3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF

Last updated

3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF
3rd Bn CEF.svg
The distinguishing patch of the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF.
Active1914-1919
CountryCanadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada
Branch Canadian Expeditionary Force
Type battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Role Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part of 1st Canadian Brigade, 1st Canadian Division
Garrison/HQ Toronto, Ontario
Engagements First World War
Battle honours Ypres and along the Western Front.

The 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force that saw service in the First World War. It was created on 2 September 1914 with recruits from Toronto, primarily from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada with additional drafts from the 10th Royal Grenadiers and the Governor General's Body Guard. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The mascot of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, August 1916 Mascot3rdBattalionCEF1916.jpg
The mascot of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, August 1916

The battalion organized and trained at Camp Valcartier before sailing for England from Quebec City on board the SS Tunisian on 25 September 1914. They arrived in England on 16 October with a strength of 42 officers and 1123 men. The battalion became part of the 1st Canadian Division, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade where it saw action at Ypres, Vimy Ridge and along the Western Front. It was later reinforced by the 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion.

In the attack on Vimy Ridge, the battalion had a relatively easy time due to very successful artillery barrages but still lost around 150 killed or wounded. [3]

286 soldiers of the 3rd Battalion were taken prisoner during the war - all but 21 during the 2nd Battle of Ypres during April and May 1915. [4]

Demobilization, re-organization and perpetuation

The battalion returned to Canada from England on the SS Olympic arriving in Halifax on 21 April 1919, then in Toronto by train and demobilizing in the afternoon of 23 April 1919. Only 40 of the original contingent from 1914 arrived back at the end of the war although others had been demobilized or taken prisoners of war. [See list below.]

With the re-organization of the Canadian Militia, it was recreated as TheToronto Regiment by General Order dated 1 May 1920. On 15 December 1936 it was amalgamated with the Royal Grenadiers to form the Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers which subsequently became the known as The Royal Regiment of Canada, 11 February 1939.

Today the battalion is perpetuated by The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and The Royal Regiment of Canada. [5]

Commanding officers

All three Commanding Officers had previously served in the Canadian Militia with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada: [6]

Battle honours

The following battle honours were awarded the regiment for service in France and Belgium (those in capital letters were authorized to be shown on the Regimental Colours): [2]

Honours Awarded

[6]

See also

Related Research Articles

The 123rd Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, they began recruiting in November 1915. After arriving in England, they continued to train as an infantry battalion for several months, but just before mobilizing to France in January 1917, the battalion was redesignated the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31st Battalion (Alberta), CEF</span> Military unit

The 31st Battalion (Alberta), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The battalion recruited in Alberta and was mobilized at Calgary. The battalion was authorized in November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 17 May 1915. On 18 September 1915 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded in August 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">58th Battalion, CEF</span> Canadian infantry battalion

The 58th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The 27th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. The battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 17 May 1915. It disembarked in France on 18 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Battalion (French Canadian), CEF</span> Canadian unit in the First World War

The 22nd Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF</span> Military unit

The 78th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The 78th Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916. It disembarked in France on 13 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the armistice. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

Brigadier-General George Stuart Tuxford, was a pioneer of the Buffalo Pound Lake District, Saskatchewan, and later a senior officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). During the First World War he served first as officer commanding the 5th Battalion and later as general officer commanding 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF</span> Military unit

4th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion raised as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force for service during the First World War. Raised in Canada in September 1914, the battalion sailed to the United Kingdom within weeks of its establishment. After a short period of training it was committed to the fighting on the Western Front, remaining in France and Belgium until the war ended. It returned to Canada in mid-1919 and after its personnel had been demobilized, the battalion was subsequently disbanded in 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles</span> Military unit

The 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the 2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. The battalion recruited in Victoria and Vernon, British Columbia, and was mobilized in Victoria. An earlier incarnation was raised for Boer War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Battalion (Western Cavalry), CEF</span> Military unit

The 5th Battalion, CEF, known as "Tuxford's Dandys," was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">102nd Battalion, CEF</span>

The 102nd Battalion, CEF, (initially the 102nd Battalion (Northern British Columbia), then after August, 1917, the 102nd Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF) was an infantry battalion of the Great War Canadian Expeditionary Force.

The 18th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles</span> Military unit

The 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the 4th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF and embarked for Britain on 18 July 1915. It disembarked in France on 24 October 1915, where it fought as part of the 2nd Brigade Canadian Mounted Rifles until 31 December 1915, when it was converted to infantry and allocated to the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division. The regiment was redesignated the 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF on 1 January 1916 and was disbanded on 6 November 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF</span> Military unit

The 24th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">28th Battalion (Northwest), CEF</span> Military unit

The 28th Battalion (Northwest), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles), CEF</span> Military unit

The 8th Battalion, CEF, also known by the nickname of The Little Black Devils of Canada, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The battalion was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 1 October 1914. It disembarked in France on 13 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 2nd Canadian Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF</span> Military unit

The 46th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">49th Battalion (Edmonton Regiment), CEF</span> Military unit

The 49th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.

The 15th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The 15th Battalion was authorized on 1 September 1914, embarked for Britain on 26 September 1914, and arrived in France on 15 February 1915. The battalion fought as part of the 3rd Canadian Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders throughout the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.

The Royal Grenadiers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. The regiment was unique in its history as it was only one of two regiments in the Canadian Army to be designated as a grenadier regiment. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Toronto Regiment to form The Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers.

References

  1. "CEF Infantry Battalions" (PDF).
  2. 1 2 "3rd Battalion, CEF". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  3. Cook, Tim (7 March 2017). Vimy. Allen Lane. ISBN   978-0735233164.
  4. "Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919: PRISONERS OF WAR, 3RD BATTALION". 8 February 2011.
  5. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
  6. 1 2 A Brief History of the 3rd Canadian Battalion, CEF Toronto Regiment (no author or date)
  7. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rennie, MVO