157th (Simcoe Foresters) Battalion, CEF
Encyclopedia
The 157th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
during the First World War
. On 30 November 1915, the 35th Simcoe Foresters was authorized to raise the 157th Battalion. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D.H. MacLaren, the 157th was tasked with constructing a new army training camp on the Simcoe Pines Plain, which was to be named Camp Borden. Construction began in May 1916 with the companies from Barrie and Collingwood. A second company from Barrie arrived in June to help speed-up the construction. As such, the 157th became the founding battalion of Camp Borden, which it constructed to accommodate 40 infantry battalions in 10 brigades. Before the Camp was opened the remainder of the 157th and the entire 177th Battalion (Simcoe Foresters), CEF under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.B. McPhee, arrived. By that summer, Camp Borden was home to 36 CEF battalions in 9 brigades before they embarked overseas
Based in Barrie, Ontario
, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Simcoe County. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 1st, 19th, 116th, and 125th
Battalions, CEF, and the 8th Reserve Battalion. The Battalion received its Regimental colours on 12 October 1916 at Camp Borden, which were subsequently laid-up in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Barrie, Ontario
on 10 October 1919. The Colours were reclaimed by The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
, which perpetuates the 157th, on 18 June 1982 and deposited in the Regiment's Barrie Officers' Mess.
The battalion had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. D. H. MacLaren.
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. On 30 November 1915, the 35th Simcoe Foresters was authorized to raise the 157th Battalion. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D.H. MacLaren, the 157th was tasked with constructing a new army training camp on the Simcoe Pines Plain, which was to be named Camp Borden. Construction began in May 1916 with the companies from Barrie and Collingwood. A second company from Barrie arrived in June to help speed-up the construction. As such, the 157th became the founding battalion of Camp Borden, which it constructed to accommodate 40 infantry battalions in 10 brigades. Before the Camp was opened the remainder of the 157th and the entire 177th Battalion (Simcoe Foresters), CEF under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.B. McPhee, arrived. By that summer, Camp Borden was home to 36 CEF battalions in 9 brigades before they embarked overseas
Based in Barrie, Ontario
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Simcoe County. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 1st, 19th, 116th, and 125th
125th Battalion, CEF
The 125th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Brantford, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 throughout Brant County. After sailing to England in August 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion on...
Battalions, CEF, and the 8th Reserve Battalion. The Battalion received its Regimental colours on 12 October 1916 at Camp Borden, which were subsequently laid-up in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Barrie, Ontario
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
on 10 October 1919. The Colours were reclaimed by The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group...
, which perpetuates the 157th, on 18 June 1982 and deposited in the Regiment's Barrie Officers' Mess.
The battalion had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. D. H. MacLaren.