Date Range

1915-1919

Description Level

Fonds

Fonds No.

20131009

Physical Description

1 photograph album: 221 black and white photographs.

History Biographical

The 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, the Cameron Highlanders were organized in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.M. Thomson under authorization published in General Order 86 of 1 July 1915. The battalion mobilized and recruited in Winnipeg. The battalion embarked at Montreal on 1 June 1915 aboard GRAMPIAN, disembarking in England on 9 June 1915. Its strength was 40 officers and 998 other ranks. The battalion arrived in France on 20 February 1916, becoming part of the 3rd Canadian Division, 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It was later reinforced by the 14th Canadian Reserve Battalion. It returned to England on 11 February 1919, disembarked in Canada on 20 March 1919, was demobilized on 24 March 1919, and was disbanded by General Order 149 of 15 September 1920. From: Library and Archives Canada. The 113th Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) the Lethbridge Highlanders were organized December 22, 1915, they were part of a Canadian recruiting drive where men from the same region could enlist and serve together. This type of community spirit recruiting was very popular as it drew in friends, neighbors coworkers etc. with the promise of serving together throughout the war. The 113th consisted of 883 men and officers and had its barracks at the exhibition grounds in Lethbridge. The Battalion was not issued Highland Kit (Kilts, Glengarry caps etc.) although its three pipe and drum bands were! Standard Basic Training in the CEF lasted 14 weeks so the Battalion spent the beginning of 1916 in training and drilling in Lethbridge at the exhibition grounds. Basic training in the CEF involved rifle training, bombing or hand grenade practice, route marches, rifle drill and many inspections. Inspections were very popular for the 113th as many wished to hear their three bands. In Late May 1916 the Battalion moved to Sarcee Camp outside Calgary for further training that lasted until September. In early September 1916 orders came for the Battalion to entrain for the east and by September 19 the Battalion was on its way. On September 26th 1916 the 113th embarked along with the 111th and 145th Battalions on the SS Tuscania, a transport ship, the trip across the Atlantic took ten days and upon arriving in England the Battalion was taken to a holding camp at Sandling near Shorncliffe. It was at Sandling that Lt. Colonel Pryce-Jones the commanding officer learned that the 113th would be broken up for replacements and would not see action as a unit after all. From: 'Lethbridge at War: the military history of Lethbridge from 1900 to 1996' by Major Christopher R. Kilford, CD.(Lethbridge, Alta., Battery Books Publishing, 1996.)

Scope and Content

Photographs of members of the 43rd training at Sarcee Camp, transport to Europe on the Tuscania, views of France and Belgium, England, and returning home to Canada.

Accession No.

20131009

Collection

Archive

Less detail