1917, in 3rd Cdn DiY: canada and demobilized Mw 1919
rei,fooceorl(ll'llS 117th fEastern Townships) Bn (Ou6bec) 22 Dec 1915: England Aug
90th Bn (WInnipeg Rilles) 22 Dec 1915; EngIand..kJna 1916: "to 1916: reorgafUed as a TrairWlg en. and broken up lor reln'OICl!f11EJ1ts
IlthRes8MlBn, I Sep!1917 Jan 1917
916t (Elgin) Bn (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915: EngIand.Moe 1916: bIOken up 116th (South Waterloo) Bn (Onlaro) 22 Dec 1915: EJ1glancI 6 Feb
lor rtW1foo:emenlS 1917; into 251h Reserve Bo. 7 Feb 1917
92nd Bn (481h Highlanders) (Ontarioj 22 Dec 1915: England May 119th (Algoma) Bn (Onlarlo) 22 Dec 19t5: England Aug 1916. in Slll
1916: ilia 5th Aesef\oe Bn. 5 Jan 1917. (DaVIdson tanan: khaki Cdn Oiv Feb 1917-feb 1916: into Bill Reserve en.
6 Apl1916
BaImoraI. Pipe baod: bIoa GIeogany. Stass band: khaKI Balmoral) 120th (Clly 01 Hamilton) Overseas Bn (13th Royal Regiment)
93rd (Peterborough) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England July 1916: 1010 39th 22 Dec 1915: England Aug 1916: broken UP lor r'llJ1I01cemenls ,
Reserve 811, 6 0c1 1918 121st Bn (Western Irish) (8Iltish ColJmbia) 22 Dec 1915: England
94th (New Ontario) Bn 22 Dec 1915: England July 1016: Into 32nd ftJ.Jg 1916: broken up lor reinlorcements
Reserve en, 18 July 1916 122nd (Muskoka) 8n (Onlar1o) - see Cdn Forestry Corps below
95th Bn {Ontario} 22 Dec 1915: England June 1916: into 5th Reserve 123rd Bn (Royal Grenadiers) (Ontario) 22 Dec 1915: bllcame 1231d
Bn. 5Jao 1917. Cdn Pioneer en. In France and Flanders!rom Mar 1917: broken up tor
96th Bn (Canadian HI9htanders){SasI<.at~22Dec 1915: England reJnlorcements May 1918
O;t 1916: bfoka1 up lor ~iIolC81rlel1lS.lI'\XI bin:l: Royal Siew<Wllartal1 124th Bn (Governor General's Body Guard) {011arlol22 Dec 1915\
Idt: pipe bags Bad< 'MIlCh; ~ l3lack 'Na1ch llIrIlrl kjt: green became 1241h Cdn Pioneer en. in Franceand Flanders Imm Mar 1917'
,. ,. IrM3rress tl.l1ic: black IeaIher bomeI with Y.tite-o.9"·re(j hackle) broken up lar reinfoo:emenls May 1918
1251h Bn (1st OversellS an ol38lh Regt Ouf1e.ln Rifles) (Ontario) 156lh !Leeds &. Grenville) Bn {OntarIO! 22 oec 1915; England Oct
22 Dec 1915; Engia'ld ~ 1916. In 5th Cdn Civ Feb 1917....feb '918; 1916: broken up tor reirJIorcer'T*1lS I Nov 1916; 19COOS1oluled 27 Dec
JS bllJkeI'l up lor reinIofCemems t916, il5th Cdrl ON In Englaod Feb 1917-F'eb 1918; brokeo ~ tor
126111 (Peel) Bn K1ntllllo) 22 Dec 1915; EnglaldAl.g 1916: nto tOOth reir\fact!mI;rllS M¥ 1918
'" 3lHithBns. 150ct 1918 157th Sn !Simcoe Fore5Ier.llQ"llflnOl22 oec 1915: England Oct
12711> Sn (12\h Regl York Rangersl !O'llil,iOj22 Dec 1915; EogIinI 1916: 1110 I 16th & !25ther.. 6 Dec 1916
i\lJg 1916: France. as 2nd Bn Cdn RaI1way TIOOPS• .Afle 1917 158lh Bn (The Ouke 01 Connaught.. Own) 22 Dec 1915; England
12811> (Moose Jaw} Bn (Saskatd1eW<Wll 22 Dec 1915: England A!.o;J NaY 1916; ~ lSI Reserve an (8rIbSh Cc:lUnboaI. 4 JiVI 1917

''..
1916. n5th Cdn ON Feb 1917....feb 1918: brolIenup lor ,e."looceulE!n\s 1S9111 Bn (lSI Algonqulns' 22 Dec 19'5; England NaY 1916: tlto8lh
129th (Wentworth) en lQnlanoI 22 Dec 1915; England Aug 1916; ReseM:l en (CenIrIl 0ntarI0I. 2 Jan 1917
br(lken up lor f8iIbC6'.~S l60th IBruce) Sn ~ 22 Dec 1915: fnljBnd Ocl 1916. in 5th
1301h (Ull'IiJrk & Renfrew) Sn fQnl.aooI 22 Dec 1915: England Oct Cdrl Ow Feb 1917-Feb 1918; nco 4th ~Bn. 23 Feb 1918
'916. .....0 121h Ae5etIIe en. 6 oa 1916 16151 IH".on) Sn ~ 22 DIe lOIS; EngIanct Nov 1916. r1 5th
131s1 (Westminster) an (BtlllshCOUTba)22 DIe 1915; England Ncal Cdrl Ow Feb 1917-f«l 1918; iI1IO 4th As5eNe Bn. 23 feb 1918
1916; btDI<lln up b' .eolbcerl.ilS 16200 (Parry Sound) Bn (()1IiWioI22 Dec 1915; Englond NaY 1916;
132nd (Not1h ~ New Bl'\lnSMek) en 22 oec 1915: England NooI nco li8'MaI RIser\Ie b"lS ...... 1917
1916; brI:lk8n up ior ......oet, ... 1b 163«1 Bn (French-Canadian) 22 Dec 1915; Berrruda May 1916;
133td en (Norfolk's Own) ~22Dec 1915:flVln:INoi/I916; EngIanct NcJYo-Oec 1916; Into 101h~Ql~.4~Jan 1911
rII03rd~Bn.·-6""'1917 164lh (Hallon and Outlerin) en (OnlariOt 22 Dec 19\5; EngIlnl Ap

,I...,
134th en (48th HighI~llQ'lIanot I Dec 19Hi; England Aug 1917, n 51hCOl 0iY.u. 1911-feb 1918:.-.0 6th RaseNe Bn. 16~
1916;.-.0 121h Resenooe en. 7 M<Ir 1918. I'lIlB1:&ld DiMctsoo tMal; 1916
tILe (i8'lgElrTy WIlh~" ~ 165lh Bn lAcadiens)lNIW ~ 22 DIe t915; &1gIood Ap
135th tM1ddleHx' en Il)ntaiOi 22 oec 1915; EngIn:l Aug 1916: 1917: ftO 13th ReserveBn. 1" ~ 1911
brt*Illn up tar 'iIIO'lbce••u 15 Oct 1916 166111 en (Oueen'$ Own Rifle. 01 Canada) 22 Dec 1915; fnljBnd
'36th ~ I en lQnlanoI22 oec 1915: England oa 1916; nto Oct 1916: inIo 12lh RaseNe en lCer'*1l 0'ltar0I. 4 Jan 1917

.......
.n en.
39lh AIIsllr\.'8 8 Oct 1916 167111 ICarutdlen·FI'1Int;'aisl Sn 22 DIe 1915; EngIlnl DIe 1916:
137th (Calgary) en 22 Dec 1915; ErlgIaI'd Aug 1916; nco 21S1 tB;;aone 0uiIbec Reo\.IIrog DepoI. 15 Jan 1917. pn;Mding
ABseveBn~ 10 ...... 1911 'OIlbCOiOlerllS many to 22nd en
1381h (Edmonlon, AllHrtal Bn 22 Dec 1915; EngIBndAug 1916; IrllO 168th Bn (Oxfords) P-.oJ 22 Dec 1915; England NaY 1916: J1lO
Olher bns Oct & Oec: 1916 li8'MaI ReseMI b"lS kwn DIe 1916. If'\oe bind' HlRng SIewiwI
139lh (Northtlmbetland) Bn IOrUnOI 22 Dec 1915; Engl;lIro Ocl liIr\a'l: l*.e ~
1916; no 361h Ae$fIr,oe Bn. 5 Oct 1916 169lh an (109lh Regtj 15 ~ 1916; England Oct 1916; Into 5th
l40th Bn (New ~ 22 Oec: 1915; EngIln:t Oct 1916; inIo 13th Reserve en fCentraI 0run0I......... 1911
Re:gelve Bn. 27 ...... 1911 170111 an (Misaluauoa Horse) (Ont.,q 15.,uy 1916; England Oct
14151 {Rainy River Dlstrlcll Bn (Bordei'" 8ull Moose) fQntariol 1916; no 169th en. 8 DIe 1916
22 Doc 1915; England May 1911; ilIO lB1h Reserooe eo. 1 May 1911
142nd 8n {London" Ownl {()llano! 22 oec 1915; England NaY 1916; 17151 Sn (Ou6be<: Rilles) 15 ,),Jly 1916: England NaY 1916; no 20lh
nco 23td Reserve en. 12 NaY 1916 Reserwan~).8Jan1916
143rd 8n (8nUm Columbia Bantamsl - became 143n:t Railway 172nd Sn (Rocky Mountain Rangers) 15.,uy 1916: England Oct
Construction en - see CMadi!In IWN8y Tf'OOPS, page 19 1916; 6110 241h ReserYe en (Brit19tl CoUTbal. 1 Jan 1917
144th Sn (Winnlpe9 Rillesl22 Dec: 1915; ErVand 5ep!1916; broken 173rd an (Canadian Highlanders) 15 JtJt 1916: England NaY 1916;

""" 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
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)
15: 1461h Sn (Oruanof 22 Dec 1915; England Ocl 1916; ioll0 951n en. 1741h Bn (Cameron Highlanders 01 Canada) (Milllll00a.
6 Oct 1916 saskatchewan} IS July 1916; England May 1917; inlO 141h Reser\Ie
1471h (Greyl Sn 22 Dec 1915; Erogland Nov 1916; Into 8th Aesefve Sn 80,7 May 1911. (Can18fOl1 or Ernlchl twllln. PIpe I>;nj: blueGleogatry
(Central Onlaric:ll. 20 Jan 1917 wilh long black lealher)
1481h Bn 22 Dec 1915; Englarld Ocl 1916; iollO 20th Reserve Sn 1751h (MedIcine Hal) Bn 15 July 1916; England Oct 1916: rllo2151
~l. 8 Jan 1917 Resetve Bo (Alberto}. 20 Jan 1917
149th Sn !Lamblons) (Onlariol 22 oec 1915; EnglMd A{Jf 1917: "uo 1761h Bn (Niagara Rangers) (Onla.oo) 15 JiJy 1916; England May
"""" 251h ReseNe Bn. 18 A{Jf 1917
150th Sn (Carabinieri Mont·Royel) (O.Jebec) 22 Dec 1915; Englancl
1917; Inlo 121110 Reserve en, 9 MaV 1917
1771h Bn {Simcoe Foresler.) (Onlano) 15 July 1916; England May
Oc11916. r. 5th Cdrl ON Feb 1917-Feb 1918: into 100h Ae5etve en. 19,7; ill0 3rd Reserveen. 14 May 1917
3 Mar 1918 1761h (Canadlen.Franqels) Bn «)u6becIIS July 1916; England Mar
5<h 15151 (Cenlral Alberta) Sn 22 Dac: 1915; Englaod Oel 1916: 6110 9th 1917: Inlo 10th ReseMJ en, 19 Mar 1917

--
arid 1IIhReserv&Bns. 130et 1916 179lh Bn (Cameron Highlanders 01 Canada) 15 July 1916; England
," 152nd (Weyburn·Estevan) Sn (Sasl<8lchewan) 22 Cue 1915:
Englald Oct 1916; iollo 32nd Reserve Bn. 21 Oct 1916
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 &
153rd (Wellington) Sn (OnIeriol22 oec 1915; England Oet 1916; r.lO
25th Reserve en. 7 May 1911 lllOth Sn (Sporllllltln) tontanol15 July 1916; England NaY 1916: lnIo
154111 (Stormont-Oundas·Glen9arry) Bn 22 Dec 1915; England Oct 3n:t Reserve Ql fCenlnll OntMoj. 4-6 Jan 1911
en (Eastern 0nran0I. 4 ...... 1911. ~J 181s1 (Brandon) an ~ 15Jd.f 1916; England Ap 1917; J1Io
""'" 1916; i"rto 6th Reserve
unobm app'(Ml(t but not worn. Ape band: khaki IMaIl: khaki
~ness I\ri;; piped whole. khaki GlerlgatTy \M1h two strll8S .unl
16th ReseNe BrI. 30 Apr 1917
182nd IOnlario) 8n IS.,uy 1916: EngI;'Jnd May 1911; f'IIO 3rd
15; ~ Camson tartan p,pe b8gs) ResBrva Bn. 11 May 1917
17: 155th (Quinte) Sn 22 DIe 1915; England Oct 1916; 6110 6th ReseM:1 163rd Bn (Maniloba Beavenl 15.,uy 1915; England Oct 1915;
QllEastern OnlMll. 4 Jan 1917 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 211lh Bn (American Legion) 15 July 1916; recruited mainly from US
Reserve an, 12 Nov 1916 citizens In Brrtlsh Columbia & Alberta; England Dec 1916; into 26th
185th Canadian Infantry Bn (Cape Breton Highlanders) (Nova Reservean (Nova Scotia), Jan-Feb 1917
SColia) 22 Dec 1915; England OCt 1916, In 51h Cdn Dill Feb 1917-Feb 212th Bn (American Legion) 15 July 1916; recrwted mBlnly from
1918; Into 171h Reserve an, FetrMilr 1918, (PIpe band: Atgyn US CItizens ,n Manitoba & Saskalchewan; Into 97th an in Canada,
Su1herland tartan; blue Glengarry Wllh two brown cock's feathers and Jan-Feb 1917
green central feather) 213th Bn (American Legion) 15 July 1916; recruited mainly from US
186th (Kent) Bn (Ontana) 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917, nto 4th citizens in Ontario, Ouebec & the MaritIme Provinces: part to England,
Reservean, 19 Apr 1917 Sept 1916. as relfllorcements: reorganIZed as Draft Giving Depot Bo,
187th (Central Alberta) Bn 15 July 1916; England Dec 1916: inlo 7 Nov 1916
21st Reserve Bn (Alberta), Jan-Feb 1917 214th (Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916: England Apr 1917: into 15th
188th (Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916: England OCt 1916; IOtO 15th Reserve Bn, 10 May 1917
Reserve Bn (Saskatchewan), 20 Jan 1917 215th Bn (2nd Overseas Bn of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles)
189th (Canadien-Fram;:ais) Bn (Ouebec) 15 July 1916; England OCt (Ontario) 15 July 1916: England May ,g,7; into 2nd Reserve Bo,
1916: Into 69th Bn, 6 OCt 1916 10 May 1917
190th Bn (Winnipeg Rifles) 15 July 1916; England May 1917: into 216th Overseas Bn (Bantams) 15 July 19t6: England Apr 1917: Into
18th Reserve 8n, 14 May 1917 3rd Reserve Bn, 6 & 14 May 1917
191st (Soulhern Alberta) Bn 15 July 1916: En91and Apr 1917; Inlo 217th (Qu'Appelle) Bn 15 July 1916: England 29 Sep 1916; Into 19111
2\ st Reserve 8n, Apr & June 1917 Reserve Bn, 10 June 1917
192nd (Crow's Nest Pass) Bn (Alberta) 15 July 1916: England Nov 218th (Edmonton) Bn 15 July 1915; England & France 1916; Into 8th
1916; inlo 91h Reserve 6n, 16 Nov 1916 Cdn Railway Construction 8n, 15 June 19'7
193rd Bn (Nova Scotia Highlanders) 15 July 1916; England OCt 219th Hi9hland Bn (Nova Scotia) 15 July 1916: England OCt 1916;
1916: into 17th Reserve 6n (Nova Scotia), 23 Jan 1917. (Khaki tartan; inlo 17th Reserve 8n (Nova Scotia), 23 Jan 1917. (Khaki 1artan; khaki
khaki Balmorat. Pipe band: Argyll & SUlheriand tartan: blue Glengarry Balmoral. Pipe band: Argyll & Sutherland tartan; blue Glengarry \'lJlh
wilh brown turkey feathers with red central feather) brown lurney flealhers Wllh red cenlral fealher, 8rass band: blue
194th Bn (Edmonton Highlanders) 15 July 1916; England NoV 1916; Glengarry With white & red dicing)
Inlo 91h Reserve an
(Alberta). 4 Jan 1917. (Pipe band: khaki, later Black 220th Bn (12th Regt York Rangers) (Onlario) 15 July 1916; England
Walch tartan: blue Glengarry WIth blackcock's feathers) May 1917; into 3rd Reserve Bn, 7 May 1917
195th (City of Regina) Bn 15 July 1916: England Nov 1916: into 32nd 221st Bn (ManitOba) 15 July 1916: England Apr 1917: nto 11th
Reserve an, 11 Nov 1916 Reserve an, 30 Apr 1917
196th Bn (Western Universities) 15 July 1916: England Nov 1916: 222nd Bn 15 JUly 1916: England Nov 1916: Into 19th Reserve Bn
nto 19th Reserve 8n (Saskatche 'Ian), 2 Jan 1917 (Saskatchewan), 2 Jan 1917
197th Bn (Vikin9s of Canada) (Weslern Canada) 15 July 1916; 223rd Bn (Canadian Scandinavians) (Western Canada) 15 JUly
England Feb 1917; Into 11th R8S8IVe an. 7 Feb 1917 1916; England May 1917; into 11th Reserve Bn, 15 May 1917
198th Bn (Canadian Buffs) (Ontano) 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917. 224th Bn (Ottawa) 15 July 1916: England 1917; Into Cdn Foresuy
in 5th Cdn Div May 1917-Feb 1918; Into 3rd Reserve 8n, 7 Mar 1918 Corps, Mar 1917. (Pipe band: MacDou9alltartan; blue Glengarry wilh
199th Bn Duchess of Connau9ht's Own Irish Canadian Rangers blackcock's feathers)
(Quebec) 15 July 1916: England Dec 1916, In 5th Cdn Div Feb 225th (Kootenay) Bn (British Columbia) 15 July 1916; England Feb
1917-May 1917: into 231d Reserve an (Duchess of Connaught's (),yn 1917: into 16th Reserve an, 7 Feb 1917
Irlsh Canadlllfl Rangers), 11 May 1917 226th Bn (Men of the North) 15 July 1916: England Dec 1916; Inlo
200th (WInnipeg) Bn 15 July 1916; England May 1917: InlO 11th 14th Reserve Bn (Manitoba), 4-10 Jan 191 7
R8S8IVe an, 15 May 1917 227th (Sudbury-Manitoulin-AI90ma) Bn (Men 0' the North) (Onlat'O)
201st Bn (Toronto L19htlnfanlryj 15 July 1916; recruited only two 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917; inlo 8th Reserve an, 22 Apr 1917
cays, absorbed In Canada by 170lh & 198th 8ns, 25 Sep 1916 228th Bn (Northern Fusiliers) (Ontario) t5 July 1916: En91and &
202nd (Sportman's) Bn (Alberta) 15 July 1916; England Nov 1916, in France 1917; into 6th 8n. Cdn Railway Troops 15 June 1917, (Pipe
5th Cdn Div 13 Feb-27 May 1917, when into 9th Reserve an band: Davidson tartan; blue Glengarry)
203rd Bn (WInnipeg Rifles) 15 July 1916; England Nov 1916: Into 229th (South Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917;
181h Reserve Bn (Manitoba), 12 Jan 1917 into 191h Reserve Bn, 10 May 1917
204th Bn {Beavers) (Ontario) 16 July 1916: England Apr 1917: into 230th Bn (Voiligeurs Canadiens-FranCiais) (Quebec) 15 July 1916:
2nd Reserve an, 8 Apr 1917 England Mar 1917: Into Cdn Forestry Corps Mar 1917
205th (Hamltton) Bn 15 July 1915; Into Cdn MG Depot in Canada, 231 st Bn (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) (8ritish Columbia)
20 Dec 1916 15 July 1916; England Apr 1917: inlo 24th Res8fVe 8n. Apr-May 1917.
206th (Canadien-FranCiais) Bn (Ouebec) 15 July 1916: sent two (Pipe band: MacKenzie tartan; khaki Balmoral)
drafls to reinforce 163rd an In Bermuda, July and Aug 1916; remaining 232nd (Saskatchewan) Bn 15 July 1916; England Apr & June 1917;
personnel into 167th 8n. 17 Aug 1916 into 15th Reserve 80, Apr-June 1917
207th (Ot1awa-Carleton) Bn 15 July 1916: England June 1917: Into 233rd Bn (Canadiens-FranCiais du Nord-Ouest) (Western Canada)
71h Reserve Bn, 14 June 1917 15 JUly 1916; inlo 178lhan in Canada, 3 Mar 1917
208th Bn (Canadian Irish)(Ontario) 15 July 1916: England May 1917, 234th (Peel) Bn (Ontario) 15 July t916; England Apr 1917; into 12th
in 5th Cdn Div; "to 2nd & 8th Reserve 80s, Feb 1918 Reserve an, 1 May 1917
209th (Swift Current) Bn (Saskatchewan) 15 July 1916; England Nov 235th Bn (Ontario) 15 July 1916; England May 1917; into 3rd Reserve
1916: into 9th Reserve an (Alberta), 4 Jan 1917 Bn, 14 May 1917
210th Bn (Frontlersmen, Western Canada) 15 July 1916: En91and 236th Bn (New Brunswick Kitties) 15 July 1916; redesignated
Apr 1917; into 19th Reserve an. 6-10 May 1917 (Maclean H hlanders) 15 OCt 1917; England Nov 1917; into 20th
Reserve an, 13 Mar 1918. (Red Dress MacLean tartan: khaki BalmoraJ

I, 18
v.olh blaCk feathefs 1lPP8d vAle. Pipe bMd: blJe Gleogany with 2nd Conslructlon Dn AIII$8d III NoYa Sooba lrem 5,).., 1916, ths lirsl
1;lIaCkcOCk's feathlnl and COy Atrical·~I:llltlalkln had whlta oIfioers exeepllor the
2371h Sn (American Legion) 15 JuIv 1916: recruled rnadt from US ehaplarl. ABY w.am A.WhIUI - the Iirlll ~·CanacIan 10 hold an
0Ul_ 11 0ulMlec. New 8n.nswIc:ll. NlM1 Scollll & Pmce Edward o/IielW'S CQrTYR5:!Iion WI IheClwlildlen ArmecI Forces. Englan:ll<pt 1917.
IIIiIOO:Jnlo911h&'l, t8Sep1 19,6 and redeslgnaled CooslruelJOO Coy. France May 1917; alladled 10
238th Bn (O..IIlbecI 15 JuIv 1916: FtMCe. inlo CO'! ForesW Corps, No.5 Disln:t, Cdn Foresh'Y Corps; '0 NoYa Scotia ~ 0ep0I at
17.li'119T7 ~(lIl, UK, Dec 1918: IOHailaxJ!ln 1919.
239th Dn lNoYa ~ 15 JuIv 1916; EngIaocl1917; inIO 3rd en. Q:rI Canadian Railway Troops OI'\glnaled lIS CanBdian o.vsoos AaiIwiri
; RaiM'iIY Troops, 15 Ju'lll 1917 eonstru:bOn COIps. Jom1Id eerly 1915 With SolO IIOUltaers of
240lh Bn IlJn4<vIoI IS JuIv 1916: ErVIJnd May '917; no 71tl Ae5eMI Qw>acloan Pac*: f'laIlway: pO'o'lld ...-y US8U; 6 RatNay Cons!ructlon
&\ 17 Mav 1917 OOlTlpnes ~ Feb 1917. In:! 14 rurtler8d bns 15 Jl.ne 1917;
241st Bn ICanadian Scolli,h Borderersl fC)ntarJot 15 ~ 1916: adciIc:JnBl 5fl8CilIliSl OOl'iP'3'_ bn:Ju!t1I strengltt 10 12.(Q) mer\. alilI
E1>gIInj May 1911; Into 5lh Reslwve en. 9 May 1911. (J(haki Ia1afl; nfB'Iy 2.573 miIBs of trad< ard operaIed n'OSl rat.vays of the Brllsh
tuc cicecl Gleng;wly. F'ic:Jln: MacGreggr tar1<n blJe dics:I GlervlrrY bees .., France.
\VCh blPc:kcoc:k'a ~ Canadian Pioneer Bns 1111: & 2nd ere Jom1Id 22 Dec 1915; 3n::I, 4th

-'-
242nd Bn ~ 15.lit 1916; France. inIO CO'! foestry Corps, & 5th, 15.uy 1916. SIIMId France and Ailnclln; i1lo Royal ~
17 JuIv 1911 If'ipe bend: ~ llIrta'\: blJe GlengarTy WIIh &vr-s. Mar 1916, See aIllo 100th. 123rd & 124th ens. (PIpe b8rd
, 01 ISI ~ Bn: MaIcklW\le tar\an; khilla ~
243rd 81'1 ~ 15.lAy 1916; EJlIIBr'd ..... 1917; InlO 151tl Canadian Corps Cyclist an FGrlY*:IIIl FtMCe 12 ~ 1918 fn:m
FlBIro'e Bn. to.uw 1917 DMsionilI 0JtdisI c.on..-: ea..:ta and d8i,liJtAz«l ~ 1919
2441h en (Kitehe...... Own) p..l6bIq 15 JuIv 1916: England ~ e.-tian Forntry Corps k1ilJIIy h 224lh. 23lWt & 242nd ere
1917: irtO 23rd ~ 8'l. 28 A4:Jr '917 absOItled ~ \his COP8 of sI<IiIcI Urbermen III ........-ner 1916.
2451h On (Canadian Grenadier Guards) ~ 15 JuIv 1916; ~ 11iICI7 b"e and 101 OO'IS Ind depots III England ard Ra-c:e

,< EngllInd May 1917: "*'


23rd Reser.'8 &I. 25 May 19,7 In 1917-16,
246ltllnlantry Bn I1'bwI SalCIltl14 JuIv 1916; E'ngBld""" 1917: Canadian Military Police Corps 13 dllIat:tmlWu fn:m \5 Oct 1917;
, 1f*l17lh Reser.oe en & 185lh en. 10-12 Ju'lll 1917. ~ Ia"tan: two !illMId v.olh ClwIIdilIn Corps III F..-.:::e
, IoftIIu Ela/rTll;lra Pipn: blJe !ked GlengarTy WIth bIac:kaId<.'s Iealh!nl 1$1 Canadian Bril:iglng Coy FormId n Fnn:::e .-ern ~ bns Sep:
tontanol 1918; PJIeslne & ~ Oct 1918: EngIwld feb 1919, 10 ~ bns
j
2411h (VIctoria & Halibur10nl 81'1
udeisaeilgtl'l..,.0235ltl &I n Caneda, , • 1917
248th Bn ~ I May 1911; ~ Ju'lll1911: inI08Ih Aesarw
1 Mil)' 1917;
.-
Ca~ian Army Medleal CGrf)$ Permarwtt Foroe fOI9anlzed 2 .uy
en. 10",,", 1911 1904~ grew to 1.35\ n1lKlicsI olices. 1.888 n..- & 12243 IiIIld
249th (Saskatchewan) Bn I May 1917; EI'Igland Mar 1918: nlO 15th medics a'td ordIries. SErYed III Englanl1 France. FlintIrs. Greece.
, Resa'Ye en. 4 Mar '918 ~ Em1JI, PaIB5brla. M8«lpotama llIl1q) and f\Jssa
250th (Winnlpegl Sn 1 Miri 1917; irtO 2491h en.., Qwlada, 10 Oct C;madi.n Army Veterln.ry Corps Pllr"l!Il.~ Force{organlzed 191~
y 1917 Ca!\ltd'an Army Oental Corps FormId 15 ~ 1915. grew 10 some
251$t 8n IGood Fellows' ~ ~ 1 May 1917: EngIandOcl 1917; 1.500 pel'SOMlIIlIefWlg .., EngIencI, Fnroce. Greac:e and Egypt
intO 181h RoseNe en. 18 Ocf 1917 Can.adlan Army servic. Corps Pe!II1IUlnt Foroe joIganIzed t Doc
,y 252nd (UndaaYl 8n fOnl8rioll May 1917: England Ju1e 1917;.-.0 '9031
an. Canadian Army Ordn.nce Corps Per~1 Fon::e lorganized 1 .uy
, 6Ih RoseNe 12 Jane 1917
253rd IOueen's UniV1lrsltyl Highland 8n 1 May 1917; recruI1ad '9031
ltrougtoul Caoada 1~ tA'WerSlty SIlJ08ntS; England May 1917; Into Canadian Army Pay Corps ~ Force fOrganIzed I Doc 19061
, 5Ih fle8ln'e en. 9 May 1917. ~ bIn:I: Armt & SuIherIand U1nan; Corps of Mililary $ta" Clerk, PermlInlInt FOIal (otganIzed 1 Sept

, BamcraI With f16Y 3 rod l~ rea~


254lh 8n IOulnle's Own) (Onlarlo) 1 May 1917: EngIandJu1e 1917;
",,,,
Canadian School 01 Musketry Corps I'8ImarJern Force torQilOizad

, i'lto6lhAeser'o'eBn. 10Ju'le 1917


255lh Bn (Queen's Own Rilles 01 Canada) (OnIarlo) I May 1917;
15Ap'1914)
Corps 01 Guides Inlllligeroe LIflits (orgaIized I Ap' 19(0)

• England Ju1e 1917: WllO 121h Reserve Bn. 10.,u,e 1917


2S6lh 8n (TOIontol'9'7: EnglMd. 1110 10th BrI. Cdn Aalway Troops.
Canadian Si9nal Corps Permanenl Force (~ad 24 Oct 1900)
Canadian Chaplain Services Grew to 426 ehl\I1lilIflS dumg IhEI W<JIf,
,5 ....... ,917 lo EngIlv1d and Fr8r1C(l
2571h 8n (Otll1Wil) 1917: England. lolO 71h en. Cdn Raiway Tloops.
,- 15 .,kr,e 1911 Reserve Ballallons 36 1lImber8d bns larmed In England lrom lale
2581h lCanadlen-FraOl;:als) Bn (Clo6bec1 1 May 1917: IIlIO tOth 1916, to amalgamale new CEF bns 10 reL'11orce ClwIdillrl Corps J1

• Resarve an. 1 NoY 1917 FrlW1Cf:l: WllO Territorial RegiS. AfJf 1918

--
2591h 8n (Canadian Rilles) lOntllnO & Outlbocjl Nov 1918; served Depot Bns FOImIlCllo Caneda J11917: WlIO TlWrltorial Regts, A(Jf 1918
in Sblna, Jao-Mav 1919: ~ada1 V.clona. 1 .,kr,e 1919 Territorial Re9ts Formed lo England 15 ApI 1918, incorporallflQ
260th Dn (Canadian Rilles) \New 6rvnswlck, Nova ScoIIa, F'rBInB Reserw and Depot bns lW'det pI'tlWlCiaI 1,11es lI.g. 'lSI CuIlOOc

, PrtMnces & Brill$h CotJmbilIII New 1918: S8Mld III Sitlerill, Jan--May
1919; dernobila<lllt Viclorie, 22 May 1919 Militia Oralts TflnlXll'Bry unlls attoehllcl to VOk.Iflteer tvWiIia lfttS
Ionned J1 Caooda lrom Jl.IflII1917, lOi'loorporllle ewaltssent 0'0'effi8iIS,.
Canadian Machine Gun Corps 15Sep 1914: ~104 bns, 19eoys U:suatt named afllW tho \IoUlleer Militoa lIflIt ~ was atlaChed 10, e.g.
" a'ld MCI00ns WI ~ eI ~ bns WI CIlnadi;Wt COfps.
en.
'56th GrerNie Aegrnent (lIsgar Fli/lesJ Qo.oerseas DraIt·

• Can.adlan Tank 8ns Formed h FnwQ; 1st en, 1.kAy 1918; 2nd
15 Oct 1918: 3Kl en, 29 NoY 1918 Canadian Volunteer Mililla In Canada 36 ClMIIry, 107 ~ and
d Canadlan Labour lor Constovcllortl Bns 4 bns, Iomled 1916, ~ regis 13 tlIOI8lcm'e:1lfo"n SeplI914), 705 CaOeI OOl' ...... lI8S, WIlh

,"
,.
ffln:e 3 Aandln: lSi 3 4th ereloIo Engineef$. 2nd allad'e:l 10 \rtlblteer """'a OOl''tlO'l8IU 10 1Wdery, ~,Ql.ideS and sa'W:e
ForesIry Corps _ tlalcro'o1,:tId no RailwiIy Tmops, 1917 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
I. I

th ' 'n m ·'tnd. by 1917, th 'an~di<ltl .orp d pIa d all the We. t I'll
I I

Fronl f rm d a Lough. dis 'iplined an I baule-hard ned lorl1lati n. Tbi.


wa III in no. m( II mea ur to I h rising prof' 'sionalisl1l of s m of the
senior Canadian orrieers. h(' Englishman irJulian B ng was tll rp.
e I1lnwnd rand, LO his 'verlastin rcclit, he h~ld the wisdom to sc k OUt
and give rcspon-ibilil}' LO lh mar gift d anadian I11mand r .
The mo'l I' l1larkable f lh se wa Arthur urrie. \ bU'inessman
from Briti 'h .olull1bia \\ 110 had aL 0 b ' 'n a militia officer before th
war .urrie I' v'aied hims If'to be an oULSLanding la ti ian, and wa
prolll l'd rapidl', d '. pite lhe opp silion of J LiniSl r or 11ilitia ir am
H ughe:, B I 1917 lIrri' ""IS ommaneling lh ISl .dn Oiv and had lhe
high e:l III of lh S 'nior command r' of the BEF for his uLStanding
LIGen Sir Julian Byng, the and inl 'lIig III haltl plannin. Th 'r wer man' mh I' ex ell I1l
British commander of the .anadinlloffic rs. su h <IS H,E.Bmslall, I11mtlnding the 2nd dn Oi\'
Canadian Corps from September
from De mber I 16, and arlill '1')' command 'r AL.Mc allgluon. One
1916 to June 1917. In a few
months this confident and
of Lhe greaL suo 'nglh' of the ClImelian orp' wa' its higlll ' illt 'gnu d
Innovative general transformed and 11 xihl' rganization cOl11pnl'ed lO oth I' arl11i .: ils vari LIS
the exhausted Canadian I >ments could be chang 'el and rcinf< r d n Lh 'pOl. \ urrie pUl
divisions on the Somme into it Iher' \\,a' 'no u. in \ ailing unlil lh 'ne! of the war to make
a remarkable assault force; n cessal" hang's',
he had an outstanding eye for
detail, while keeping a clear
grasp of strategic objectives. Vimy Ridge
Caring and approachable, he n 9 pril I9 J 7 Easler t\1 nela th I, anadian orps allack d the
was well liked by Canadians, pr>\'iou'l' impregnable ;erman po iLi ns 'H \ im Ridge. B I mid- I

and 'Byng of Vlmy' became


afL rn ( n the inilial ol~j li\," had I e n Lak n, \\'ith :ollle 4 000 rman
Governor General of Canada
after the war. (Private collection)
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
I,

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
I 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.

Passchendaele
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
1 20 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.

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
Arras and the 'Hundred Days' courage in the infantry assault.
B' U'U'L 1918 part f lh lost ground lIa I b n regain d and '0 had Many miles of rail tracks, water
th' initiativ ,G I eral Hai r now planned a l11~or IIrpri allil k on lhe pipelines and telephone cables
\rras area b' the Brili 'h Third and Fourth Anni s r inf r 'd \\ith th> were installed, and tunnels were
dug that allowed troops to come
:anadian orps, ,,\ ell known to the erman' by n w a 'lit· as 'ault
forward under cover. For two
lroop', the corps wa' 'hifted to its jUl11pin r-olT po 'ilion' in "crec)'. weeks some 983 guns
'neral urri recall d: 'Th 'Inadian 'orps was In ved down to f 1'111 hammered the ridge, and for the
til' 'P arh ad r lha alla k. Th II' op' n lh righl and on Lh I n first time thorough observation
II' r rd r d LO tak th ir lim fro III , an I mak til ir ad m " and the reporting of intelligence
allowed the Canadians to locate
a ording to til wi Il' f, Ih anadian l'( S.' On 8 Augu't th
and knock out some 80 per cent
aniller)' 01 'ned ul ,m r than 00 Bri i 'h tan k ' lumb 'red forward, and of the German batteries before
the infantr . advanc d: Lh surprise wa' 'omplet , an I th C 'ntnn lin> the assault. (Canadian War
ollap ed il whaL Lud ndorrr hims If lat r d ril ed as Ih' 'bla k Museum, Ottawa)
da' )1' th ~ 'rtnan Arm)",
POI' LII' first tim 'inee
191 Lh 'truggle b am
a war or 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 21
\\'<1'lh n La 'k'c1 b' Haig wilh pier ina Lhe
Hind~1 bup Lin, whi h wa <l hi v d b
2 eplcl1Iber, B' mid· Lober til erman' had
losl <lmbrai and LIl' BEF wa in full pUr-llil.
'II e 'rman' Illad' a sland al \ aJ nci niles,
bltl lh ana lian orps alta k d and look
lll· po.ili n n] Nov 11b r. hru ling 011\ ard ,
th <lnadians I' a h d i'vlons b 10 0\' mb 1'.
uL nanL Andr ws flh 10LIl 'F Bn wrot :

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.

Portrait by Sir William Orpen Th 10lh 'EF mar h d inl f LI arm I of


of LtGen Sir Arthur Currie, o up, li non Lh R.hin. 11 I D 11 mar h llhro
commander of the CEF from
lh U' lS r .ologne wilh fixed ba 01 p ople S In -d v 1')'
June 1917 to 1919. Rarely in
history has a truly outstanding 'ul1en and man' m n in lh I' wd cm d ,. I' I an I' '.' JLwac an men
general come from such an for 20)' ar' in lh fUlur.
:::
unlikely background. An Ontario
farm boy, by 1914 Currie was a anadian u'oops I rovided garrisons on lh arrib an i lands of
businessman and militia officer
B rmuda and I Lucia; small d La hm nlS f 11O'in rs op nlt'd barge
In Vancouver. His talents
blossomed in the field, where n lh R.iv I' Tigri and EuphraL in Iraq' anadian in 'll'll lor wenL La
he had a meteoric rise to senior lh nil d Lal'; a anadian ho piml w, t up in ree to U'ed
command. At first glance, Currie Galli) Ii casualLi ; and a 'izeable Canadian cOllling III ,a s I1l LO
had few of the traditional RllS ia.
qualities of a dashing military
commander; he was physically
heavy, with a rather lugubrious Intervention in Russia
expression and a taciturn Following the Russian Revolulion, Lh parale peac
manner, but he had an Bol h vik rime, an I th Ulbreak r i,'il war betw
outstanding tactical mind. His
V\ hil armi s. in 191 lh Allie d i I d l II' m
talents were widely recognized
by senior AlIled commanders; he
u'al ic port and lin s of Ol11llluni ali n in uppal'
was knighted on the battlefield wh )J 1 til I all'lllpl I l uppJ}' and rain. In th umm I' f 191
of Vlmy by King George V, and min nlS frOIll AlIi d armi 0 upi d ~lurl11an 'k and Archangel;
succeeded Sir Julian Byng In anada \las I' qu l d to pro ide in 'Lnt L I' , and a p cial mobil unil
command of the CEF, which
of1S fficers an 170 N \I' nLlojoin the BriLish in lurmansk during
he led to victory and an Incom-
parable reputation. As seen from Lar' S pleml r. The onLing I1l at rchang I h, d no gunner, so
this painting, Canadian generals n I clobel' h 1 offi I' and 469 m n r lh 16Lh B Ic, anadian
wore exactly the same uniform Field Anill 1" join d lh 1', ub quenLl}' ing aClion again L
as their British counterparts - 01 hevik ro ps.
though note the fur-collared
M anwhil AJIi d f I'
coat. Currie disliked this portrait,
and it was withdrawn from pUblic \ ladiv Sl k in ib ria inc
display in 1923. (Canadian War ~ I' and. from Lober 1 1 . the 259th 8.; 26 th EF Bn - numb ring
1 22 Museum, Ottawa) am 4,000 men \ ith artill... and olher uppOrt uniL - sailed from
and ,0 0 American
I' at ar in ovember.
Moving trench stores and
supplies up to the front line
required such manpower that a
s,
battalion 1n every 8EF brigade
, k w'r usually had to be devoted to
cis IllS at I in logistics rather than lighting. In
I l". 1916 head straps or 'tump lines',
used for load-carrying by
Canadian voyage un; and
Middle East
woodsmen for centuries, were
n th r ll1eau· a war in ",hi h smalJ J umber of Canadians served wa tried out (apparently first in the
Palestin and 'ria, FoIl wil gar qu t f; r xpen brid --build r., Lll 1st 11th 8de, 4th Cdn Div), and soon
Cdn Bridging , (256 all rank) wa [, rmed fr m eight r Lh allaclial spread throughout the Corps.
Raihv< Troops battalion Lh n in Fran . Thi 'mall unit ail I fr I This device was so efficient that
one 'tump line company' per
Jar' iJI - I 20 S pt ml I' J 91 arri\'in in Pal stin 12 da)' lat r.
brigade was found to be enough;
Dama u Il d fall n n 1 tab I' and iL was n \ vilal t xt nel I <ilwa this was apparently an element
mmllni aLions L t11 )'ri< n apital. T< thi 'nd I anadian IV r- in the CEF's maintenance of four-
ord r d t Lh Yarmuk \ all " aniving n 5 Octob r to work on two r battalion brigades throughout the
lh railwa blidge. H 'at and Ii r took a h a LOII:ju Ltwo weeks I. l I' war. The tump line was made
from oiled leather; web or canvas
Illr e-quarL rs f the m n w I' sic.k and four had died, Nevenh les
were 'absolutely useless', as they
til \ ork wa' I 11 , Wilh d II Ip r th EgypLian Lab ur orps. TIl became 'soggy, stringy and
III pan' mov d La Hi ma <t I.h nd of a t b r, and IV rked on re't rin wrinkled' when wet. (Canadian
of lhe f<lilwa umil U fir t w k ufF bruaf)' 1919, m nUl lat r iL 'ailed Defence Quarterly, October 1928)

1ro far En land, t I' 'oin th Raih a Troop D p l.


Th I n ur for th most xoLic d la hm nt
r'
len lor anadi. ns probabl)1 bing to the party of TU PLINE
1- officers and 26 I cas 'of stron chara ter'
ent to Baghdc d, lfesop tamie (n w rre q) in
~-=,====
of 19J to join Lh British 'Dunst r~ rce' bing
g . organiz d th I' ,Mad up f 150 officer' and
tto J hOO m n Dun I rforce had th main purpose
'eat of '01' anizing, training, 'md lading nati
LO tr ops l be raised fr m th u'ibes of ia Minor
and 1'111 sopoLamia', as well as to protecL the
Baku oilfield in authern Russia - 'l sam \ hat
ambitiou' mi 'ion tat m nl. h anadians
th arrive I in a ra in /lar h 1 1 and w I'
md eventuall invalv d in 111 'riad politi al and
militar), event in pI' s nt-cia I Iraq, Iran and 7'
ia
te , uth rn Ru ia, in luding a c up d'etat in
.1 Baku. In ugust a pow rfu] urki harm
sel' auacked the mixed 'menian VI hiLe Russian
mit and Briti h for e al Baku, whi h had to
ing be "acuaL cI on 14-15 el t I11b I' 191 .
. so Dun t rC rc wa disband d a ~ w cia' lat r.
,ian Th anaclians had pI' id d \tuiolls adres
in L [or ta k ran in from takir harg of Baku'
La ommandin th 24th
or nn nian Battalion. 'fosL of them returned to
,..11-
~
HI:·U~ C, , ......oU'.
T\U-lJ. '" It.
\ooIW1.... __ m'''' U,)t...

L a thei r units in VV st rn Europe but a few cho'e to


'ing ser\! ,itll irr gulars in 'm nia' a ~ w join cl
'am lh n wi)' cr aLed rth PCI' ian Free and fiv 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


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
Men of the Newfoundland lime, 801 ollie'r 'mel men left their u'en h '" 'mcl advan dover ll1
Regt in a trench at Suvla Bay, r alllrele's halk' gra s[;ll1c1 l ward til' nnan-(orLifie \ village. I'll
Galllpoll, during autumn 1915. alia k lasled abouL an hour; an \ at roll all lh rollowing clay, ju l
Arriving In Britain In October
6 III n of the ballalion an w re \ lO their nam "
1914, the regiment was trained
and, in August 1915, sent out w~ undlan \' r 'pon' II Britain's all t arm' ha I been
>

to the Mediterranean. Before nthusia ti . Nead' 12,000 nli'le I in th' N wfoun lIan I R gl, lhe
embarkation they were Issued ,,"0 fal j aval Res r e an I the 'wfoundlancl' I' Str I 01'1 s: thi ' figure
the standard British khaki
represenLeci nead' 10 per cenl or the wlal mal populalion or more
tropical uniform with the
Wolseley helmet, the Jacket
lhan 35 p r en f f lin III n b lW n th· a (;' I' I9 and 35, In
shoulder straps bearing their 'Lob r IYll· Lhe N wfoundlan I Regl'. 'Fit"t Five Hundr d' lancl din
brass 'NFLD' title. After a stop Brilail . In. ugllsl19b LI e ballali n was i 1I cI with u' pieallinirorm ,
In Egypt the Newfoundlanders and cI ployc I with lh· Brili h 29Lh Div 'II ~lIvla Ba Gallipoli, where
I

Joined the British 29th Div


iL 'ervecl from 0 LOber lO De mber. It wa Lhen senl with it, clivi 'ion
on the Gallipoll peninsula
in September. The regiment
to the '''est rn Front and, a' r hued abov', was nead)' wiped out 011
suffered its first casualties Lh First Da f of th Somme. In spite of Lhis disaster the regimenl wa
while manning the trenches c'-raised, granted the 'Ro ai' Litle in recognilion of ils aliI tanding
there until Its evacuation sa rilice and eOl1li nued lO erve on lh \\ [rn Fr n l unli I 1h nd of
on 16-17 December.
lh war, b 'ing atlachecllo the 9th ( 'c lti h) Oiv rrom ept Illber 1918.
(Private collection)
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 a 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,

UNIFORMS, ARMS & EQUIPMENT


lllte b ~inlling ol'lh 20th nLur anadi.. n r ular and militia unil
I

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

24 (mll/;Ulln/lill Pfl ~ ]3)


·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

.cla
<1:9,
nd
ng
ith
als
1a

111
e ,.
~la

)iv
ecl
11'
11"
1I. t

en
he
II'
>1"
In
in
n,
:1' •
on
on

I1g
of
1 .
nl
luI
he
.C!

lits
Ice
.g

)J) A
3

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

c
2

1: Warrant Officer, 8th CEF Bn, 1915-16


\\'
2: Private, 14th CEF Bn, 1915
3: Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery, 1914-15

D
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<taisl, 1917-18

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

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

2
3

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

H
cap, a tllni or 'frock' and Lrollsers, ,am Lim, with addiLi nal items,
Individualunit~ai' 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
I

\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 Two Canadian soldiers in August
blu collar, cuI"!' and 'houldcr slrap', pip 'd aL the bOLlom of th ' collar, 1917. Vlmy Ridge area. This
Ihe shoulder sLraps and lhe 'ulI~ with whil . the latter II' l' linish 'c1l1'ilh Informal pIcture shows the
Canadian pattern khaki shirt
a 'CI"OII". fU01' lr foil knoL. a f alllr~' uf :anadian infal1lr' uniforms 'ince
with collar, the high-waisted
1 'd7fl-77. .unners had a dark blue fro 'k wiLh sedrl I fa ings .mel y 11011' trousers (with khaki suspenders
piping; Rill,s had rine-gn: 'n Irimm 'ct wilh scal'I t; cavalr had s arl lOl' on the left, and belt at the right),
dark bILl(" frocks lrilllm dll'ilh regitllenral racing"' d·p ncling on Ih ir and one man (right) wearing
titles as dragouns, hussar" t, ince the earl' 1900' ba'i headdress high laced field boots, They are
posIng with medieval-looking
wa,' a clark bill' p ak'd ap, Regim>ntal baclg" worn ol1lh h'addr s'
German caltrop planks found in
andja k'l ollar, wcr' iner asingl' adopt d, hesc lIniforms would b trench stores before they could
is. ned La la, I for a p riod of abonl liv y ars, ,0 it LOok r ars bef."or an r be installed. (Photo in Panorama
1l1,~j()r hang's in regulalion, b· am' aplYlrenl. de /a guerra .... 1917)

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 <ldditi n 10 tile col urful dress
and 'rvi uniform" \'\ hile klnki po'eel n
probl 111S for I h ~, small forc of regulars, mo I of
Ihe \alnnlcer i\lililia had no wish to be deprived
of lheir colourful uniforms, \s >arl} as Januar'
1905 th '(I/we/inn Milil(//)' Caulle ditorializ d
that 'LIl '<Inaelian rl'lilitia, a' a \lhol [W<1]
thorough I ' til' d of' khaki', and thaI th
}{(l\' rnlll'ni hould r l'nL in its i.-su ,'reI galing
il LO iLs I l' P r pIa 'e, th lorehou', in wailing
for a tive 'rl'ic '. Th' bur 'all rats and
politician wer' r 'luctanL to increa e the 1,1' n e
budrrCl to mc L the extra OSL; and a, latc as
March 1.109 the lIarl rma'tcr- 'eneral \\'a'
making arrang 111 Ill' for bIlle, ril1 -l:,t're n anel
s :11'1 I s PC frock' to be i' lIcd with I ak d
aval plluern' cap t the v IllnL' l' l11iliLial1l 'n.
he nc\ Iy rai ed \"'est rn cavalr r regim 'nt' 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 rt-
liv 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 anada the}'w r
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
th for the ficld anill r '. liar badge' '011 'isled or
thc I (leI' .. f I' <nada over th EF ballalioll
Iki numb r in til infanu", a 'cnadc ora maple Ic<r
II)' f I' gunn 1', an I th regilll mal ba I . f I' avalr',
n; but ther W I" variation' tI rougbout u,e WOlr.
rL- he outbreak of war naturally fae cl th
]3 • ulhorities with a hrol ic honage ur khaki
to III if I'm, n 10 August ]914, 40,000 uniron 1.
:::s w re order d ~ II w db' anoth r 4() OUO in
ee al'l ' t bel' mad by vari us Clnadi. n
.id Ill. nufa tur 1", wh rambl d to m 1 til
-udden demand. In til f lIowin month and
) '. 'car. th production [igur S r w to milli I s, and
a numb r f vcu'iation naturall· 0 'lilT d. Sam ,
but b no means all t 'p s lICOlln lered arc
re illllstrat cI in thi' b k.
ds From 1 0 C mb r 191 01 ur d 'houlder strap were discontinued A Royal Canadian Artillery
and jack IS w 1- h n f nh sllppli I with plain klH ki .lraps I utlhis was warrant officer (left) wilh
r an officer of a CEF Scottish
n t in faCl the end fth col ured sU'aps ill the EF ( e> below). m
battalion, c.191S. The WO wears
ge jack Ls I ere no I ng I' made with poillt cI Cliffs; oth r assllm I a sland- an officer's open-collar jackel
~n and-f<lll ollar wit h hooks-and-e I • '0 the' c ulclt e worn it h r 'talldin T wilh shirt and necktie, a fashion
re in anaclian f:l hion or dOli 11 in British t~lshion. Some wer . een with five assumed by some of lhis rank
he mall front bllllons but otherwi e cul like CanadicUl jackels. early In the war; lhe pholo
suggesls that this seldom-seen
~n nce in EUrOp\lh most ignificanl chang in th' dr'ss ofth 'EF
garment was not as well tailored
\1<1 Ihe gradual, but n vel' LOtal adoption of th British 1902 khaki as the officer's jacket. The
11 S'I"VI dr s ja kel. Thi stan d in 1915 wh n I'epla ementunil{)I'Ill Canadian military authorities
h wer i Sll d and, t goth I' with th ad I tion I' lh r Briljsh it ms, disapproved of this fashion, and
ng made man I anadian I k v r}' much lik' til 'ir Briti'l1 omra I· fr m by 1916 all WOs were wearing
rk lhe older officer-style jacket
1915-J 6. Th re were individual alt ration, hO\ evcr. Privale Alrl' d
buttoning to the neck (see Plate
Tn A.ndrews of the 10th EF melllioned inJanual'r 1916 that 'tunics wCl'e D1). From his badges, the officer
it issued ut but a th 'w re British tuni . the' didn't have Canadian at right probably belongs to the
p button', v\ ut th bll(lons off Ule old tunic' and' wcd th'm on th> 13th CEF Bn (Royal Highlanders
r n wane.' Th uniforms weI' so n W I'n in ani n: in F'brllary of Canada). (Private collection)
al \ndr w n t d lhat h an I hi. omrad' 'were kicked out of on
rSlallral1lb ur loth 'SIll II dofth gaswehadbeenlhrolhHl
p' d '. ur butt n' w I' all eli oloured b' gas and it took a lot of w rk
or gelling them I aned again (ga' llIrned I rass a green oloul',

he Coloured distinctions
s n item thai did n t quile vani h during 191- wa th
I, h ul I I' 'u't\1 ,Men f th fir't ana lian n ingent in ran
'at on We rin il; lhi' qu slion w ntllp to til high 5t <lith rili . in
h De mb r 1916, authoriz 'd them to b I rn ani)' b th III 1 who
)W had 'I ft anada in ept Illb r 191 '. From 1 16 th avail" unil W"I"
h <Il1o\V d to add multicoloured slip-on ribbons to til ir shoulder straps,
til the colour u uall' being thos ofth unit' amp nag (. Plate F.). In
e, 1917 an ther u'e r olour d 'h uld I' trap wa allow d in the 3rd
II In Oil', this tim t id mit)' plato n J ialL ts: l'iI1 -grena Ii r' were
h a' i ned blu sh ulder Straps, L wi' un 11 I' }' 11 w, b III I r' rl' 11 and
ial ba)'on Ul1 n r d. Y tan th I' inSlan I~a' r'pol' d in 1917 by nr
11, William r rr: 'it was the privil ge of signaller f an)' unit t W'ar blu
loth on th ir should r-slraps and of thi I e a\'ailed our"eh·cs.'
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. ,
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~
Pte T.W,Holmes, 4th Canadian in the BEF 'It a glanc AWOl' I ading to lh unl' guJaL cl adol Lion of m Triad
Mounted Rifles Regt, differenl 'baILie badg in th fot'111 of coloured Imh shapes on lh
photographed in January 1918, III p'r Ie ves and Is wh re on th khaki ja k l. In Lhal monLh UIC Eft
Note the crimson ribbon for
inLroduced a unili d sy l III of hould 1'1 alch· in '1 \'(tri t)' (r shape' and
the Victoria Cross, which this
19-year-old soldier earned c I ur. The \'\ ar Oiar' r h 24Lh ,'F r or Is Lhat, on 9 pl Illb r iLS
lor outstanding heroism at 'disljn rui-hing mark of blu I" Clangl 'quar ['i] urlll LlIlt I \lilh I' d
Passchendaele on 26 October "mi-eir I \\' I' 5'W Ion ea h (ja k (' ] sh ult I' I' the men' (
1911; since January 1916 his R 9, m03, ~)3~), Th AS' 'lem for infanu' , ballt liol1' is cI s .-ib d in II
regiment had been absorbed
Into the CMR battalions of 8th
aplion La th ilh.lsu·aLion on pa re 4 (and s> Plat '2 . , ),
Bde, serving as Inlantry In the
3rd Division. The stand-and-fali Headgear
collar of the Canadian-pattern h Igor; "lI1acliall-pallern khaki field s rvic 'ap, with il' rigid I
seven-button jacket is made
liflen del' wn, ga\' a dislinCllo k lO EF III n in 1914-15; whil lhi
nearly 'standing' by two hooks-
and-eyes, and note the rifle
I oked 'man, il wa rather un 'OI11[onabJ in lh ll' n hand lhe
pads on both shoulders - men I' n LOok OuL Lhe wir- Liffen r LO make th ap III I' plial I ,
features often seen in photos 1-1 adqlnners frowned lIpon lhis throu h ulth war ahhou h, as ady
of Canadian Corps soldiers. a 1915, Illan' C' , units were al 0 weal-ing lhe British-p'HLern cap wilh
The 3rd CMR Bn battle badges
it sofl visor and unstiffi ned crown, nOlher Brili 'h head T ar popular
can just be seen on his upper
sleeve: the triangle of the third
in Lh E','p iall' in 1915-16, wa lh . fL 'G r' Blim Lr n I cap
t

battalion of a brigade, in the wiLh i side naps a la hing vel'lh r wn,


red of the second brigade 01 a InaI'l 1916 III BI"i i'h Mk ) Sl I helmeL \\'<1 gradually i ued in the
t

division, here worn above the BEF in I ICling lh . F units, and wa - paim d a mall khaki I ur. In
'French grey' (light blue-grey)
Lhe anaelian rp, 'P iall' in J9], me unit alo painl d tJ, ir
rectangle of 3rd Cdn Div -
Initially the latter had been
unil pal he' or l'n ill dlh unil badg' n h 1m LS; h w ver, Illan f
black, but was changed for lhe surviving example' were probabl 'a Ieled aft r II November 1918,
better visibility. The 4th CMR
Regt had a distinctive moose- Protective clothing
head badge, retained here on
'or wint 1', tlnadian' w r initially i u d Wilh a khaki gr al oaL
the cap and eoliars. (Library
and Archives Canada, PA 2352)
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
36 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 Lt A.H.Finlay, 16th CEF Bn
'Larrigan' b l, r 'achin high up lh calf and la ing in 1'1' nl. \n Ih 'r (Canadian Scottish), c.1915,
p puILlr item menlione I by Pl David McLean f' lh 15th ." in wearing his battalion's dress
uniform. Note the dark blue
1 ov mb'r IY16 was 'hip rlll bel'l OOLS wh n in th tr n h .. so w an
Glengarry with a band of red
kc'p rair!' dry - i.. trench wader. a. ofien i sued in th BrilL h \nn)'. and white diclngj the 'doublet'
cut of the Jacket, Including
Highland uniforms the cuffs with their distinctive
Til dr ss of' ,anadian Highlan I r. g n rail, I' 1I0w d lhaL of' BritLI arrangement of the officer's cuff
rankingj and the Mackenzie
Highland I' , with kilt, 'P rran, h ,and th' lengarr. an 1/or lh tartan breeches wo,," by
Balllloral (l'lIn-o'shant r) a h "Iddre. S' all of Ihes il Ill' W r officers of this unit. (Library
di ·tin ti\'e to a h Highland EF I allali n ( abl 2). In 191':1 th and Archives Canada, PA 7187)
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. 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 me 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
Br wne bel like mmi si n d
meers rather than th oldi r's
w bbing equil III nl. Rank badg
for anadian I : s and warrant
officer \ ere the same in the
Briti hArm '.
Painting by Eric Kennington rs fall w d British ell' s regulau ns quit, clo cl '. Th 01' n
showing a squad of the 16th jn k t e liar xposing a light khaki shirl nnel ti' was approved for
CEF Bn (Canadian Scot1lshl
anadian rIi 1" in Februal" 1913. The 111(~or eli[li I'en betw n
In November 1918. The men
are shown without helmets
anadian and Bl'iti'h offi ·1" at the beginning f the war la' in the
or kilt aprons; they wear khaki pia em 'Ill of rank badge; man' anaelian ffi 1" initi<lll· did n t
Balmorals, cut-away jackets, have th w v n lIff ranking s'stem di. pIa ed b Briti h ffi er , and
Mackenzie tartan kilts, red wore unl, gill 111 tal rank I adg son Ih houlder strap, as required b
garter flashes on their hose, and
anadian I' glilation.. n' ov rsea. Ihis was amended; ranks began to
have web equipment and SMlE
rifles and bayonets. The soldiers
I di 'pla t>d n Lh uffs; phOLOS sh II' tint 'ollle am el' to k their time
shown are actually portraits of to ,dopt thi., whi! olh 1" W I' bOlh III tal sho tid r strap and \ ov n
surviving and fallen members uffbadg', rei rs of (temb 1'1916 onlil'm eI Ihatthe rank badg
of the unit. The ranks of II' I' 10 b worn all the cuff:, Phot 'how oni rs WiLli addiLi nal
Canadian Scot1lsh units were
baclg 'on th ir divisic Ilal sic ve pat hes, .g. a g lei 'IT' within' 'in
not exclusively filled with Scots;
many French-Canadians are
2nd In Oiv, alld a gold maple leaf ill 4th Oivi ion. IL 'hould I
recorded wearing the kilt and, m nli n d thaI orTi er quit [tell II' re privates' ja k ts and
at the centre of this painting, quipm Ilt in th Lr nch to av id the all ntion I' erman nip rs,
we see an African-Canadian.
Note that he lacks shoulder
Personal equipments
titles, apparently wears pistol
equipment, and carries a small
Fr n 190 I. anadian 1'001' liS I th
rolled flag Instead of a rifle. quil m nt, a fairl ' mpli at I t
(Canadian War Museum, Ottawa) brown I ather' it uld 1 conCi lIr d in various wa)", but its mo t
dj 'unctive feature was alar ve nLra I pouch. J'v1eanwhil Britain wa
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
<lnadian Oivi.ion w nt mer LO Englan I with liver quil m nl.
British were n I il11l reo . cI witl thi " and the anadian Oivi i n
r· iv cI w b quipm nL b fore pI' '('din I Frane in arl)' 1915.
PI' J n nt' of the Canadian leather a OliU' menl I' acted b), makin
imlrav ments lhal resulted in th MI915 liver s L, whi 11 wa
nth usia 'Licall ' endors'd b Sir Sam Hughe". Tilis pattern bad twO
p u h s h \cling 100 I' llnd ach, and variOl!' other fealllre su'll as a
frog for Ihe . nIl' nching to I. h 2nd 'dn Oiv left Canada equipped
\\~lh th 11915 liv I' set but this wa' als I' pia 'ed with 08 w bbing
b I' r th )' went. intO th II' n h in ept mber 1915.
'ir am Hu rh di I n t rive up, and a third variant r Lh Oliv r
38 'dism unt c\ qllipm nt pall I'll' was i .u d in earl 1916 to all 'F
uniLS in .anada and l lh 4lh .dn Oiv when il
In· ngland for Fran thal. ugUSl. Th i \' or,i 11
Ir had a 11 w canvas hav I"a k, and lWO I 'alh I'
k p u he' of 75 I' uncI. capa il'; III I"a Lcning
su'al arran emenl mad th I ok a' if Lh •
)f \\'cr up ide down (, PIal' '2). h 4th Oiv did
d nOl wear this 1916 liver cquipmen for long
<\ and il was replaced in carly lOber l.ll (j wilh
t. British 0 II' bl ing b' dir ord r of . n Haig.
n lher unil followed uil: on 26 O\'emb'r 1910,
shortly b fi re the baualion was I roken up for
's r inforcem'lll, Pl alllu'l G.Ban r f lh'
1·1 Ih .EF in England nOt d lhal w turn d
Il 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
n web 'quipm Ill. How v r. 0111 unil b hind the
litles in Fran e app ar to ha e onlinu d using
n liv r guipm 'Ilt as did ullits in Canada.

II Rifles: the Ross and the Short


d Magazine Lee Enfield
.anadian soldi r arrivin r in 'urope in 1914-1915 were arllled wilh A major of the 22e batall/on
o Ihe . 03in Ross rill manufa tured in anada to a d 'ign b' Ir canadlen-fram;als, the famous
'Vingt-deux' or 'Van-doos',
.har! s R ,,9th Bar n t of Balnag Wll lR72-1942), for a rille
photographed on 21 June 1918
n iniliall'lll ani for hUllling and target-·hooling. During the B r \<\'ar at Bellecourt; he sports a pinned
's III anadian g v('rnm nl sou~1I1 to rc-arm Ihe Volulll er ivlililia; cravat rather than a collar and
II ullable l onvince a Brilish manul"a ·tur r to make L 'C • nft II rines tie, and wears the ribbon of the
11 in allada, the r v rnm 'nt ac pted a suggeslion b ir harl" to lry MIlitary Cross. His cap bears the
22nd's bi-metal badge: a silver
a militar ver. ion 01" hi rifle. II c s ful lrials \ 're held. and in 1902
crowned garter, coat-of-arms
d an inilial r ler was pIa eI for lh N nh \t\ l ~/I llllled P Ii
3 al d and '22' set on a gilt beaver
Ih Marine D p'lrLm nl wilh h· Ro Rifle ompan ,', n'w fa lor' in and log with the motto 'Je Me
Quob it,. In I 5 h IUlll r lililin lan d r ivin lh Ro.. Souvlens'. On his shoulder
Ithough lh r ini i, I probl m ill d si nand produ ti 11, straps are the crown of his
rank above the national title,
'r acUuslm nl. w r mad; lh 1k III R . rifl inlJ'odu cd in 1910 won
and on his lapels 'C' above
k an cnviabl r putalion at im rnati nal lar t malch 'U h a' th "e
'22', The sleeve patches (see
il h IdalBi-1 ,in Enghncl. Fwm 1912allunit of lite anadianregular commentary to Plate E3) are
lroops and Volunl el" Militia wer guipp d wilh the Ross Mk ]]1. a red disc above the dark blue
d he Ro 1k III fi aLUr d
L lightl' con x bUll lock and low r rectangle of 2nd Cdn Dlv, with
the officer's addition of a gold 'II'
11 I rofil ; barrel I n III was 30.5in (77 ..)cm) and v rail len "llt 50,2: in
set within a 'C', (IWM CO 2774)
l. (J 2 .. m). Il ha I an Xl nd'd -r und box magazin forward of tit
11 lri r uard, and l ok slandard British rimm d .303in ammunition;
I. 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
.s \ ilh a left-hand nisI. and on turn very Win (25.4 m); there was an
o adju ·table rear sighl moul1led all lhe recciver bridge, and a blael
front sight. carbine version of lhis rill wa mad; EF gunn rand
:1 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
r n xl lW ' aJ" ome 00 000 w re prodllc d Or whi h n arl, L 0,000
F welllov r as wilh lh EF. H wever, altl10ugh an ac urat w apon.

n 'in Ihe Ir n'h Ih R s rev aled i Ir LO be un lual L) xLcnd I


U·· 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
1

'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<lr
lor d Prim Mini L I' ir Rob rL Bord'n to r ICIll. 1\1 am hil' -11 ir
Doug-Ia Haig, in- or the British Exp diLionar' For c, simpl ' gHV
ord rs lor a hang r rill " B ' Augll -t 1916 Lhe 2nd and 3rd Cdn Di\':
il Fran w re ling r ---quiJ J d with th MLE I Ik J and ~llk III; the
rh dn Div wa r -arm d on it· arri\al in Fran c in CpL mb r, and
'ollle ML' s weI' also provided ror th - til Di\' in England.

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,
40 (Private collection)
d II wever, Lhi. wa 110l Illite Lhe nel of thc Ro:s
L I'ill', Lill ne or th fine L wrg 'L rilles in th world, iL
IiI.. onLinll 'd L b 1I ed on the VIC 'lern PI' nl b' .<tnadiclll
en niper', who ould gi,c exp n care l lheir individual
or weapon - and didnOlne 'd a rapid-fire capabilit" lher
cd were u '-d for training (including 20,000 s Id to I h
Lh ['or thal pU!lJO ' il IJ 17 ,and i, ue I LO re 'cr\, - Lroop:,
,d, Tro( I in .anada al. l1linu d to u'C the Ros : and
as ('I' mU<llI' <In lher 67,mJO weI t La Ihe BriLi h Hom
.Ilard in \I\orl I \1\ ar (r.
Nell 'nh 'I ", from u rll. l 1916 onw'lr Is th over-
a' whelming IOc'Uuril)' r anadian t!'Oops O\CI"ea anicd
_r1 lhe Brili 'h I[LE. normall' th ~I'[k HI. Tntl'Oeil! e I in
:I~ I Q07, lhis vel' ' robusl and reliabl-' .• 03ill weapon had a
111 d Lach<lbl l nor lind m,p"lZ.in ,and a af" v-<1 'sign b IL
ar hamll thal tllrn ' I lhrollgh ab ilL 60 degr 'L I k
iiI' clown on the righL ·ide. mall arm' al1ll1l11niLi n wa'
v I I'oclu' cl in Hlnda al the Queb> m"cmll 1'1' m 1 5,
vs ,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 An original armoured car of


III the carl' pan or the war lh eI'man I 1'01' mililar I qllipll1'lll 'mel the Canadian Motor Machine
Gun Bde, c,191B. This unit-
Ilppli . or all sorts inCl'eas d ov rwh '1l1ling1', I Ulan th whol lit
originally the 1st Automobile
I ro Ill' ment and supply s, "l III - mainl ' th anadian rdnan e '01'1 s MG Bde, raised in 1914 - was
tInd I he Canadian. rill' ~ 'rvi e 'orp' - m Llh d mand. pOlS were the brainchild of Maj Raymond
'ct lip in Clnada and in Englan I; 'lI1d I h II 'anadian 'orp' troop' lukl Brutinel, an emigrant from
l10l obtain sUPI lies or arl11s. unilorms t: r eguiplIlcnl from nnadi<ln France who had become a
Canadian millionaire. It initially
s urccs the 'could 'all upon British tores, £\Cl1luctlJ" in \917 part orlhe
had nine officers and 114 men,
rcsl on'ibilit' lor suppl'ing Lhe :madian' W(I' turn d over to th> Brilish; to man eight armoured cars
from then on, it did n t malleI's milch ifil 111' wer-' c1l1adian 01' British (paid for by a group of patriotic
so long a. the' got 1 th 111 n '\Vift1,. citizens), armed with two Colt
Be~ re Ih - war anadiHn'lrtill 1" Inel r--armed \liLh th n '\I' Brilish 'potato-digger' machine guns;
this was the first motorized MG
I -pdr g"n., whi h b '1111 Lh mainsta of Lh ,EF fi 'leI "rlill I' ': th'
unit raised In the British Empire,
older 12-pelr gUll, w I' th' main arLill'r ' u'aining w apon in ell ·Ida. The unit eventually had 20 of
During Ih I' al \t\ar, :anaelian orelnan II' nl From a ~ \ dozen these MG carriers. built by
moelern Ii lei guns (first nrc I at lh 11 m' on 2 t"rch 191!1 • 10 Autocar of Ardmore, PA, USA;
lh usan I: ['gun: fall' rts. B' th laL 1'1 an fLh war a h ana lian they served in France until 191B.
The vehicle shown here, armed
Ii III rig-ad had Lhree I -pdr ball ri - and on 4,-in howitz r I all ry.
with the later Vickers MGs, had
TIle h <II ' si I all 'ri , 01 th W l rn Fr ill weI' larg I' ann 'eI wilh a 2-ton chassis. with 5mm front
th(' Briti h (jin h witz 'I' an I \' n h avi I' pie' , Th> exp n (ilm r and 3mm rear armour; powered
ammunili I ould b V-I" high: aL \ il11' Rielg , n arl' I~,OOO rounels by a 22hp engine, It could reach
II' I'
> IiI' d n •aster ~'donda I of] 17, Th .Ull"elian Railw,l}' Troops a maximum of 25mph (40km/h)
on roads. On the front of the
inslall d alld operal'd narrow-gaLig railwCl)'S lending righl up to the
olive-green hull note the brigade
balteri lO k ep ul the 'Lippi)' or ammunition, marking (top left), above a dark
n lher asp CL f anadian I 19i li S II a Lh naLi 11 's tr m nd u' red arrow (the usual MG symbol)
ni n in 'LippI ~n amn unilion La all he British Ii rc s, In 1914 :an"c!a and a bright red bar on a white
I ael a rr eel LO 'uppl' up to 000 I ell' a w k, bu g ared lip l provide panel, together with a tactical

Illtl h mur , B' I 17 .anadian fa LOri suppli d hall' r Ih 'h II· U' d sign and vehicle letter in white.
The arrow and bar were also
b' the BI-ili'h force: b I th . 'nel r th war the' had 'uPI Ii d 2!l million painted on the front 01 the men's
shnl( nel sh II • 41 million mh I' compleL pr~j > lil , 4 milli n hell steel helmets, (Canadian War
a e and 14 million pound' of xpJo-iv , Museum. Ottawa) 4
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Th Hi'lOI' and Helita Oir 'IOl<lIe al lhe .<lnadi, n for e~ H holds a \~ 'l
nllmb r f r cord I rtaining lO the re,ll War :md many III ~ Clll lIni ,
r nizali nand logi li s hm' b II on 'ull' I lor lhis ,llld '. Th' anadian
'Your motherland will never
Lell r anel Image Pr ~' l, a co-op rath" end 'avolll' bv ?\ laiasl ina nin'l. il . forget'; In fact, homecoming
, lie P 'mel niv r iI' f \\' I rn Illari, ha. pllt I r Oil ultalion on-line veterans were left to cope on
an impr iv nllmb r f diari ,Iell I. and phOlO' in rrh~tlt, collenion, their own with little help from
the government. The nation had
f the .r 'at War. Librar ' <lnel Ar hive, :allada (uniling Ihe fl>rlllCr Nalional
been deeply traumatized by the
Libr"r ' ,mel ali nal AI' hi\' s f anada) ha: CXlen, h' , rec Irds pt'rlaining I l
losses of the Great War, and
lh 'real \·Var includin lh' unil War Oiaric.• man' or whi h ;'Ire i\ , it I wanted to forget, heal its wounds
on-line. The alllh r wa killdl, P rmill 'd t ron 'lIlt III Xl 'nsivc eliarit,s and and march Into a promising
not .. of amu J ,B'u'ler in lh pas 'sion ( r hi' ell'S' 'n lanl. future. Hundreds of thousands
of ex-soldiers had to undertake
a new struggle for social justice;
happell, M ike The Cal/fidilll/ 11'/11.1' al 1\1Ir ( sprc', i\ IAA ] 64, I( 5 \ milch
they organized the Canadian
re 'ommended mpanion I lhi. lllel)'. co\'c,'ing I' 'pr . 'enlali\,c lroop. Legion - stili one of the largest
fr m Lh Bo r \-VlU' lO lh J( r an War. associations In Canada - and
Inpp 'II, Mik • Blilish lilfilllll), Eqlli/JlIIl'IIl.1 19(Jtg-200{j ( 'prc~', 1\IAA 1H~, 20()O) obtained some redress from
urri ,ArLhllr. 'Th last I IIndr'd da),s Iflhe \\,Ir', TIll' I~/II/,irl' CII/Ii IIfClllliula the politicians In the 1920s.
This plate by Joseph Simpson,
,S~JI!l'chf. 1919 (11 I' I I ,Th 'mpirc Illb of anada, J .120)
published in Canada in Khaki
DlI lIid, ,F., II QUl',lioli of ,0IlJidl'l/fl': IIII' flo,,~ Rijlt' il/ II", Trl'l/rllI',\ ( lla\\,I, during 1919, shows the usual
I ublicaLion • I 9) appearance of 1he CEF soldier by
Duguid, . '., OJJicial Hi 101 • of Ihe Crllll/dil/ll FmTr.\ ill Ihl' ;mll 1\(//; 1'01.1 the end of the war, The souvenir
( llawa, 193 ) German Pickelhaube helmets
are not artistic embellishment;
Gagnon,] an- i IT .l.l'221'IJfllllilliOIl(fflllfitliI'll1mllfflil) 191-1-1919 ( llawa
it seems that tens of thousands
- QII'b pI f 'ali n~1 0 I' ne' c'· niv rsit ~ L;I\'al 198 - he- of these came back to Canada
flin lam I1lal (nd 1I landing' i-military .llIdy on 'r nch :anada with the returning troops.
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 <I
R/'/){)rlofllte \1il/i II)': 0 el.l'(/ MilillllJ FmTl's a/CIII/flda
42 191. (L nd n.l 1.)
SLCwan, 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
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, most officers of regiments in Canadian cities purchased full
c.1910-14 dress uniforms, those of Highlanders and hussars being the
This figure shows Ihe typical uniform worn by many most expensive. (After B.McEvoy & A.H. Finlay, His/ory of
Canadian Volunteer Militia infantrymen from 1896 right up the 72nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
to the time of the Great War, especially in rural units. This of Canada. Vancouver, 1920)
militiaman wears the M1896 Canadian serge frock wilh
breast pockets. which was similar for nearly all infantry units A Canadian-pattern seven-button khaki jaCket, c,1917-18,
- scarlet with brass buttons; dark blue collar, cuffs and with the British turndown collar (featuring two hooks-and-
shoulder straps edged with white, the cuff piping finished eyes to make it stand) and rifle pads on both shoulders - an
with a 'crow's fool'. It was worn with dark blue trousers with example of the improvements made to this pattern during
a narrow scarlet stripe, and a stiff peaked (visored) cap with the war. While most of the CEF eventually had the British
scarlet piping. The brown leather equipment is the basic belt five-button jacket, modified Canadian-pattern jackets were
order of the M1899 Oliver set; the standard infantry weapon also seen. (Grenville Museum, Quebec)
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, 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, H.Q. IIt Inf 8de I.. T.M.8attery I't 8n 3rd 8n 4tl1 Dn
light blue-grey ('French grey');
4th, medium green. The shape
above the rectangle Identified
the battalions within each
infantry brigade: disc, half-circle,
5th 8n 8th 8n
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 ilth 8n 14th 8n 16th 8n
grenades and bars In brigade
colours identified trench mortar
and dark red arrows machine
t
gun units; there were also many
other types for artillery, cavalry
1st Diy DlyH.Q. 1st 8n H.avy & Medium ht M.T.Coy 1st Diy Engine....
and other corps troops. (Dept and Ele.mcnu M.G. Corps T:.M. BatterIes
of National Defence, 71-844)

B1: Private at summer camp, undress, 1913-14 any event. it was short-lived: in February '913 the new
From 1913 all units were to be issued khaki jackets, trousers British officer's jacket with open collar, shirt and lie was
and caps, with 'service clothing as required for camp'. The ordered for Canadian officers. (Minutes of the MillUa
latter inclUded khaki shirts of the Canadian model, with Council,1912-13)
turndown collar, four buttons and a left breast pocket; and
summer straw hats with wide brims turned up on the left side. C1: Infantry private, Canadian Expeditionary
The khaki trousers were held up by off-white suspenders Force, autumn 1914
(braces). The Oliver pattern belt with 'snake' clasp, bayonet This figure shows the typical fUlly equipped Canadian
frog and scabbard for the Ross rifle bayonet was only worn infantry soldier as he left Canada and arrived in England. He
'under arms', I.e. when the rifte was carried. By 1914 many wears the Canadian field cap with its rigid crown; the
units had been issued this undress kit, which was also worn Canadian khaki jacket with standing collar and seven front
by the CEF volunteers at Camp Valcartier. The straw hats bullons; more tightly tailored trousers than the British model,
were left behind but other items were taken to England in with puttees and shoes. Most Canadian troops had the
autumn 1914. (Minutes of the Militia Council, 1913) brown leather M1899 Oliver equipment. and all carried the
B2: Officer, Corps of Guides, full dress, c.1910-14 Ross Mk III rifle. CEF battalion badges varied greatly, but
This corps was an intelligence staff unit organized in 1903, many had the shape of Canada's maple leaf. The dark blue
primarily made up of volunteer officers assisted by a small shoulder straps on the infantry jacket brought some colour to
company of 27 mounted NCOs and men in each military an otherwise drab outfit, and proved very popular in the CEE
district. It was the very first Canadian unit to adopt a khaki C2: I nfantry private, CEF. winter dress;
uniform for its full dress. This consisted of a lancer-style England, 1914-15
jacket with scarlet facings. khaki lace, cap lines and At a distance the Canadian-made greatcoat looked much the
shoulder cords, khaki girdle with two scarlet stripes, khaki same as the British pattern, but it had seven brass buttons
trousers with a scarlet stripe 1:hin (3.8cm) wide, and a white down the front rather than five. The fall collar was also wider.
helmet with a khaki and scarlet puggaree. The corps was and had a hook-and-eye arrangement to make the top half
disbanded in 1929. 'stand' - although this feature seems not to have been
B3: Officer, 38th Dufferin Rifles of Canada, 1912-13 widely used. This coat was initially the standard issue for
With the inevitable advent of khaki uniforms, Volunteer the CEF, but as time went on the British pattern became
Militia officers sought ways to make the new and rather drab prevalent among Canadian soldiers on the Western Front.
clothing more attractive - this was crucial to attract recruits. C3: Piper, 13th CEF Battalion (Royal Highlanders
In about 1911-12 some Rifle regiment officers thought of of Canada), 1914-15
changing the collar, cuffs and shoulder straps on the This unit was mainly made up of officers and men from
standard khaki issue jacket, and the band of the cap, to rifle- Montreal's 5th Royal Highland Regt, the senior Highland unit
green edged with scarlet. The attractive result was worn in Canada. Its men wore the British pattern khaki Highland
by some officers of the 2nd and 38th Rifle Regts; the lalter cut-away 'doublet' jacket with five buttons and a fall collar,
unit even received permission, in March 1912, for the whole here apparently smartened up at unit level. The battalion's
regiment to wear 'coloured collar and cuffs' on its khaki tartan was the Black Watch sell except for the pipe band,
44 jackets, but it is uncertain if this actually went into effect. In which had Royal Stewart kills and pipe bags; the pipe
branch-of-service shoulder straps,
the stiff Canadian cap, breeches.
puttees, boots and spurs. Later on
heavy artillerymen wore trousers
I·Stt Squadron H.Q.16th 259lh Bn 260th Bn 16th Field Coy N. A.m.la
and discontinued the spurs. The
20th
A..N.W.M.P. Inr Bde C.E. M.G. Coy equipment consisted of the
M1903 British 50-round bandolier
to carry their rifle ammunition. The
Disllngulshing patches worn on the upper sleeves by the
red shoulder slraps seem to have vanished gradually during
Canadian units sent to Siberia and North Russia In 1919. In
1915. and the British five-button jacket was widely iSSUed, but
Siberia the formation rectangle was pale violet, the unit sym-
Canadian jackets were still occasionally seen as late as 1918.
bols a red bar, disc, semicircle, letters 'CE' and a dark red
Although steel helmets were issued dUring 1916, photos of the
arrow. (Lef1) The RNWMP detachment sent to help fight the
period show gunners serving guns still wearing peaked caps.
Bolsheviks wore - ironically - a red star on a violet square;
jackets and - sometimes - bandoliers. The RCA gunners had
the North Russia detachment sign (right) was a dark blue
a brass cap badge nearly identical to that of their Royal
square with a white star. (Dept of National Defence, 71-844)
Artillery comrades except that the motto 'UBIQUE' above the
gun motif was replaced with 'CANADA'. The brass collar
ribbons tied to the drones were a mix of Black Watch and badges were the general issue Canadian maple leaf type.
Royal Stewart tartans. The dress sporran was white with two
black tails. Pipers also had black-and-red hose with red E1: Sniper, Canadian Corps, 1916-18
garters and, early In the war, their headdress was a dark blue Some of the most lethal soldiers in the Canadian Corps were
Glengarry with a red tourri but no dicing. Indeed, apart from snipers; most of them had been raised in the backwoods
badges, the dress of the 13th CEF was the service uniform and had handled rifles since they were children. and many
of the 5th Regiment. Its pipers made an impressive arrival of them were Canadian Indians. Henry Norwest, son of a
at St.Nazaire, France, in February 1915 with the Canadian Cree and French Metis couple from Alberta, joined the 50th
Division, an event commemorated by a large canvas by CEF Bn in 1915; he achieved a sniping record of 115 kills.
Edgar Bundy that now hangs In Canada's Senate chamber. Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwa from lhe Parry Island
Band in Ontario who joined the 1st CEF Bn in 1914, was
01: Warrant Officer, 8th CEF Battalion, 1915-16 another outstanding sniper and trench raider, who became
This figure is based on photos of a warrant officer of this Rifle the most decorated aboriginal in Canada, with awards
unit from Winnipeg, which was nicknamed the 'Little Black including the Military Medal with two bars; he survived the
Devils'. The 8th CEF was the only official Rifle unit in the war. and went on to become chief of his band. Snipers
1st Cdn Div, and had rifle-green shoulder straps rather than wore the standard uniform without any badges or coloured
blue as in other infantry battalions. Warrant officers wore a patches; a common head covering shown here was the
uniform midway between that of commissioned officers and khaki 'sniper's hood'. The usual weapon was the Ross rifle
enlisted men. The most notable item was lhe M1904 officer's mounted with a telescopic sight, here the American 5.2x
khaki jacket, which had a closed collar until the open collar power Warner & Swasey. (Law, Clive M., Without Warning:
with shirt and tie was introduced for commissioned rank; Canadian Sniper Equipment in the 20th Century. Ottawa,
warrant officers continued to wear the officer's earlier style, Service Publications, 2004.)
but with their own rank badges. Warrant officers had brown E2: Private, 43rd CEF Battalion (Cameron
leather Sam Browne belts and officer-style breeches. but Highlanders of Canada), 1917-18
also wore enlisted men's puttees and boots. This figure is typical of the fully equipped Canadian
02: Private, 14th CEF Battalion, 1915 Highlander of Vimy Ridge or Passchendaele. He wears the
Of the changes made to the equipment and uniforms of the steel helmet with a linen cover, and a British-supplied
CEF battalions as they were deployed on the Western Front Highland cut-away jacket with his regimental coliar badges.
from early 1915, the most visible was the replacement of the From September 1916 a unified system of battle Insignia-
leather Oliver equipment with the British 08 web equipment. cloth patches worn at both shoulders to Identify units,
Many Canadians. like this soldier, also obtained the soft brigades and divisions at a glance - was introduced in the
British field service cap in preference to the stiffened CEF; that for the 43rd was a disc (for senior battalion) in dark
Canadian type. Brass 'CANADA' shoulder strap titles blue (for third brigade, in this case 9th Bde), over the light
became widespread, as did collar badges with 'C' for blue or 'French grey' rectangle of the 3rd Canadian Division.
Canada above the battalion number. The blue shoulder The kilt - of Cameron of Erracht tartan for the 43rd - is
straps were seen on the jackets of nearly all Canadian covered with the khaki apron in front; he wears khaki hose
infantrymen until the summer of 1915. Thereafter, uniform and puttees, and black boots. His 08 web equipment. small
replacements with plain straps appeared, and re- box respirator slung on the chest and SMLE Mk III rifle are
inforcements arrived wearing various patterns of Canadian standard British Issue.
or British jackets, but the blue straps would be granted as E3: Private, 22nd CEF Battalion (Canadien-
a continuing distinction of the first contingent to arrive. The Franltais). 1917-18
standard weapon at this date remained the Ross Mk III. This soldier serves in the only completely French-Canadian
03: Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery, 1914-15 CEF battalion maintained on the Western Front, all others
The field batteries that went to Europe in 1914 and 1915 wore having been dispersed into mainly Anglophone units. He
the Canadian seven-button khaki jacket with (initially) red wears the usual dress in the trenches during the colder 45
seasons. The head was kept warm by a khaki wool regimental badge, worn here on the SD cap and the collars
'baJaclava', and the sleaveless goatskin jacket was a popular was a moose head, the traditional insignia of Newfoundland:
item for wear over the khaki jacket. Photos of the 22nd show above a scroll. This figure is based on photos of regimental
the men wearing both Canadian- and British-pattern jackets. officers; his uniform conforms to the pattern worn by officers
They might also wear rubber boots or these 'trench waders' in the BEF, but he retains the metal shoulder strap ranking
in particularly wet conditions. The cloth unit and formation worn by all Canadian officers in 1914. When divisional
signs adopted for the 'Vingf-Deux' on 10 September 1916 Insignia were worn, that of the 'incomparable 29th' was a
were a red disc (senior battalion, second brigade - here, 5th broad, shallow scarlet triangle on the upper sleeves. The
Bdel over the dark blue rectangle of 2nd Canadian Division. Newfoundland ballalion, rebuilt after its virtual annihilation on
The steel helmet had been issued since early in 1916. and the First Day of the Somme in 1916, went on to serve for the
these battle insignia were later painted on some helmets in last two months of the war in 9th Div, which wore a white
the 22nd Bn - a fairly widespread practice in the Canadian metal thistle badge pinned through a blue disc on the upper
Corps during 1918. The 22nd was armed with the SMLE Mk sleeves. (GW.L.Nicholson, The Figh/ing Newfoundlander,
III from August 1916. (Joseph Chaballe, Histoire du 22e Government of Newfoundland, 1964)
Sa/ail/on canadien-franr;ais 1914-1919, Montreal, Chanteclair, F2: Private. 31st Company. Canadian Forestry
1952; Venat, Pierre, Les 'Poilus' Quebecois de 1914-1918, Corps, 1917-18
Montreal, Meridien, 1999-2000,2 vols.; regimental museum of This figure is based on a photo of Pte R.Tilburt, a native of
the Royal 22e Regiment, La Citadelle, Quebec) Chicago who came to Canada as a boy in 1907. Ten years
later he joined the Canadian Forestry Corps at Sussex, New
F1: Officer. 1st Battalion Royal Newfoundland Brunswick, and was sent to France. The Canadian pallern
Regiment, 1916-18 khaki tunic is worn with the rigid peaked cap, but the
Although part of Canada only since 1949, Newfoundland most noticeable feature is his Canadian M 1916 Oliver
is closely linked to the colonial history of Canada. In 1914 'dismounted equipment'. This featured two cartridge
many Newfoundlanders volunteered and the Newfoundland pouches with two small straps buckling on the top, giving
Regiment was formed, nicknamed 'the blue puHees' from the them an odd, 'upside-down' look. Most of the Canadian
colour of their legwear in the first months of the war. Once Corps continued to wear web equipment, but the M1916
in Europe the battalion was issued standard British Army Oliver set was issued to some units, including the Canadian
khaki uniforms. equipment and armament, with the brass Forestry Corps. For their forestry work. the men usually wore
title 'NFLD' at the end of the jacket shoulder straps. The 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.

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
46 Museum. Ottawa)
In May 1915 he wrote 'In Flanders H1: Pilot, Royal Flying Corps
Fields', one of the defining poems 1917-18 I

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
Western Ontario) Orders 1912-1919, Ottawa, 1919)
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
5,500 personnel in 1918; more than 3,000 others served straps. The rating's cap ribbons bore RN.C.V.R (crown]
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" 11"1:110:." SirS:t111\tcl 8. K-9, 20, :II.-W R")~ll C:11l:Hli:l1l l{"gillH'1I1 :1
I{"I~II .\lili',lI") Cnllegt', l.:illh";UHI
,\cti,'c ~liIi.i;l ,,(::111,,11:0 (n,glll,lI,1 llllli,m,. ClI1adi:m :>,6 Ku,.i:1I1 r.lIup:ligu 2~-:t

"rri~~,"·C:ll1:u1i:m< 1:'1 in'i)(llia


:U1I1ltlll1;I;UIl -II 1~",1; :lJi Sc"i'>'(~III:111iaIlS J
f\mlrcws. 1.1 22 \tllil :1(;,4·1. -15 StlIl1l11". hallie ..flhe 2·1, 41i
,\lIdrc\\'s, ['Ie Alfred :1:, Su''''' lby I;tlldillg~ 2'1,2·1
:11111:11"<:111$ 3!J.....11 I;h"l;i
.mulland.' :11, :Id"pli"n "I 3:i, :t~: •. ,H T"nJlllU :1
:ll'l1luw'c,1 GU', 41 ':lrl;LlI~ "I :17 IInlllllill"S (~''''''1ing 11,,:1.1 ~lml") 23
:ll"Ill)' Y" Ani,..' ~lilili:l "f DIU:ul,. ~il1s C3 (27), E:2 (2.;;), :'17, 38, .l'l, 4;;
(rcgllbl'lI): (~l11:llliall t:X1K:diti\,u,u\ 1.:'"g_lI1ill. RAtlUi Sir CII:ul", '17 llllil<lI'I1l' 2'1-!\~1

Force (CEF) (~lI"l\li:1ll Esll",lili.lIm...· F"rl'c 9


'\Il,1S 7.7.21-2 l.,'~' EIlIi.-ld. Sh"n ~bI:Mill" (5,\11.£) ("loull""d "i,I'uc,i,,,., :1:...li
,ilk, 12. 'lU-1 Fr~·llch·f'';I11:ldi:lI1'

buOls. I'llhhcr 12. 37 U1:1j"r 39


Ilnlll"ss:t,llcnri 111 .\1:lI·Ad,lI11S Ill'neli ,lIi.,ld ~h,,\'<'1 '10 pril,II'" £3 (~I). 4:.-(;
Ilnrsmll. ~1:!iGCllll.E.13 .\lcI.C:I11, I',,, :17 !;ulIuer l) (21'l). I:,
U)'l1g. LiGen SirJlIli:'lI Up'!; 11.20.20 l\lc1\,III/:hl"lI. G<:II "-I.. 20 j;'l'l;el 4:1
ulill,II,··,·:!'! ..ulI)I:'igll 2:\~' I;h.,ki, list.' "I' 33, :\:1_:., 34
C:1I1ac1a. l1:li;0I1:11 ctllupusiti'lll "r .\lililia "'1'1' Ani,'" "milia "1'<::'11:,,1,, I;h"ki 1:11'1:111' :17
2.3-:. (r"gul:lr,.); N'HI·I\'rm:n'clll ,\{',i,'" l.i"ulen:ulI. 1Ia1~ In (:12), '17
C:matlian Expeditiun''') F"rce «(:t:n ,\Iilili:, (\,•• hllll~'"rs) lIIilil'" ,\1 (2.-.).,\2 (~:,).,,~

... <t. 6.7.9. 12. 13. 21. 24. 33, 34. 38 .\1"ulreal :'I, :., 1:1 lillI'S'" 5. G2 (:II), C3 (:II). -16, ·Ii
crc:.liol1 !l-IO ,,1t.... C1"~ 112 (21;). U3 (21i). Fl (~U)

cKpaminll 11 ""',\'I''III1.II:lIl<l R"l;illlt'Ul 11.24 C I (II). 4'Uli-7


lInits<)f 12. I·I-I!) NtJII-I'~'nnall"lH Aeli,'" l\lilili., l,it"l III (32),·17
Carihbean 22 (I"hm'c,.. ,'li) :, Ilri"II~" Ul (2Ii), Cl (27), C2 en:
01lholi<: Church ;nlhwm:l.-:i ',,:i 1>2 (2:$), Fl (30). +1, Iii, '11,
chrollolot,'), &-S "uln:mec 41 R"l"1 ['.;111:1(Ii'''1 K"gimcill 3
(,,,,:\Crip';'''' 12-13 S<:. flS·( ~u I:"li:Uls
Cur,·ic.1I1;tit~n Sir :\nhlll" 10-11. 'tU, 1','pi"":lIl, C:,,11,111,,-" ,\1<.:n:"r 13 h:lllalioll "rIk"rs 35, 37
t!. 22 l'''p''W<lIl, LUlli':I"'''l'h 1:'1 lIighl:lIullltlilS 9, 35. ~li, 37, 38
1'"s..dlt'llIlac!" 10-1. 4:, "!lire" ,\3 (2:,). 'l:t
nis. Ch:opbin C.McL II l'erm:,.,,,111 F"rce (regular Arlll\') piper C3 (27). 'i4--:>
_Ac,il'e :'liIi,ia "rCall:,,1:I pri'~llcs E2 (2\1), ·1"
Elll;li.~h-C;l1ladian~ 'I, 13 I'rinc".... Pall'idOl's GIIl:ld':ll1 Li/:hl S,':II1l,," 1-12 (:12),.\7
c'llIip"'clll 38-\1 JIlf:"lll'~' 7, In,3fi scrg,,:lIl1'lll;ti0r F3 (:l0).·1(j
colulIr of IU, 10 Siliper EI (2!l), ·I'J
!'indIa}', Ll A.H. 37 Pr<'I):'].:'Ilul:o 11'''''''1''; 4:2 ,,,m,ml ullin'I" DI (2S), 35, 4:.
Frtllch.(';,lI1<ldi;ms 4-5, 11-1:1,39 prr'leelin' dmhing 1:2, 31i-7
"imy J<idK" 20. 21, 33
C:,lIipoli Ialldings :2'1 Qllt'h"c 4.5,11.12,13 "illgHleus (\'a"·\).-~,,) h:lIl,<li"l1 II.
~as "Wlc\.;S 10, :1:)
C:mll, A, !-l;llnillon 10 '~IIII; ills;l>"i;o !IM lI"illnipeg Kifk, 4
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clIl:uli"m ;;
I-Iail;, Cen Sir Oouglas :10. :21, 22. 39, 'W Iill"s 12, 3~»--O11. -10 Vpre.•. 2nd hallie of IU-II
IIc:lIlgc,lI' 3ti I{",s tille~ 12, 3~1-41. 40 Yprcs. :ll'Ill,allit' "I" (l'Ol,S('h"lld;.t'lc)
.6 48 IlnhnL~,l'lc 1:\1'. 36 RtJpl em.uli:!11 !\::ll}' -I 2H--1
ISB ·RJES

1Il -l 978185532516 Men-at-Arms 286 The French Army 1914-18

978 1 841763026 len-a t-Arm 359 anadian f rc in W rid War IJ

781 84'1763033 Men-at- I'm 36 he Ru ian Army 1914-18

978 I 84176 486 3 len-at-Arm 386 The US I'm of World War I

978 1 84176 398 9 Men-at-Arm. 387 The Italian rmy of World War I

978 1 84176 399 6 M n-at-Arrns 39] The Ilriti h rmy in World War I 1) 1914-16
ps) 23
978 1 84176 565 5 Men-at-Arms 394 The erman Army in World War I (1) 1914-15

978 I 84176 400 9 len-at-Arms 402 The British Army in World \ ar I 2) 1916-18
r . 9
978 I 84J76 566 2 len-at-Arms 407 The erman Army in World War 1(2) 1915-17

9781841765679 lei -at-Arm 419 The German rmy in arid War I (3) 1917-18

978 I 84176 71 7 ampaign 151 Vi my Ridge 1 17

978 1 855324695 Elite 56 cotti h Divisions in the World Wars

9781841761985 Elite 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 Warri I' 79 U Doughboy 1916-19


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The uniforms, equipment, history and organization The Canadian
of the world's military forces, past and present
Corps in
World War I
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
. ) : ,~b;..,...,. wounded - repre ented an

~
.
p.~

.
~..•
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th ms Ives to be a remarkabl
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Unrivalled detail Photographs founding a national tradition.

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