The 142nd (London's Own) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the

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 ...

during the

First World 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 ...

. Based in

London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...

, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in that city. After sailing to England in November 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the

23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF The 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF was an infantry unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. History Formed as the 23rd Infantry Battalion on August 6, 1914, the battalion mobilized at Quebec City, and recruited in vario ...

on November 11, 1916. The 142nd (London's Own) Battalion had one Officer Commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel C.M.R. Graham. Stewart reports that the 142nd Battalion was organized on December 22, 1915, with a strength of 574 men. The unit was disbanded after the Great War on September 15, 1920. The 142nd Canadian Infantry Battalion was absorbed by the 23rd Reserve Battalion to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The 142nd Battalion is affiliated with the 1st and 33rd CEF Battalions and is perpetuated by

The Royal Canadian Regiment , colors = , identification_symbol_2 = Maple Leaf (2nd Bn pipes and drums) , identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan , identification_symbol_4 = The RCR , identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation , mar ...

(RCR). The 142nd Battalion received the theatre of war honour . Lieutenant George Van Wyck Laughton, M.C. (Vimy Ridge) of the

7th Regiment Fusiliers __FORCETOC__ The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1954, the regiment was amalgamated with The Oxford Rifles to form The L ...

(Militia) attested to the 142nd Canadian Infantry Battalion in 1915. Details of the links between the Militia and the Canadian Expeditionary Force are provided on Lt. Laughton's web site.

References

* Meek, John F. ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War.'' Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. * Stewart, Charles H. "OVERSEAS - The Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919. Little & Stewart, Toronto ON, 1970.
Canadian Expeditionary Force Matrix Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:142nd Battalion (London's Own), Cef Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)