The 202nd (Sportsmens) 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. Based in southside

Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anchor ...

, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city and surrounding district. It was formally authorized on July 15, 1916. Its headquarters were in the Sheppard Block at 10316 Whyte Avenue. Training occurred at Sarcee Camp, Calgary, Alberta, at the foot of what is now

Battalion Park Battalion Park is a geoglyph site in southwest Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located on Signal Hill, overlooking the Tsuu T'ina Nation (formerly Sarcee Nation), as well as lands formerly known as Camp Sarcee and later Sarcee Training Area, a ...

in the neighbourhood of Signal Hill. The battalion is one of many units whose glyphs, erected on the hillside, no longer exist as a result of a combination of indifference and neglect after the First World War as well as urbanization. After sailing to England on November 23, 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 9th Reserve Battalion on May 27, 1917. The 202nd (Sportsmens) Battalion, CEF, had one commanding officer during its time in existence: Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Edwin Bowen, one of Alberta's best-known sportsman and one of the province's best rifle and trap shots. The flying ace

Wop May Wilfrid Reid "Wop" May, (March 20, 1896 – June 21, 1952) was a Canadian flying ace in the First World War and a leading post-war aviator. He was the final Allied pilot to be pursued by Manfred von Richthofen before the German ace was shot down ...

was a member of the battalion before transferring to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

Alex Decoteau Alexander Wuttunee Decoteau (November 19, 1887 – October 30, 1917), was a Cree Canadian track and field athlete, police officer and soldier. A member of the Red Pheasant First Nation, he joined the Edmonton Police in 1911 becoming the first I ...

, Edmonton's and Canada's first indigenous police officer, also volunteered for the 202nd Battalion. The politician Gordon MacDonald served with the battalion while a member of the Alberta legislature. The

regimental colour In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours (or colors), standards, flags, or guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt som ...

of the 202nd Battalion is laid up in the rotunda of the

Alberta Legislature Building The Alberta Legislature Building is located in Edmonton and is the meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Executive Council of Alberta. It is often shortened to "the Ledge". The Alberta Legislature Building is located at 10 ...

in Edmonton. The perpetuation of the 202nd Battalion was assigned to the

Edmonton Fusiliers The Edmonton Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First raised in 1908 as part of the 101st Regiment Edmonton Fusiliers, it became a separate regiment in 192 ...

in 1924. This regiment merged into the 19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC, in 1946. The 19th in turn amalgamated into the

South Alberta Light Horse , colours = , march = "A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky" , mascot = Heine the Pony , battles = North-West RebellionFirst World WarSecond World WarAfgha ...

in 2006, and the SALH now perpetuates the 202nd Battalion. In 1929, the battalion was awarded the theatre of war honour .Appendix to General Order No. 110, 1929

References

* Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Military units and formations established in 1916 Military units and formations disestablished in 1917 1916 establishments in Alberta Organizations based in Edmonton {{WWI-stub Edmonton Fusiliers 19th Alberta Dragoons South Alberta Light Horse