World War 1 Army Battalions - Canadian Military Heritage Project

CANADIAN INFANTRY BATTALIONS

When Great Britain accepted Canada’s offer to send an infantry division on Aug 06 1914, it was expected that it would be comprised of some of the 60,000 members of the Canadian militia. Instead Colonel Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence 1911-1916 decided to organize volunteers into new consecutively-numbered battalions.

The First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which sailed on Oct 03 1914, was comprised of the 1st to 17th battalions plus the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. By the end of the war there would be two hundred and sixty numbered battalions in existence.

In WW 1, battalion organization was as follows

One infantry battalion of approximately 1000 officers and men = 4 companies
One company = 4 platoons
One platoon = 4 sections

First Canadian Contingent

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry: P.P.C.L.I.
1st Infantry Battalion: Ontario Regiment
2nd Infantry Battalion: Eastern Ontario Regiment
3rd Infantry Battalion: Toronto Regiment
4th Infantry Battalion: Central Ontario
5th Infantry Battalion: Western Canada Cavalry
6th Infantry Battalion: Fort Garry Horse
7th Infantry Battalion: 1st British Columbia Regiment
8th Infantry Battalion: The Black Devils / 90th Winnipeg Rifles
9th Infantry Battalion:
10th Infantry Battalion: 10th Canadians
11th Infantry Battalion:
12th Infantry Battalion:
13th Infantry Battalion: Royal Highlanders of Canada
14th Infantry Battalion: Royal Montreal Regiment
15th Infantry Battalion: 48th Highlanders of Canada
16th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Scottish
17th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Highlanders / Seaforth Highlanders of Canada

Second Contigent

Shortly after the First Contigent left for England, the government of Canada authorized the recruiting of a second contingent. During the winter of 1914-1915 the units composing this new force were mobilized and trained. In the spring of 1915 the Second Contingent sailed for England, but instead of sailing in a great armada like the First Contingent they left in separate transports. The summer of 1915 was spent in training at Shorncliffe on the coast of Kent and in September they left for the front as the Second Canadian Division. The 23rd and 30th Battalions remained behind in England as reserves.

18th Infantry Battalion: Western Ontario
19th Infantry Battalion:
20th Infantry Battalion: 1st Central Ontario Regiment
21st Infantry Battalion:
22nd Infantry Battalion: Canadiens Francais
23rd Infantry Battalion: Montreal Battalion
24th Infantry Battalion: Victoria Rifles
25th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia
26th Infantry Battalion: New Brunswick Battalion
27th Infantry Battalion: City Of Winnipeg Regiment
28th Infantry Battalion: North West Battalion
29th Infantry Battalion: Vancouver Battalion / Tobin’s Tigers
30th Infantry Battalion: British Columbia
31st Infantry Battalion: Alberta Overseas Battalion
32nd Infantry Battalion: Manitoba and Saskatchewan

As the war progressed and casualties began to mount it became necessary to replace losses in the field with fresh troops. New Battalions were now being trained and sent to England as fast as possible. Upon arrival in England most of the new Battalions were absorbed into reserve Battalions. From there troops were sent where they were needed ~ either as reinforcements for the 1st and 2nd Divisions or to the 3rd and 4th Divisions as they were being formed in England.

33rd Infantry Battalion:
34th Infantry Battalion: Overseas Battalion
35th Infantry Battalion:
36th Infantry Battalion:
37th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Overseas Battalion
38th Infantry Battalion: Royal Ottawa Battalion
39th Infantry Battalion:
40th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia
41st Infantry Battalion: Canadian Francais
42nd Infantry Battalion: Royal Highlanders of Canada
43rd Infantry Battalion: Cameron Highlanders
44th Infantry Battalion:
45th Infantry Battalion: Manitoba Regiment
46th Infantry Battalion: South Saskatchewan
47th Infantry Battalion:
48th Infantry Battalion:
49th Infantry Battalion: Edmonton Overseas
50th Infantry Battalion: Calgary Regiment
51st Infantry Battalion: Edmonton Regiment
52nd Infantry Battalion: New Ontario Regiment
53rd Infantry Battalion:
54th Infantry Battalion: Kootenay Battalion
55th Infantry Battalion: New Brunswick / P.E.I. Battalion
56th Infantry Battalion: Calgary Battalion
57th Infantry Battalion: Canadiens Francais
58th Infantry Battalion:
59th Infantry Battalion:
60th Infantry Battalion: Victoria Rifles
61st Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Battalion
62nd Infantry Battalion: British Columbia Battalion
63rd Infantry Battalion:
64th Infantry Battalion:
65th Infantry Battalion: Saskatchewan Battalion
66th Infantry Battalion:
67th Infantry Battalion: Western Scots
68th Infantry Battalion: Regina Battalion
69th Infantry Battalion:
70th Infantry Battalion:
71st Infantry Battalion:
72nd Infantry Battalion: Seaforth Highlanders
73rd Infantry Battalion: Royal Highlanders of Canada
74th Infantry Battalion:
75th Infantry Battalion:
76th Infantry Battalion:
77th Infantry Battalion: Ottawa Battalion
78th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Grenadiers
79th Infantry Battalion:
80th Infantry Battalion:
81st Infantry Battalion:
82nd Infantry Battalion:
83rd Infantry Battalion: Queen’s Own Rifles
84th Infantry Battalion:
85th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Highlanders
86th Infantry Battalion: Machine Gun Battalion
87th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Grenadier Guards
88th Infantry Battalion: Victoria Fusiliers
89th Infantry Battalion: Alberta Battalion
90th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Rifles
91st Infantry Battalion: Elgin Battalion
92nd Infantry Battalion: 48th Highlanders
93rd Infantry Battalion: Peterborough Battalion
94th Infantry Battalion: New Ontario Battalion
95th Infantry Battalion:
96th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Highlanders
97th Infantry Battalion: Toronto Americans
98th Infantry Battalion: Lincoln and Welland Battalion
99th Infantry Battalion: Essex Battalion
100th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Grenadiers
101st Infantry Battalion: Royal Winnipeg Rifles / Winnipeg Light Infantry
102nd Infantry Battalion: North British Columbians
103rd Infantry Battalion:
104th Infantry Battalion:
105th Infantry Battalion: P.E.I. Highlanders
106th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Rifles
107th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Battalion
108th Infantry Battalion: Selkirk and Manitoba Battalion
109th Infantry Battalion: Victoria and Haliburton Battalion
110th Infantry Battalion: Perth Battalion
111th Infantry Battalion: South Waterloo Battalion
112th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Overseas Battalion
113th Infantry Battalion: Lethbridge Highlanders
114th Infantry Battalion: Brock s Rangers
115th Infantry Battalion: New Brunswick Battalion
116th Infantry Battalion: Ontario County Infantry Battalion
117th Infantry Battalion: Eastern Township Battalion
118th Infantry Battalion: North Waterloo Overseas Battalion
119th Infantry Battalion: Algoma Overseas Battalion
120th Infantry Battalion: City of Hamilton Battalion
121st Infantry Battalion: Western Irish
122nd Infantry Battalion: Muskoka Overseas Battalion
123rd Infantry Battalion:
124th Infantry Battalion: Governor General’s Body Guard
125th Infantry Battalion:
126th Infantry Battalion: Peel Battalion
127th Infantry Battalion: 12th York Rangers
128th Infantry Battalion: Moose Jaw Battalion
129th Infantry Battalion: Wentworth Battalion
130th Infantry Battalion: Lanark and Renfrew Battalion
131st Infantry Battalion: Westminster Battalion
132nd Infantry Battalion: North Shore Battalion
133rd Infantry Battalion: Norfolk’s Own
134th Infantry Battalion: 48th Highlanders
135th Infantry Battalion: Middlesex Battalion
136th Infantry Battalion:
137th Infantry Battalion: Durham Battalion
138th Infantry Battalion: Edmonton Battalion
139th Infantry Battalion: Northumberland Battalion
140th Infantry Battalion:
141st Infantry Battalion: Border Battalion
142nd Infantry Battalion: London’s Own
143rd Infantry Battalion: B.C. Bantams
144th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Rifles
145th Infantry Battalion:
146th Infantry Battalion:
147th Infantry Battalion: Grey Battalion
148th Infantry Battalion:
149th Infantry Battalion: Lambton Battalion
150th Infantry Battalion: Carabiniers Mont Royal
151st Infantry Battalion: Central Alberta Battalion
152nd Infantry Battalion: Weyburn east Battalion
153rd Infantry Battalion: Wellington Battalion
154th Infantry Battalion: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
155th Infantry Battalion: Quinte Battalion
156th Infantry Battalion: Leeds and Grenville Battalion
157th Infantry Battalion: Simcoe Foresters
158th Infantry Battalion: Duke of Connaught’s Own
159th Infantry Battalion: 1st Algonquin
160th Infantry Battalion: Bruce Battalion
161st Infantry Battalion: Huron Battalion
162nd Infantry Battalion: Parry Sound Battalion
163rd Infantry Battalion: Canadien Francais
164th Infantry Battalion: Halton and Dufferin Battalion
165th Infantry Battalion: French Acadian Battalion
166th Infantry Battalion: Queen’s own Rifles of Canada
167th Infantry Battalion: Canadien Francais
168th Infantry Battalion: Oxfords
169th Infantry Battalion: 109th Regiment
170th Infantry Battalion: Mississauga Horse
171st Infantry Battalion: Quebec Rifles
172nd Infantry Battalion: Rocky Mountain Rangers
173rd Infantry Battalion: Canadian Highlanders
174th Infantry Battalion: Cameron Highlanders of Canada
175th Infantry Battalion: Medicine Hat Battalion
176th Infantry Battalion: Niagara Rangers
177th Infantry Battalion: Simcoe Foresters
178th Infantry Battalion: Canadien Francais
179th Infantry Battalion: Cameron Highlanders of Canada
180th Infantry Battalion: Sportsmen Battalion
181st Infantry Battalion: Brandon Battalion
182nd Infantry Battalion: Ontario County Battalion
183rd Infantry Battalion: Manitoba Beavers
184th Infantry Battalion:
185th Infantry Battalion: Cape Breton Highlanders
186th Infantry Battalion: Kent Battalion
187th Infantry Battalion: Central Alberta Battalion
188th Infantry Battalion: Saskatchewan Battalion
189th Infantry Battalion: Canadiens Français
190th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Rifles
191st Infantry Battalion: South Alberta Regiment
192nd Infantry Battalion: Crow’s Nest Pass Battalion
193rd Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Highlanders
194th Infantry Battalion: Edmonton Higlanders
195th Infantry Battalion: City of Regina Battalion
196th Infantry Battalion: Western Universities C. E. F. Battalion
197th Infantry Battalion: Vikings of Canada
198th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Buffs
199th Infantry Battalion: Irish Canadian Rangers/Dutchess of Connaught’s Own
200th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Battalion
201st Infantry Battalion: Toronto Light Infantry
202nd Infantry Battalion: Edmonton Sportsmen’s Battalion
203rd Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Rifles
204th Infantry Battalion: Toronto Beavers
205th Infantry Battalion: Hamilton Tiger Battalion
206th Infantry Battalion: Canadiens Français
207th Infantry Battalion: Ottawa and Carleton Overseas Battalion
208th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Irish
209th Infantry Battalion:
210th Infantry Battalion: Frontiersmen of Western Canada
211th Infantry Battalion: Alberta Americans
212th Infantry Battalion: Winnipeg Americans
213th Infantry Battalion: Toronto Americans
214th Infantry Battalion: Saskatchewan Battalion
215th Infantry Battalion:
216th Infantry Battalion: Toronto Bantams
217th Infantry Battalion: Qu’Appelle Battalion
218th Infantry Battalion: Edmonton Irish
219th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Highlanders
220th Infantry Battalion: York Rangers
221st Infantry Battalion:
222nd Infantry Battalion:
223rd Infantry Battalion: Canadian Scandanavians
224th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Forestry Battalion
225th Infantry Battalion: Kootenay Battalion
226th Infantry Battalion: Men of the North
227th Infantry Battalion: Men of the North
228th Infantry Battalion: Northern Fusiliers
229th Infantry Battalion: South Saskatchewan Battalion
230th Infantry Battalion: Voltigeurs Canadien Français
231st Infantry Battalion: Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
232nd Infantry Battalion: Saskatchewan Battalion
233rd Infantry Battalion: Canadiens Français
234th Infantry Battalion: Peel Battalion
235th Infantry Battalion:
236th Infantry Battalion: New Brunswick Kilties
237th Infantry Battalion: New Brunswick Americans
238th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Forestry Battalion
239th Infantry Battalion: Railway Construction Corps
240th Infantry Battalion: Lanark and Renfrew Battalion
241st Infantry Battalion: Canadian Scottish Borderers
242nd Infantry Battalion: Canadian Forestry Battalion
243rd Infantry Battalion:
244th Infantry Battalion: Kitchener’s Own
245th Infantry Battalion: Montreal Grenadiers/Canadian Grenadier Guards
246th Infantry Battalion: Nova Scotia Highlanders
247th Infantry Battalion: Victoria and Haliburton Battalion/Die Hards
248th Infantry Battalion:
249th Infantry Battalion:
250th Infantry Battalion: White Eagles
251st Infantry Battalion: Good Fellows Battalion
252nd Infantry Battalion:
253rd Infantry Battalion: Queen’s University Highlanders
254th Infantry Battalion: Quinte’s Own
255th Infantry Battalion: Queen’s Own Rifles
256th Infantry Battalion:
257th Infantry Battalion: Canadian Railway Construction Battalion
258th Infantry Battalion:
259th Infantry Battalion: Siberian Expeditionary Force
260th Infantry Battalion: Siberian Expeditionary Force

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