The 102nd Battalion, CEF, (initially the 102nd Battalion (Northern British Columbia), then after August, 1917, the 102nd Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF) was an infantry battalion of the
Great War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry division ...
.
History
The 102nd Battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 18 June 1916. It disembarked in France on 12 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade,
4th Canadian Division
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantr ...
in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 30 August 1920.
The 102nd Battalion recruited in Northern British Columbia and was mobilized at
Comox, on
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
.
During the attack on Vimy Ridge, the 102nd lost most of its officers and for a time was led by one of the company sergeant-majors. The battalion achieved its objectives for the day but lost 314 killed or wounded.
The 102nd Battalion had four Officers Commanding:
*Lt.-Col. John Weightman Warden, DSO, 18 June 1916 – 11 January 1918
*Lt.-Col. F. Lister, CMG, DSO, MC, 11 January 1918 – 27 September 1918
*Lt.-Col. E.J.W. Ryan, DSO, 28 September 1918 – 19 November 1918
*Lt.-Col. F. Lister, CMG, DSO, MC, 19 November 1918-Demobilization
250px, Lt. Graham Thomson Lyall, VC.One member of the 102nd Battalion, Lt.
Graham Thomson Lyall
Graham Thomson Lyall VC (8 March 1892 – 28 November 1941) was an English-born soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in t ...
was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 27 September 1918 North of Cambrai, France, during the Battle of the Canal Du Nord.
Battle Honours
The 102nd Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:
*, 1 July–18 November 1916
*
Ancre Heights
The Ancre (; ) is a river of Picardy, France. Rising at Miraumont, a hamlet near the town of Albert, it flows into the Somme at Corbie. It is long. For most of its length it flows through the department of Somme. For a short stretch near P ...
, 1 October–11 November 1916
*
Ancre, 1916
The Battle of the Ancre was fought by the British Fifth Army ( Lieutenant-General Hubert Gough), against the German 1st Army (General Fritz von Below). The Reserve Army had been renamed the Fifth Army on 30 October. The battle was the last ...
*
*
Vimy, 1917
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions o ...
, 9–14 April 1917
*, 15–25 August 1917
*, 31 July–10 November 1917
*
Passchendaele, 12 October 1917 or 26 October–10 November 1917
*, 8–11 August 1918
*
Scarpe, 1918, 26–30 August 1918
*
Drocourt-Quéant
*, 12 September–9 October 1918
*
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord (, literally ''Canal of the North'') is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-min ...
, 27 September–2 October 1918
*
*
Perpetuation
The 102nd Battalion, CEF is perpetuated by
.
[Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.]
See also
*
References
Sources
* Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
102 102 may refer to:
* 102 (number), the number
* AD 102, a year in the 2nd century AD
* 102 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC
* 102 (ambulance service), an emergency medical transport service in Uttar Pradesh, India
* 102 (Clyde) Field Squadron, Royal ...
Military units and formations of Ontario
Military units and formations of British Columbia
British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment)
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