3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF

The distinguishing patch of the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF.

The 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force was a 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.

History

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 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.

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.[1]

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 the Toronto Regiment by General Order dated 1 May 1920. On 15 December 1936 it was amalgamated with the Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers to form the 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.[2]

Commanding Officers

All three Commanding Officers has previously served in the Canadian Militia with the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada:[3]

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):

Honours Awarded[4]

Originals

Forty-one officers and men who left with the Regiment in August 1914 and returned with them in April 1919:[5]

  • Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Rogers, CMG, DSO, MC
  • Lieutenant Colonel D.H.C. Mason, DSO, OBE
  • Captain E.H. Minns, MC
  • Captain A.K. Coulthard, MC, MM*
  • Captain H.T. Lord, MC
  • Lieutenant A.V. Noble
  • Lieutenant D. Morrison, MM*
  • Lieutenant J.L. Austin
  • 9356 Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant G.R. Pollock
  • 9068 Sergeant H.V. Spence, DCM, MM, Belgium CdeG
  • 9306 Sergeant R.J. Clapton, MSM
  • 9070 Sergeant N. Thorn, MSM
  • 9265 Sergeant R.H. Williams
  • 10153 Sergeant W.H. Minnett
  • 9074 Corporal J. Mullen, MM
  • 9226 Corporal R.J. Murdock
  • 9608 Lance Corporal G. Spraggett
  • 9889 Private W. Bennett
  • 18171 Private J. Bodell
  • 18761 Private J.J. Burns
  • 9900 Private T. Clarke
  • 9434 Private G.W. Dent
  • 10026 Private T. Franklin
  • 9318 Private Wm. J. Gearin
  • 9513 Private H. Kinsley, MM
  • 9801 Private W.J. Leathem
  • 9463 Private W.C. Legier
  • 18213 Private Ed Lindsay
  • 9332 Private A.S. Lukeman
  • 9073 Private W. Maitland
  • 9105 Private R.G. Ottey
  • 9748 Private S.H. Pilling
  • 9714 Private Wm. Renfrew
  • 9251 Private H. Sanderson
  • 9373 Private H.F. Smith
  • 9057 Private P.C. Stephenson
  • 10171 Private G. Stretton, MM
  • 9497 Private E.W. Thorne
  • 9394 Private P.H. Theberge
  • 9385 Private H. Webster
  • 10079 Private G. White

*Commissioned from the ranks

References

  1. ↑ http://canadianexpeditionaryforce1914-1919.blogspot.ca/2011/02/prisoners-of-war-3rd-battalion.html
  2. ↑ Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
  3. ↑ A Brief History of the 3rd Canadian Battalion, CEF Toronto Regiment (no author or date)
  4. ↑ A Brief History of the 3rd Canadian Battalion, CEF Toronto Regiment (no author or date)
  5. ↑ A Brief History of the 3rd Canadian Battalion, CEF Toronto Regiment (no author or date)

External links

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