The 121st (Western Irish) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the
Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the capita ...
, the unit was authorized on 22 December 1915 and began recruiting in that city. After sailing to England on in August 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the
16th Reserve Battalion
16 (sixteen) is the natural number following 15 and preceding 17. 16 is a composite number, and a square number, being 42 = 4 × 4. It is the smallest number with exactly five divisors, its proper divisors being , , and .
In English speech, ...
on January 10, 1917. The 121st (Western Irish) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Woodbury McLelan.
The 121st Battalion is perpetuated by
The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance (recce) regiment of the Canadian Army; the regiment is subordinate to 39 Canadian Brigade Group of the 3rd Canadian Division. Established in 1883 ...
.
[Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.] The perpetuation has been passed down through the following units as a result of reorganizations and amalgamations:
* 1920–1936: 1st Battalion (121st Battalion, CEF),
The Irish Fusiliers of Canada
The Irish Fusiliers of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Vancouver Regiment to form The Irish Fusiliers of Canada ...
* 1936–1946: Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment)
* 1946–1958: 65th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Irish Fusiliers), RCA
* 1958–2002:
* 2002–present: The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
References
*Meek, John F. ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War.'' Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.
{{DEFAULTSORT:121st Battalion (Western Irish), Cef
Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Irish units and formations of Canada
Military units and formations established in 1915
Military units and formations disestablished in 1917