1.
Canadian Expeditionary Force
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The Canadian Expeditionary Force 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 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 reserve and training organization in England. The Germans went so far as to call them storm troopers for their combat efficiency. In August 1918, the CEFs Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force travelled to revolution-torn Russia and 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, the Canadian Expeditionary Force was mostly volunteers, as conscription was not enforced until the end of the war when call-ups began in January 1918. Ultimately, only 24,132 conscripts arrived in France before the end of the war, Canada was the senior Dominion in the British Empire and automatically at war with Germany upon the British declaration. According to Canadian historian Dr. Serge Durflinger at the Canadian War Museum, of the first contingent formed at Valcartier, Quebec in 1914, fully two-thirds were men born in the United Kingdom. By the end of the war in 1918, at least fifty per cent of the CEF consisted of British-born men, many British nationals from the United Kingdom or other territories who were resident in Canada also joined the CEF. As several CEF battalions were posted to the Bermuda Garrison before proceeding to France, although the Bermuda Militia Artillery and Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps both sent contingents to the Western Front, the first would not arrive there til June 1915. By then, many Bermudians had already been serving on the Western Front in the CEF for months, Bermudians in the CEF enlisted under the same terms as Canadians, and all male British Nationals resident in Canada became liable for conscription under the Military Service Act,1917. Two tank battalions were raised in 1918 but did not see service, most of the infantry battalions were broken up and used as reinforcements, with a total of fifty being used in the field, including the mounted rifle units, which were re-organized as infantry. The artillery and engineering units underwent significant re-organization as the war progressed, a distinct entity within the Canadian Expeditionary Force was the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. It consisted of several machine gun battalions, the Eatons, Yukon, and Borden Motor Machine Gun Batteries. During the summer of 1918, these units were consolidated into four machine gun battalions, the Canadian Corps with its four infantry divisions comprised the main fighting force of the CEF. The Canadian Cavalry Brigade also served in France, the 1915 Battle of Ypres, the first engagement of Canadian forces in the Great War, changed the Canadian perspective on war. Ypres exposed Canadian soldiers and their commanders to modern war and they had already experienced the effects of shellfire and developed a reputation for aggressive trench raiding despite their lack of formal training and generally inferior equipment. In April 1915, they were introduced to yet another facet of modern war, the Germans employed chlorine gas to create a hole in the French lines adjacent to the Canadian force and poured troops into the gap
2.
Battle honour
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In European military tradition, military units may be acknowledged for their achievements in specific wars or operations of a military campaign. These honours usually take the form of a place and a date, theatre honours could be listed and displayed on regimental property but not emblazoned on the colours. Since battle honours are emblazoned on colours, artillery units. These honour titles were permitted to be used as part of their official nomenclature, similar honours in the same tenor include unit citations. Battle honours, theatre honours, honour titles and their ilk form a part of the variety of distinctions which serve to distinguish military units from each other. For the British Army, the need to adopt a system to recognise military units battlefield accomplishments was apparent since its formation as an army in the later part of the 17th century. Although the granting of battle honours had already been in place at the time, before then, a regiments colours were practical tools for rallying troops in the battlefield and not quite something for displaying the units past distinctions. The first battle honour to be awarded in the British Army was granted to the 15th Hussars for the Battle of Emsdorf in 1760, thereafter, other regiments received battle honours for some of their previous engagements. The battle honour is held by the successor regiment, the Princess of Waless Royal Regiment. During these early years of the British standing army, a regiment needed only to engage the enemy with musketry before it was eligible for a battle honour, thus in 1882, a committee was formed to adjudicate applications of battle honour claims. This committee, later called the Battles Nomenclature Committee, still maintains its function in the British Army today. A battle honour may be granted to infantry/cavalry regiments or battalions, as well as ships and squadrons, they are granted to sub-units such as companies. Battle honours are presented in the form of a name of a country, region, or city where the units distinguished act took place. Not every battle fought will automatically result in the granting of a battle honour, conversely, a regiment or a battalion might obtain more than one battle honour over the course of a larger operation. Similarly, while in Korea, Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry earned both Kapyong and Korea 1951–1953, supporting corps/branches such as medical, service, ordnance, or transport do not currently receive battle honours. However and uniquely the Royal Logistic Corps has five battle honours inherited from its previous transport elements, Commonwealth artillery does not maintain battle honours as they carry neither colours nor guidons—though their guns by tradition are afforded many of the same respects and courtesies. However, both the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers were in 1832 granted by King William IV the right to use the Latin Ubique, meaning everywhere and this is worn on the cap badge of both the Corps of Royal Engineers and the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The practice was extended to these same regiments and corps in the successor Commonwealth armed forces
3.
Cyrus Wesley Peck
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Cyrus Wesley Peck VC, DSO & Bar was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Peck was one of the seven Canadians to be awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions on one day,2 September 1918, for actions across the 30 km long Drocourt-Quéant Line near Arras. The other six were Bellenden Hutcheson, Arthur George Knight, William Metcalf, Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, Walter Leigh Rayfield, Peck was born in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick to a family that had emigrated from New England in 1763. Peck was 16 years old when his father moved the family to New Westminster, Peck took military training and crossed the Atlantic to join the British Army then changed his mind. He returned to Canada and would volunteer for the Boer War and he was not accepted for duty. He next moved to Klondike, Yukon, when First World War began he was in Prince Rupert, British Columbia and working in a salmon cannery. He went overseas in 1914 as a Major in the 30th Battalion, then in May 1915 Peck joined as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He became the officer of the Regiment during the Battle of the Somme. He led his battalion, under difficulties caused by heavy mist, to its final objective and he personally led his men in an attack on nests of machine guns protecting the enemys guns, which he captured. Some of the guns were of 8-inch calibre. was Mentioned in Despatches five times, returning, he reorganized his battalion and pushed them forward. To this battalion he subsequently gave the necessary support, the full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 12 November 1918, War Office, 15th November,1918. His Majesty the KING has been pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Noncommissioned Officers and Men. For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading when in attack under intense fire and his command quickly captured the first objective, but progress to the further objective was held up by enemy machine-gun fire on his right flank. Having reconnoitred the position he returned, reorganised his battalion, and, acting upon the knowledge gained, pushed them forward. To this battalion he subsequently gave requisite support, in 1917 he was a soldier candidate elected in the khaki election of 1917. He was elected in 1917 as a Unionist for the riding of Skeena, in 1924, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of The Islands. A member of the British Columbia Conservative Party, he was reelected in 1928, in 1930, the Gulf Islands Ferry Company purchased the Canadian Pacific car ferry Island Princess and renamed it MV Cy Peck in honour of Peck, who was also the local MLA. The MV Cy Peck remained in service until 1966, following his political career he was appointed to the Canadian Pension Commission and held this post until 1941
4.
CFB Valcartier
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Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, approximately 25 km north of Quebec City. It is home to 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, CFB Valcartier was originally erected as a military training camp in August 1914 as part of the mobilization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the onset of World War I. The site was used as an internment camp for enemy aliens. The name Valcartier comes from the town of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, of which a section was expropriated in order to create the military training camp. Due to its proximity to the Port of Quebec, Valcartier became the largest military camp on Canadian soil, in 1968, after the unification of the Canadian Forces, the title 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group was assigned to the brigade group established in CFB Valcartier. Currently, Valcartier Garrison is home to 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, the Myriam Bédard Biathlon Training Centre is also located on the base. CFB Valcartier is also home to a Defence Research and Development Canada location, ASU Valcartier is also home of the Army Cadet Summer Training Centre Valcartier, which trains Royal Canadian Army Cadets of the Eastern Region / Province of Quebec. In July 1974, a safety training accident involving D Company killed six cadets. A coroners inquiry found the instructor criminally responsible, an account of the explosion, its cause and effects are detailed in the book As You Were, The Tragedy at Valcartier by Gerry Fostaty and published by Goose Lane Editions. In 1997 a cancer-causing chemical, trichloroethylene, was found in the supply of CFB Valcartier. Trichloroethylene, which has linked to liver cancer, was used for degreasing metal parts at the base in the 1970s. The Department of National Defence, which was accused of a cover-up, media related to CFB Valcartier at Wikimedia Commons
5.
World War I
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World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history and it was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, and paved the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the worlds great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances, the Allies versus the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war, Italy, Japan, the trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. This set off a crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia. Within weeks, the powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. On 25 July Russia began mobilisation and on 28 July, the Austro-Hungarians declared war on Serbia, Germany presented an ultimatum to Russia to demobilise, and when this was refused, declared war on Russia on 1 August. Germany then invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg before moving towards France, after the German march on Paris was halted, what became known as the Western Front settled into a battle of attrition, with a trench line that changed little until 1917. On the Eastern Front, the Russian army was successful against the Austro-Hungarians, in November 1914, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers, opening fronts in the Caucasus, Mesopotamia and the Sinai. In 1915, Italy joined the Allies and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers, Romania joined the Allies in 1916, after a stunning German offensive along the Western Front in the spring of 1918, the Allies rallied and drove back the Germans in a series of successful offensives. By the end of the war or soon after, the German Empire, Russian Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, national borders were redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created, and Germanys colonies were parceled out among the victors. During the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the Big Four imposed their terms in a series of treaties, the League of Nations was formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such a conflict. This effort failed, and economic depression, renewed nationalism, weakened successor states, and feelings of humiliation eventually contributed to World War II. From the time of its start until the approach of World War II, at the time, it was also sometimes called the war to end war or the war to end all wars due to its then-unparalleled scale and devastation. In Canada, Macleans magazine in October 1914 wrote, Some wars name themselves, during the interwar period, the war was most often called the World War and the Great War in English-speaking countries. Will become the first world war in the sense of the word. These began in 1815, with the Holy Alliance between Prussia, Russia, and Austria, when Germany was united in 1871, Prussia became part of the new German nation. Soon after, in October 1873, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck negotiated the League of the Three Emperors between the monarchs of Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany
6.
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
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The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 3rd Canadian Divisions 38 Canadian Brigade Group and is headquartered at the Minto Armoury in Winnipeg and it is the oldest highland regiment in Western Canada. The 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada contributed one company to the 16th Battalion, the 43rd Battalion, CEF, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 1 June 1915. It disembarked in France on 22 February 1916, where it fought as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France, the battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920. The 174th Battalion, CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916, there, on 7 May 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 14th Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 1 September 1917, the 179th Battalion, CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 3 October 1916. There, on 21 October 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, the battalion disbanded on 17 July 1917. The regiment mobilized The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, CASF for active service on 1 September 1939 and it was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, CASF on 7 November 1940. It embarked for Great Britain on 12 December 1940, the battalion took part in OPERATION JUBILEE, the Dieppe Raid, on 19 August 1942. It returned to France on 7 July 1944, as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, the overseas battalion disbanded on 30 November 1945. The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014. Battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colour, as early as 1905 the local Scottish community in Winnipeg, led by the St Andrews Society, began lobbying the government to raise a Highland regiment. Under increasing pressure from the Scottish lobbyists the government relented and the steps taken to form Western Canadas first Highland regiment. On 29 September 1909, the officers met and committees dealing with finances, uniforms. Almost all of the accoutrements were manufactured in Scotland, obtained from William Anderson & Sons Ltd. On 1 February 1910, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada were officially gazetted, headquartered in the former Dominion Lands Office at 202 Main Street, on 9 October 1910, the Regiment received its first stand of Colours, presented by Mrs D. C. Cameron, wife of the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, along with the regimental number the new Canadian regiment chose to also perpetuate the uniform of the Imperial Camerons. This association with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders became official on 31 January 1911, on 22 June 1911, a contingent of 61 Camerons, parading with their allied regiment, participated in the coronation of King George V
7.
The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
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The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The regiment is subordinate to 39 Canadian Brigade Group, 3rd Canadian Division, based at the Seaforth Armoury on Burrard Street in Vancouver, the regiment serves in both times of war and civil emergency, such as disaster relief after earthquakes or floods. It also contributes individual volunteers or augmentees to Canadian Forces operations around the world, the regiment was formed in 1910 and served overseas in both World War I and World War II. Members of the Seaforth Highlanders have deployed on many missions since World War II including Korea, Egypt, Cyprus, Croatia and most recently in Afghanistan. It disembarked in France on 13 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France, the battalion disbanded on 30 August 1920. The battalion disbanded on 11 April 1918, the regiment mobilized The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, CASF for active service on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and it embarked for Britain on 20 December 1939. The battalion landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943 and in Italy on 4 September 1943 as part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division. On 14 March 1945, it moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North-West Europe as part of OPERATION GOLDFLAKE, the overseas battalion disbanded on 31 October 1945. On 1 June 1945, a second Active Force component of the regiment was mobilized for service in the Pacific theatre of operations designated as the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, the battalion disbanded on 1 November 1945. On 4 May 1951, the regiment mobilized two temporary Active Force companies designated E and F Company, E Company was reduced to nil strength when its personnel were incorporated into the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion for service in Germany with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It disbanded on 29 July 1953, F Company was initially used as a reinforcement pool for E Company. On 15 May 1952, it was reduced to nil strength when its personnel were absorbed by the newly formed 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion for service in Korea with the United Nations, F Company disbanded on 29 July 1953. The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014. In the list below, battle honours in small capitals are for participation in operations and campaigns. Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colour, First World War Second World War South-West Asia Afghanistan In 1909 members of Vancouvers Scottish community sought to raise a highland regiment in Vancouver. The question was first put to the Gaelic societies and the idea was received favourably, a meeting was held on 11 May 1909, in the St. Andrews and Caledonian Societies rooms to discuss the issue. The topic continued to be discussed in the Scottish circles of the city, the delegates met again on 17 January 1910, and it was reported that an application had been sent to the Minister of Militia to raise a highland regiment in Vancouver
8.
1st Canadian Division
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The 1st Canadian Division is an operational command and control formation of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, based at CFB Kingston. Formed during the First World War in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin. Following the war, the division was stood down only to be re mobilized as a formation on 1 September 1939 as the 1st Canadian Infantry Division for service in the Second World War, the division was also reactivated twice during the Cold War. In 2010, the division was reactivated for a third time, several units under command of the First Contingent were excluded from the divisional organization, including the 17th Battalion, 18th Battalion, and several companies of Newfoundland soldiers. The strength of the division was placed at 17,873 all ranks, the 10th Battalion replaced the 6th Battalion, which left the 2nd Brigade to become a cavalry unit, later serving in the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Pioneer units were added later in the war, including the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion from Mar 1916 to Feb 1917, the 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion also came under command between Mar 1917 and May 1918, before being absorbed by the 1st Canadian Engineer Brigade. He was selected — to the relief of many — in lieu of Sir Sam Hughes and it had been Hughess wish to command the Canadians in action. Alderson, who had commanded Canadian units before, won out over three prospective Canadian appointees, who, while serving with the British Army, were considered too inexperienced. Training in the winter of 1914 was rigorous, and conditions on Salisbury Plain were harsh due to cold, a royal inspection of the division early in 1915 foretold a move to France. After being stationed at Salisbury Plain in England, the 1st Canadian Division embarked for France during February 1915, the division moved to the Ypres Salient in April, and faced its first real test during the defence of St. Julien beginning on 22 April. The Canadians withstood German attack—aided, for the first time on the Western Front, by the use of poison gas—and finally retired to positions on 26 April. The Second Battle of Ypres, as the action came to be known. Two weeks later, the division was in action again at Festubert, aiding in a diversionary offensive by the British armies, the Canadians suffered 2,204 casualties for gains of only 600 yards. Another futile attack was launched at Givenchy-en-Gohelle in June 1915, after which the moved to Ploegsteert. The Canadians began a period of static warfare which would last them throughout the winter. In September, the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division meant that a corps headquarters could take to the field to command the division. Major-General Arthur Currie took command of the division in September, active operations resumed again in the spring of 1916, participating in the Battle of Mount Sorrel, and then restoring the situation at Sanctuary Wood
9.
Arthur Currie
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General Sir Arthur William Currie, GCMG, KCB was a senior officer of the Canadian Army who fought during World War I. Curries success was based on his ability to rapidly adapt brigade tactics to the exigencies of trench warfare, using set piece operations and he is generally considered to be among the most capable commanders of the Western Front, and one of the finest commanders in Canadian military history. Currie began his career in 1897 as a part-time soldier in the Canadian militia while making his living as a teacher and later as an insurance salesmen. Currie rose quickly through the ranks, commissioned as an officer in 1900, promoted to captain in 1901, then major in 1906, in 1913, Currie accepted the command of the newly created 50th Regiment Gordon Highlanders of Canada. Finding himself in following a real estate crash in Victoria. When the First World War broke out Canadian Minister of Militia Sam Hughes appointed Currie as commander of the 2nd Canadian Brigade, following the Second Battle of Ypres Currie was promoted to Major General and commander of the 1st Canadian Division. Upon returning to Canada, Currie was promoted to General and was made inspector-general of the Canadian Army, although he only held a high school diploma, Currie became the principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University in 1920, holding this post until his death in 1933. Arthur Currie was born to William Garner Curry and Jane Patterson on 5 December 1875 at farm near the hamlet of Napperton, Ontario and he was the third in a family of eight children and grew up on the homestead of his grandparents, John Corrigan and Jane Garner. Arthur Currie modified the spelling of his surname from Curry to Currie in 1897, Currie was educated in local common schools and at the Strathroy District Collegiate Institute, where he proved to be a good student especially interested in literature. He had plans to pursue a career in law or medicine. Currie instead pursued teacher training, but he was unable to secure a job, however, Currie found no prospects outside of teaching, so he qualified as a teacher in British Columbia and took a teaching position on the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria, British Columbia. In 1896, Currie moved to Victoria, taking a position at Boys Central School, on 6 May 1897, Currie joined the Canadian Militia as a part-time gunner for the 5th Field Artillery Regiment. Currie achieved the rank of corporal in 1900 and was soon offered an officers commission. A military commission was however an expensive proposition, since officers were expected to provide their own set of tailored uniforms, Currie took on his role as militia officer seriously. He was a keen marksmen and was elected president of the British Columbia Rifle Association in 1905, Currie was promoted to captain in November 1901, and then to major in 1906. By September 1909, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, apart from his interest in the militia, Currie was also an active Freemason, rising to the position of deputy grandmaster of the Victoria District of Freemasonry in 1907. He also served two years as president of the Young Mens Liberal Association of Victoria, and several times was suggested as a candidate for the provincial legislature, in addition to his military career, Currie continued to be active in business. With a land boom in Victoria in full swing, Currie and a Victoria businessman, R. A. Power, formed Currie & Power in 1908
