156th (Leeds and Grenville) Battalion, CEF

Last updated March 02, 2019

The 156th (Leeds and Grenville) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. The force fielded several combat formations on the Western Front in France and Belgium, the largest of which was the Canadian Corps, consisting of four divisions. The Canadian Cavalry Brigade and the Canadian Independent Force, which were independent of the Canadian Corps, also fought on the Western Front. The CEF also had a large reserve and training organization in England, and a recruiting organization in Canada. In the later stages of the European war, particularly after their success at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, the Canadian Corps was regarded by friend and foe alike as one of the most effective Allied military formations on the Western Front. In August 1918, the CEF's Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force travelled to revolution-torn Russia. It reinforced an anti-Bolshevik garrison in Vladivostok during the winter of 1918–19. At this time, another force of Canadian soldiers were placed in Archangel, where they fought against Bolsheviks.

World War I 1914–1918 global war originating in Europe

World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. Contemporaneously described as "the war to end all wars", it led to the mobilisation of more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, making it one of the largest wars in history. It is also one of the deadliest conflicts in history, with an estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilian deaths as a direct result of the war, while resulting genocides and the 1918 influenza pandemic caused another 50 to 100 million deaths worldwide.

Based in Brockville, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Leeds and Grenville Counties. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 2nd, 21st, and 38th Battalions, CEF. A draft was also supplied to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, with the remaining men going to the 6th Reserve Battalion. The unit officially ceased to exist on February 15, 1918. The 156th (Leeds and Grenville) Battalion, CEF had two Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. T. C. D. Bedell (October 17, 1916-March 14, 1917) and Lieut-Col. C. M. R. Graham (March 14, 1917-February 27, 1918).

Brockville, formerly Elizabethtown, is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada in the Thousand Islands region. Although it is the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, it is politically independent of the county. It is included with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.

Ontario is one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada and is located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province accounting for 38.3 percent of the country's population, and is the second-largest province in total area. Ontario is fourth-largest in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included. It is home to the nation's capital city, Ottawa, and the nation's most populous city, Toronto, which is also Ontario's provincial capital.

Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry infantry regiment of the Canadian Army

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. It is named for Princess Patricia of Connaught, then daughter of the Governor General of Canada. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a Primary Reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers. The PPCLI is the main lodger unit of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton in Alberta and CFB Shilo in Manitoba, and attached to 3rd Canadian Division; as such it serves as the "local" regular infantry regiment for much of Western Canada. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (LER), a Reserve Force battalion, is affiliated with the PPCLI but is not formally part of it. As part of this affiliation, the LER carries the designation '4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry'.

Related Research Articles

The Brockville Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is fifteenth in the order of precedence of Canadian Army Infantry Regiments. The Brockville Rifles are part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, 4th Canadian Division.

The 169th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 5th Reserve Battalion on January 24, 1917.

The 208th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city and the surrounding district. After sailing to England in May 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 2nd and 8th Reserve Battalions on January 3, 1918. The 208th Battalion, CEF had two Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. T. H. Lennox and Lieut-Col. W. P. Malone.

The 119th (Algoma) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in the Algoma district and on Manitoulin Island. After sailing to England in August 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion on April 16, 1918. The 119th (Algoma) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. T. P. T. Rowland.

The 132nd Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Chatham, New Brunswick, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in North Shore and Northumberland Counties. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 13th Reserve Battalion on January 28, 1917. The 132nd Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. G. W. Mersereau.

The 150th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in that city and the surrounding district. After sailing to England in September 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 14th, 22nd, 24th, and 87th Battalions, CEF, and the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. The unit officially ceased to exist as of February 15, 1918. The 150th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. Hercule Barre.

The 160th (Bruce) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The 161st (Huron) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in London, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Huron County. After sailing to England in November 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 4th Reserve Battalion on February 15, 1918.

The 199th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The 211th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 throughout British Columbia and Alberta. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops in March 1917. The 211th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. W. M. Sage.

The 215th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Brantford, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in the counties of Brant, Norfolk, and Haldimand. After sailing to England in April 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 2nd Reserve Battalion on May 7, 1917. The 215th Battalion, CEF had two Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. H. E. Snider and Lieut-Col. H. Cockshutt.

The 223rd (Scandinavians) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in Military Districts 10, 11, 12, and 13. After sailing to England in May 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 11th Reserve Battalion on May 14, 1917. The 223rd (Scandinavians) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. H. M. Hannesson.

The 226th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Dauphin, Manitoba, the unit began recruiting in March of 1916 in the area of Dauphin and Minnedosa, Manitoba. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 14th Reserve Battalion on April 7, 1917. The 226th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. R. A. Gillespie.

The 227th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Camp Borden, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 on Manitoulin Island and in Algoma. After sailing to England in April 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion on April 22, 1917. The 227th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. C. H. LeP. Jones.

The 235th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Bowmanville, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in the Spring of 1916 in Northumberland and Durham Counties. After sailing to England in May 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 3rd Reserve Battalion on May 14, 1917. The 235th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. S. B. Scobell.

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 "McLean Kilties of America" or "Sir Sam's Own".

The 240th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Renfrew, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in the Spring of 1916 in the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, and Frontenac. After sailing to England in May 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 156th Battalion, CEF and the 6th and 7th Reserve Battalions in June, 1917. The 240th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. E. J. Watt.

The 245th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting in the spring of 1916 in that city. After sailing to England in May 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF upon arrival. The 245th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. C. C. Ballantyne.

The 87th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The 49th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 49th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 3 June 1915. It disembarked in France on 9 October 1915, where it fought as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

References

Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.