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10th Battalion, CEF

The 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a unit raised for service in the First World War.

History

The battalion was organized in Valcartier Camp on 6 August 1914 under the official authority of Camp Order 241 dated 2 September 1914. The unit drew its recruits from Calgary and Winnipeg, as an amalgam of drafts sent to Valcartier from the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) and 106th Winnipeg Light Infantry.

The first commanding officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Russell Lambert Boyle, a veteran of the war in South Africa. He was killed in the unit's first action at Kitcheners' Wood on 22 April 1915, and replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Rattray on 1 June 1915. Lieutenant-Colonel Dan M. Ormond succeeded Rattray on 25 September 1916.

The battalion sailed from Quebec City on 29 September 1914 aboard S.S. Scandinavian and arrived in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1914 with a strength of 43 officers and 1051 other ranks.

The unit moved to France as a component of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade of the Canadian Division (later 1st Canadian Division) on 7 February 1915 and participated in every major Canadian battle on the Western Front. The unit eventually drew reinforcements from the 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion, and was affiliated with the 56th and 82nd Battalions.

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10th Battalion, CEF

Authorized: 6 August 1914
Initial Strength: 43 officers, 1051 other ranks
Service: 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division
Disbanded:  15 September 1920 (GO 149/20)
Perpetuated by: The Calgary Regiment and The Winnipeg Light Infantry

Notable Members

During the course of the war, two members of the 10th were awarded the Victoria Cross for valour; Private Harry Brown, for actions during the fighting at Hill 70 on 16 August 1917, and Acting Sergeant Arthur Knight, for actions at Villiers-les-Cagnicourt on 2 September 1918. Other notable soldiers included Lance Corporal J.T. Milne, who was the first Canadian to be awarded the Military medal three times (MM and two bars), and two soldiers were nominated for the VC but had lesser awards substituted; Captain Charles Costigan, DSO, MC, and Lance Corporal George William Allan, DCM.

Sergeant William Alexander, an NCO with the 10th Battalion, was one of 25 soldiers executed by the Canadian Expeditionary Force for desertion during the First World War.

Post War

The unit returned to England on 16 March 1919, disembarked in Canada on 18 April 1919, and was welcomed home to Calgary where it demobilized on 23 April 1919.1

On 15 March 1920, as the Otter Committee recommendations began to make themselves felt, General Order 29 was announced, and The Calgary Regiment replaced the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) in the order of battle of the Canadian Militia. The new regiment did not perpetuate the 10th Battalion. The veterans of the 10th Battalion, who recently organized an association, took their concerns to the provincial and federal governments, and General Order 32, dated 1 April 1921, granted a dual perpetuation of the 10th Battalion to both The Calgary Regiment and The Winnipeg Light Infantry.

General Order 254 of 1921 ordered the 1st Battalion of The Calgary Regiment to become a kilted unit with the designation 1st Battalion (10th Battalion, CEF) Calgary Highlanders, The Calgary Regiment. In 1924 they were split off to become their own distinct regiment, known simply as The Calgary Highlanders, and they retained their dual perpetuation of the 10th Battalion, along with The Winnipeg Light Infantry.2

In 1955, The Winnipeg Light Infantry were amalgamated with The Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

Insignia

In 1914, there had been little time to adopt distinctive unit badges for the hastily assembled battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. As many battalions were drawn from men from several of the pre-war Militia regiments, there was a desire to avoid using existing badges and forming associations with those existing units, in favour of creating new identities - the General Officer Commanding the 1st Canadian Contingent (later 1st Canadian Division) is quoted as saying sometime in October or November of 1914 "there must be distinctive badges for each unit."3 Until unit badges were approved and issued, a mixture of pre-war Militia badges and maple-leaf pattern General Service badges were seen.

The 10th Battalion showed an interest from early in the war of acquiring distinctive unit badges. Lieutenant-Colonel Rattray selected a design which featured a wreath of Canadian maple leaves surmounted by the crown, bearing a scroll and Canadian beaver. Dan Ormond, the unit's first adjutant and later commanding officer and eventually a Brigadier-General, noted that the battalion attempted to avoid association with a particular geographical locality throughout the war:

"...we have always tried to have the simple name of THE TENTH CANADIANS adopted but have made no effort to have this adopted in an official way...We have not asked for localization of a name for we have received many good men from all parts of Canada and in all fairness to everyone do not wish to localize."4

Lieutenant-Colonel Rattray submitted the design to Brigadier Lipsett on 9 November 1915, who relayed it to the headquarters of the 1st Canadian Division who approved it. The battalion was informed on further enquiries that the badges would not be provided at public expense; Rattray assured authorities that battalion funds would be used and Canadian military authorities in England approved the badges in March 1916, with the proviso that "the unit undertakes to bear the cost of provision." Daniel Dancocks, the battalion's historian, was unable to determine the exact date of issue, though Barry Agnew of the Glenbow Museum and later curator of The Calgary Highlanders Regimental Museum and Archives located a battalion order from mid-June 1916 noting that the badges were in use - and chastising some troops for using red cloth as a backing, rather than the officially prescribed dark blue.

The badge was issued in bronze with white metal overlays for officers and warrant officers/senior NCOs, and in brass for other ranks.

Collar badges of matching design were worn only by officers and warrant officers/senior NCOs, being also in bi-metal; they were also mirrored in design, worn with the beavers facing inward. Other ranks wore a C-over-10 badge that had been in use since the summer of 1915.

Metal cap and collar badges were also worn on service dress.

In mid-1916, cloth "battle-patches" were added to the sleeves of the Service Dress and greatcoat. The 1st Division was distinguished by a red rectangle, 3 inches wide by 2 inches tall, worn on each upper arm. The 10th Battalion was further distinguished by a red square worn above the rectangle, the red indicating the 2nd Brigade, and the square indicating the junior battalion in the brigade. More information on formation patches can be found in the article on the organization of the division.

Battle Honours

Ypres 1915, '17
St. Julien
Mount Sorrel
Thiepval
Arras, 19175
Arleux
Passchendaele
Scarpe, 1918
Hindenburg Line
Pursuit to Mons		 Gravenstavel
Festubert, 1915
Somme, 1916
Ancre Heights
Vimy, 1917
Hill 70
Amiens
Drocourt-Qu�ant
Canal du Nord
France and Flanders, 1915-18

Notes

  1. Stewart, p.5 and Guide to Sources p.61.

  2. Dancocks, D.G. Gallant Canadians: The Story of the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion 1914-1919 (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, Calgary, AB, 1990) ISBN 0-9694616-0-7 pp.208-212

  3. Harper, Joseph A Source of Pride: Regimental Badges and Titles in the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 (Service Publications, Ottawa, ON, 1999) ISBN 0-9699845-8-8 p.5

  4. Dancocks, Ibid, pp.88-89

  5. Dancocks points out that while The Calgary Highlanders were awarded the Battle Honour "Arras 1917, '18", under General Order 110/29 dated 15 September 1929, the 10th Battalion received the Battle Honour Arras, 1917 by General Order 123/29 on 15 October 1929. Possibly a clerical error, as it was not one of the honour selected by the 10th Battalion for emblazonment, the point is perhaps academic. Stewart lists the honour as "Arras 1917, 18'" for the 10th Battalion.

References

  • Love, David W. A Call to Arms: The Organization and Administration of Canada's Military in World War One (Bunker to Bunker Books, Calgary, AB, 1999) ISBN 1894255-03-8

  • Stewart, Charles H. Overseas: The Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 (Little & Stewart, Toronto, ON, 1970)

  • Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Infantry Battalions (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, ON, 2012)

Archival Holdings

The following holdings at Library and Archives Canada may be useful for further research on this unit:

  • War diary, 19 Oct. 1914 - 28 Feb. 1919

    • RG 9, III-D-3, vol. 4919-4921, folders 372-381

  • Badges and colours

    • RG 24, vol. 1717, file HQ 683-490-1

  • Demobilization

    • RG 24, vol. 1717, file HQ 683-490-2

  • History

    • RG 24, vol. 1717, file HQ 683-490-3

  • Appointment of officers

    • RG 24, vol. 1378, file HQ593-6-1-10

  • Battle honours

    • RG 24, vol. 4689, file 13D. 12-13 file

    • RG 24, vol. 1904, file DHS 5-7-8

  • GAQ file

    • RG 24, vol. 1827, file GAQ 7-11

  • Special badge

    • RG 24, vol. 6422, file HQ 216-10

  • Records of personnel

    • RG 9, III-A-2, vol. 356, file 44

  • Band

    • RG 9, III-B-1, vol. 390, file B-9-1

  • Promotions

    • RG 9, III-B-1, vol. 979, file P-26-3

  • Promotions, appointments

    • RG 9, III-B-1, vol. 984, file P-84-3

  • Minor operations. Petit Douve, 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3858, folder 84, file 6

  • Minor operations. Entreprise, 1-2 March 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3858, folder 84, file 11

  • Badges, 1915 - 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3876, folder 6, file 2

  • Trophies. Machine guns, 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3890, folder 46, file 11

  • Strength. Dec. 1918 - Jan. 1919

    • RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3894, folder 57, file 31

  • Defence schemes, Nov. 1915

    • RG 9, III-C-2, vol. 4001, folder 1, file 3

  • Minor operations, Feb. 1916 and March 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4017, folder 34, files 9-10

  • Collar badge

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4045, folder 2, file 3

  • Dispositions

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4047, folder 6, file 3

  • Machine and Lewis guns

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4049, folder 14, files 1-4

  • Move to 2nd Brigade

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4051, folder 18, file 5

  • Officers� records of service

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4051, folder 18, file 8

  • Operations. Thiepval, 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4051, folder 19, file 6

  • Operations. Somme, 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4051, folder 19, file 8

  • Operations. Passchendaele, 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4052, folder 21, file 2

  • Operations. Amiens, 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4052, folder 22, file 4

  • Operations. Drocourt-Qu�ant Line, 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4052, folder 22, file 6

  • Operations. Canal du Nord, 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4052, folder 22, file 7

  • Operations. Sens�e Canal, 1918

    • G 9, III-C-3, vol. 4052, folder 22, file 8

  • Operations. Arleux, 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4052, folder 22, file 10

  • Minor operations, March 1916 - July 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4053, folder 24, file 2

  • Reports on operations, 9-28 Sept. 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4053, folder 24, file 23

  • Operation orders, Oct. 1916 - July 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4055, folder 30, file 3

  • Orders, 23 July 1917 - 17 Jan. 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4062, folder 10, file 6

  • Operation orders, 10 March - 16 April 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4067, folder 6, file 3

  • Casualties at St. Julien, 26 Feb. 1915 - 21 Nov. 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4070, folder 1, file 1

  • 87 Army books containing material on a variety of subjects, 1915 - 1918. See finding aid

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4070, folders 1-3; vol. 4071, folders 4-6; vol. 4072, folder 7

  • Defence schemes, 1916 - 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 1

  • Dispositions, 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 2

  • Gas, 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 3

  • Machine and Lewis guns

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 4

  • Maps

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 5

  • Report on mining, 27 Feb. 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 6

  • Moves and reliefs, 1916 - 1917

    • RG 9, III, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 7

  • Nominal rolls

    • RG 9, III, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 8

  • Reports on officers, 1916 - 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 9

  • Operations. Courcelette, 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 10

  • Operations. Souchez Sector, 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, file 11

  • Orders, 16 July 1915 - 20 Feb. 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 8, files 12-16

  • Battalion orders, 15 Nov. 1914 - 26 Nov. 1915

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4072, folder 9, files 2-5

  • Battalion orders, 26 Nov. 1915 - 31 Oct. 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 10, files 1-6

  • Battalion orders, 3 Nov. 1916 - 17 Sept. 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 11, files 1-5

  • Organization of battns., 16-17 Dec. 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 1

  • Pay, 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 2

  • Personnel, 1916 - 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 3

  • Signal service, 1915 - 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 4

  • Situation reports

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 5

  • Strength

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 5A

  • Training

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 6

  • Transport and traffic

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 7

  • Trenches and dugouts

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 8

  • Visits

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 9

  • War loan

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 10

  • Wind reports, 22 Jan. 1917

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 11

  • Issue of Yukon packs, May 1917

    • III-C-3, vol. 4073, folder 12, file 12

  • Operations orders, 20 April 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 17

  • Minor operations, March - June 1916

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4106, folder 23, files 4-5

  • Report on minor operations

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4116, folder 4, file 6

  • Defence scheme, 1918

    • RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4210, folder 1, file 4

  • Badges

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 6

  • Historical record

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 5

  • Honours and awards

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 7

  • Operations. Hill 63 (Messines), Jan. 1916

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 9

  • Operations. St-Eloi, 15 April 1916

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 10

  • Minor operations, 4 May 1916

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 11

  • Operations. Mount Sorrel, June 1916

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, files 12-13

  • Operations. Passchendaele, 9-10 Nov. 1917

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 14

  • Photographs

    • RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4691, folder 49, file 8

  • Nominal roll on embarkation, 1914

    • G 9, II B3, vol. 79

  • Promotions, appointments

    • G 9, III-B-1, vol. 2908. file P-29-33

  • Copy of pamphlet �The Story of the Tenth Battalion�

    • RG 24, vol. 1493, file HQ683-1-12 (vol. 2)

  • Daily Orders

    • RG 150, vol. 66
      File Part 1=1914/10/29-1914/12/31
      File Part 2=1915/01/02-1915/07/17
      File Part 3=1915/07/17-1916/06/30
      File Part 4=1916/07/17-1916/12/31
      File Part 5=1917/01/03-1917/06/30
      File Part 6=1917/07/02-1917/12/31
      File Part 7=1918/01/03-1918/03/30
      File Part 8=1918/03/30-1918/12/31
      File Part 9=1918/12/31-1919/12/23

    • RG 150, vol. 1
      RG 9, 54 = 1919/08/12 - 1919/08/18