 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(June 2021) |
The 147th (Grey) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, raised by the 31st Grey Regiment.
Based in Owen Sound, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Grey County. It departed to Camp Niagara 19 May 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G.F. MacFarland, where it trained until 4 July when it moved to the brand new Camp Borden. The 147th left Camp Borden on 5 October for embarkation overseas, sailing on the sister ship to RMS Titanic, RMS Olympic, arriving at Liverpool, England on 20 November. After sailing to England in November 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion on 1 January 1917. The 147th (Grey) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. G. F. McFarland. [1]
The 147th received its Regimental colours on 22 August 1916 at Camp Borden, which were subsequently laid-up for safe keeping in St. Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on 26 May 1917. They were reclaimed on 3 March 1919 and returned to Canada where they were deposited in the Owen Sound Public Library on 16 September. Eventually, they were encased in the Owen Sound Officers' Mess. In a rather unorthodox approach, a duplicate stand of 147th Colours was produced in 1948 by the Grey Council and deposited in the old County Courthouse by the Association on 13 April 1949.
The 147th's Private Thomas William Holmes of Owen Sound won the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Passchendaele on 26 October 1917, while serving with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Tommy Holmes became Canada's youngest winner of the VC and the Owen Sound Armoury is named in his memory. Each year on Remembrance Day, a firing party from The Grey and Simcoe Foresters, which perpetuates the 147th, fires a volley over his grave at Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound. Two other VC winners are also buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Air Marshal Billy Bishop and Major David Vivian Currie.
The Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) is a reserve infantry regiment in the 34 Canadian Brigade Group, 2nd Canadian Division, of the Canadian Army. The regiment is the oldest and second-most-senior infantry regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army. Located in Montreal, its main role is the provision of combat-ready light infantry troops in support of Canadian regular infantry. It is a Household Foot Guard regiment and also provides soldiers for public ceremonial duties, performing similar ceremonial duties as the Guards regiments of the British Army. This primarily entails mounting the guard at Government House, the Governor General's residence, and performing the "Changing the Guard" ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, a task it shares with Canada's senior Household Foot Guard regiment, the Governor General's Foot Guards of Ottawa. The Canadian Grenadier Guards is an allied regiment to the British Grenadier Guards.
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) (RHLI) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, based at John Weir Foote VC Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario. The RHLI is part of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, which is part of 4th Canadian Division.
The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
Thomas William Holmes VC was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, during the First World War. Holmes is the youngest Canadian to ever win the Victoria Cross.
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Within the Canadian Army, it is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 31 Canadian Brigade Group. Due to the restructuring of the British Army, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment was amalgamated into The Mercian Regiment, as its 2nd Battalion, leaving The Grey and Simcoe Foresters as the only remaining unit in the Commonwealth of Nations known to be distinctly designated as a regiment of Foresters.
The Lorne Scots is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers) is a primary reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army comprising two companies. A Company is located in North Bay, Ontario, and B Company is located in Timmins, Ontario. The regiment falls under the command of the 4th Canadian Division's 33 Canadian Brigade Group.
The 177th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force raised during the First World War by the 35th Simcoe Foresters. Based in Barrie, Ontario and later at Camp Borden, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in Simcoe County, Ontario. The battalion arrived at Camp Borden on 3 July 1916 where it trained until sailing to England in May 1917. The battalion was absorbed into the 3rd Reserve Battalion on May 14, 1917. The 177th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. J. B. McPhee, and is perpetuated by The Grey and Simcoe Foresters.
The 133rd Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
The 157th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
The 162nd Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Parry Sound, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in that city. After sailing to England in November 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 3rd and 4th Reserve Battalions on January 4, 1917. The 162nd Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. J. M. Arthurs.
The 202nd (Sportsmens) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in southside Edmonton, Alberta, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city and surrounding district. It was formally authorized on July 15, 1916. Its headquarters were in the Sheppard Block at 10316 Whyte Avenue.
The 236th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick and Camp Valcartier, the unit began recruiting in the Spring of 1916 throughout Canada and the New England region in the United States of America. After sailing to England in November 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 20th Reserve Battalion, CEF in March, 1918. The 236th Battalion, CEF was also known as the "MacLean Kilties of America" or "Sir Sam's Own".
The 248th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Owen Sound, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in the late summer of 1916 in Grey County. After sailing to England in June 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 7th and 8th Reserve Battalions later that month. The 248th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. Joseph Hilliard Rorke.
The 87th Battalion, CEF was a Household Foot Guards infantry unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
The 85th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 85th Battalion was authorized on 14 September 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916. Disembarking in France in February 1917, it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion is most famous for capturing Hill 145 in their first battle. Today, the Vimy Memorial stands on Hill 145.
The 86th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which was raised for overseas service during World War I. Authorized on December 22, 1915, the battalion embarked for Britain in May 1916. Based at Shorncliffe, the battalion was reorganized as the Canadian Machine Gun Depot, CEF and provided reinforcements for Canadian units in the field until it was disbanded on 1 September 1917. It is believed to have been "the first of its kind in the British Empire."
The Norfolk Regiment of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. First raised in the 1860’s as The Norfolk Rifles, the regiment was converted to a Line Regiment in 1928. In 1936, the regiment was converted from infantry to artillery and now forms part of the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA.
The Grey Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with the Simcoe Foresters to form the Grey and Simcoe Foresters.
The Simcoe Foresters was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Grey Regiment to form The Grey and Simcoe Foresters.
