1st Canadian Battalion (Ontario Regiment), CEF
Encyclopedia
The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion was a battalion
of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
that saw service in the First World War.
The battalion was created on 2 September 1914 with recruits from "Military District 1" which was Western Ontario
. The battalion set off for England on board the Laurentic berthed in Quebec. They arrived in England on 14 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers and 1121 men. The battalion became part of the 1st Canadian Division
, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade where it saw action at Ypres and along the Western Front
.
The battalion returned to Canada on 21 April 1919, was demobilized on 24 April 1919, and disbanded soon after. The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion was initially perpetuated by the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), and is currently perpetuated by The Royal Canadian Regiment
.
Lieutenant Frederick William Campbell
was awarded the Victoria Cross
for his heroism in action 15 June 1915 at Givenchy, France. He died of wounds four days later.
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
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...
that saw service in the First World War.
The battalion was created on 2 September 1914 with recruits from "Military District 1" which was Western Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The battalion set off for England on board the Laurentic berthed in Quebec. They arrived in England on 14 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers and 1121 men. The battalion became part of the 1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Division
Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,...
, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade where it saw action at Ypres and along the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
.
The battalion returned to Canada on 21 April 1919, was demobilized on 24 April 1919, and disbanded soon after. The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion was initially perpetuated by the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), and is currently perpetuated by The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
.
Lieutenant Frederick William Campbell
Frederick William Campbell
Frederick William Campbell VC was a Canadian Army Officer, and 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....
was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his heroism in action 15 June 1915 at Givenchy, France. He died of wounds four days later.