The 81st 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 ...

. The 81st Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Britain on 28 April 1916. 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 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 35th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 27 July 1917. The 81st Battalion recruited in and was mobilized at Toronto, Ontario. The 81st Battalion was commanded by Lt.-Col. B. H. Belson from 1 May 1916 to 5 July 1916. The 81st Battalion was awarded the battle honour THE GREAT WAR 1916. The 81st Battalion, CEF is perpetuated by

The Lincoln and Welland Regiment , colors = , identification_symbol_2 = , identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan , identification_symbol_4 = , identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation , march = "The Lincolnshi ...

. Photographs of thirty-one of the officers of the 81st Battalion were printed in the Toronto Star on 22 January 1916. Of those officers, a number were to die during the first World War. Their stories and photograph collections can be found on the Canadian Virtual War Memoria
(Veterans Affairs Canada, Canada Remembers)
Lieut. Harry Valmond Walker, who later served with the 58th Battalion, died 8 October 1916

His friend, Lt. Gordon King MacKendrick, also formerly an 81st officer, died with the 58th Battalion on the same day as Lt. Harry Valmond Walke

Lt. Arthur Beamer McCormick, Military Cross, 3rd Battalion, died 10 April 191

Lt. Herbert Edward Moore, 4th C.M.R., died 2 October 191

Lt. Frederick Gustavus Stupart, 75th Battalion, died 22 October 1916

Lt Archibald Franklin McKinlay. Volunteered with 81st, Killed in Action August 8, 1918 with the 2nd Bn, Somme, France
Archibald Franklin McKinlay Memorial.
re
Archibald Franklin McKinlay Memorial.
/ref>

References

{{Reflist 81st Battalion
Discussion on CEF Forum

Sources

* Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962 Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 081 Military units and formations of Ontario Lincoln and Welland Regiment