The 40th Battalion, CEF, was an
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...
of 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
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 ...
.
History
The 40th Battalion was authorized on 1 January 1915 and embarked for Britain on 18 October 1915. The battalion provided reinforcements to the
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December ...
in the field until 4 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 26th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.
The 40th Battalion recruited in Nova Scotia and was mobilized at
Aldershot, Nova Scotia
Aldershot is a community in Nova Scotia, Canada, in Kings County.
A quasi-suburb of Kentville, Aldershot developed as a farming community along the Cornwallis Valley Railway branchline of the Dominion Atlantic Railway in the 19th century, served ...
.
The 40th battalion had one Officer Commanding, Lt-Col. A.G. Vincent from 18 October 1915 to 4 January 1917.
The 40th Battalion was awarded the battle honour THE GREAT WAR 1915-17.
Perpetuation
The 40th Battalion, CEF, is perpetuated by
The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)
The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) is a Canadian Army regiment that served between the years of 1860 and 1965 before being reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle. The regiment was reactivated on May 10, 2009, as a reserve ...
.
[Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.]
See also
*
References
{{reflist
Sources
*Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
Military units and formations of Nova Scotia
040