History
Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit was authorized on September 15, 1915, as an exclusively Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) formation with Guards uniforms and accoutrements approved by The Governor General of Canada, HRH, Duke of Connaught (Colonel of the Canadian Grenadier Guards). Mobilization and recruiting for soldiers began on October 23, 1915. More than 4,213 men served in the 87th Battalion, representing all regions of Canada, but predominantly Ontario, until the last few months of the war when the balance was furnished by soldiers from Quebec (included the need to form a francophone company) The battalion earned 17 battle honours at a cost of 886 dead and 2,246 wounded, many of them wounded multiple times.Unit distinctions & achievements
The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF holds several distinctions in compared to other CEF battalions: * CGG was one of only 7 Militia Regiments (out of 51 CEF units) to recruit their own battalions that fought as a distinct unit within the Canadian Corps. * The 87th Battalion was one of only 3 Canadian units authorized by the Minister of Militia, Sir Sam Hughes, to recruit across all of Canada. The other 2 were the Royal Canadian Regiment andUnit milestones
Mobilization and England
The 87th Battalion departed Canada after boarding R.M.S. ''Empress of Britain'' on April 23, 1916 and arrived in Liverpool, England on May 5, 1916. The battalion arrived and billeted on May 27 at Bramshott Military Camp as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade (until June 1916) and then designated as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division in August of the same year. During the period in England, the battalion received training from an officer and four drill sergeants from the British Grenadier Guards, all trench veterans, all previously wounded in action (WIA). On August 11/12, the battalion crossed over to France and landed at Le Havre, France on August 13, 1916 with a total strength of 1,090 all ranks. The battalion served the duration of the war as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Infantry Division.First Actions & casualties
Following theBattle of the Somme
On 10 October 1916, the 87th Battalion was relocated to Albert area along the Ancre area and on the 21 October, attacked and took a section of Regina Trench. The first gallantry awards earned by the 87th Battalion were awarded to four members for the attack on Regina Trench, CSM W. Blaney, Sgt. J.C. Noon, Ptes J.E. Blaney, and J.D. Hunter. After some routine activities and tours along the front, on November 18, the 87th Battalion was assigned to capture a section of Desire Trench, as well as its support systems. The attack was launched from Regina Trench. It succeeded well beyond expectations, and in addition to capturing Desire, Major Franklin Hall, with 41 volunteers, with only their rifles, bayonets, grenades and 2 Lewis Guns advanced a further 500 yards and captured part of Grandcourt Trench, including taking 115 prisoners. 80 of these were taken unaided by four privates; Roy, Thompson, Garneau and Winke.Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a gallant yet terrible tragedy for the battalion. One Military Cross (MC), 14 Military Medals(MM), and 1 Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) were awarded to members of the 87th Bn. Total casualties for the Battle were 315 all ranks out of an attacking force of 520 (60.6%). 10 of the 11 officers who led the first wave, were casualties. "The 4th Canadian Division's principal objective was Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of the whole Ridge. Once taken, its summit would give the Canadians a commanding view of German rearward defences. Because of its importance, the Germans had fortified Hill 145 with well-wired trenches and a series of deep dug-outs beneath its rear slope. The brigades of the 4th Division were hampered by fire from the Pimple, the other prominent height, which inflicted costly losses on the advancing waves of infantry." From the start of the battle, progress on the right was slow because, for a time, the centre had practically collapsed. The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) were in the first wave but for some reason, a section of enemy trench barely a hundred metres in front of them had been left untouched by the artillery bombardment. Subsequently, the lead assault company was virtually wiped out within the first few minutes. This caused a delay of the other guardsmen so that they lost the barrage, and those who tried to continue the advance were cut down by German machine gunners firing from positions of relative safety in the untouched trenches. "The 87th Battalion War diaries reports that six of the seven officers leading the 87th into battle were killed or wounded within the first hours. "Word had been received that Captain Harry Sare, MID (Officer Commanding the Assault), had been shot through the head with a bullet and could no longer carry on. Lieutenant Yonkles had also been hit in the left arm, Majors Joy and Ross and Lieut. Savage had been killed, and Lieut. Sinclair badly wounded, leaving Lieutenant Hannaford the only available officer of those who went over." The 87th Battalion first day casualties for April 9 at Vimy Ridge were 7 officers & 149 men killed; 4 officers and 155 men wounded with most having occurred have occurred within the first few minutes of the battle.Officers Commanding
*Lieut.-Col. F.S. Meighen (September 20, 1915 to March 29, 1916) *Lieut.-Col. J. P. Rexford (March 27, 1916 to August 1, 1916) *Lieut.-Col. R. W. Frost, DSO (August 2, 1916 to April 6, 1917) *Major H. LeR. Shaw (April 7, 1917 to May 7, 1917) *Lieut.-Col. J. V. P. O'Donahoe, DSO (May 8, 1917 to April 5, 1918) *Major J. S. Ralston, MC (April 6, 1918 to May 14, 1918) *Lieut.-Col. K. M. Perry, DSO and Bar (May 15, 1918 to September 10, 1918), one of only 92 Canadians of the CEF to be awarded a 2nd DSO *Lieut.-Col. F. S. Meighen,Battle honours
*Somme 1916 *Ancre Heights *Ancre, 1916 *Arras, 1917 & 1918 *Vimy, 1917 *Hill 70 *Ypres, 1915 *Passchendaele, 1917 *Amiens, 1918 *Scarpe, 1918 *Drocourt-Queant *Hindenburg Line *Canal du Nord *Valenciennes *Sambre *France and Flanders, 1916–18Victoria Cross Awards
Private John Francis Young
The award of the VC was announced in the London Gazette on December 14, 1918. Private Young was in Kidderminster, England at the time and received the decoration from King George V at Buckingham Palace in April 1919. That month, he married Ida May Thatcher at St. Mary's Church in Kidderminster. He took his bride back to Canada dying in 1929. Commemorations / Plaques honouring John Francis Young, VC Montreal, Canada: A tribute plaque in front of Sergeant Young's Heads Stone in Mount Royal Cemetery was unveiled by The Canadian Grenadier Guards. The Canadian Grenadier Guards' Junior Ranks Mess is named the "John Francis Young Club" in his honour. Past and present serving members of The Canadian Grenadier Guards are required to execute a proper halt, come to attention, each time entering the Jr. Ranks Mess. There is a memorial plaque to him in the CGG Sergeants' mess. Kidderminster, England: The dedication of a new road name and a paving stone in J.F. Young's memory was unveiled by the Wyre Forest District Council. The ceremony in front took place outside St Mary's and All Saints Church in Kidderminster on September 3, 2018. The ceremony was attended by local dignitaries and veterans' organisations as well as representatives of the Canadian High Commission and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. Ottawa, Canada: A Victoria Cross Commemorative plaque honours Canadians (including Newfoundlanders) born in the UK awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War. It was unveiled by Princess Anne on 10 Nov 2014, on the wall of the British High Commission on Elgin Street in Ottawa. According to a UK government press release: "Bronze plaques were commissioned to recognize 175 Victoria Cross winners in total from 11 countries. Canada has the highest number of overseas recipients with 70." York, Ontario - Canada: The Canadian Victoria Cross Memorial commissioned by The Mount Pleasant Group is a beautiful memorial dedicated to the 99 men who have been awarded the Victoria Cross while fighting as with the Canadian military. The monument is set out to represent the shapes of the Victoria Cross and a Maple Leaf and occupies the main walkway along the boulevard that runs through York Cemetery. Unveiled in July 2017, the memorial has individual plaques for each VC winner describing their actions of bravery which led to their receiving the highest honour awarded by the British Commonwealth. Also featured is a large replica of the Victoria Cross and an accompanying plaque that describes the history and significance of the award. Barrie Military Heritage Park, Ontario - Canada: The Military Heritage Park sits along a walking trail on the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay. The land was dedicated as a Military Heritage Park in June 2009, the 65th anniversary of D-Day, in recognition of the significant relationship between the City of Barrie and Canadian Forces Base Borden. With generous contribution from the Rotary Club and Town Council, the park pays tribute to the history and involvement of the military in the community. Home of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regiment, the park was visited by their Honorary Colonel-in-Chief, Princess Anne in October 2013. Princess Anne dedicated a three-sided memorial honoring and naming all the Canadians who have been awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross. . Memorial Plaque - near CWGC Dury Crucifix Cemetery, Dury, France: A Memorial Plaque dedicated to Pte John Francis Young and the Town of Drury by the French Major Jean-Marie Dez, MSM was unveiled in 2018. The CWGC Dury Crucifix cemetery is close to the location where J.F. Young won his Victoria Cross and, was begun by Canadian units (mainly the 46th and 47th Battalions) immediately after the capture of the village of Drury. There are 2058 First World War casualties buried in this site. Of these, 1766 are unidentified. This cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith. La Voie sacree du Canada, Route939 between Arras and Cambrai, France: A Memorial Round about dedicated to the "Magnificent 7" Canadian soldiers who won their Victoria Cross medals on the same day (Spet 2nd, 1918), in the same sector, including Pte. John Francis Young, VC. Dedicated September 1, 2018, by the municipality of Vis-en-Artois as a result of research completed by Jean-Marie Dez. 7500 Canadian soldiers were killed on this small stretch of road and the memorial is located in the center of the round-about. The project was commissioned by the local French community of Osartis-Marquion and the Department of Pas-de-Calais. The seven CEF members memorialized include: Bellenden Hutchison, Arthur George Knight, William Henry Metcalf, Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, Cyrus Wesley Peck, Walter Leigh Rayfield, and CGG 87th Bn John Francis Young.Gallantry awards
The following summarizes additional awards earned and gazetted to members while serving with the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF. * Victoria Cross : 1 (Plus one recipient who served with the 87th prior to winning their VC award) * Knight Bachelor : 1 * Companion of the Order of the Bath : 1 * Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George: 3 * Distinguished Service Order and Bar: 3 * Distinguished Service Order: 9 * Officer of the Order of the British Empire: 2 * Member of the Order of the British Empire: 1 * Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar: 1 * Distinguished Flying Cross: 2 * Military Cross and Bar: 5 * Military Cross: 49 * Distinguished Conduct Medal: 20 * Meritorious Service Medal: 12 * Military Medal and Bar: 14 * Military Medal: 168 * Mentioned in Dispatches: 40Notable members
* Lieutenant Samuel Lewis Honey, VC, served with 87th Bn in 1916 prior to being transferred to 78th Bn CEF * Major-General Frederick Ross Phelan, CB, DSO, CStJ, MC, VD - Director-General Reserve Army * Brigadier General Marcel Noel, CBE, ED, Vice Adjutant-General, National Defence Headquarters * Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Alexander, CMG, KC - Famous Canadian Lawyer, Judge Advocate General and highest ranking Jewish Officer in the CEF. * Lieutenant Colonel Hercule Barré, LoH, CDG - Founder of 150th Battalion CEF * Major Gilbert Sutherland Stairs, MC - Lawyer -Memorials
Christ Church Cathedral - Montreal Canada. The Cathedral is the regimental church of the Canadian Grenadier Guards and houses The Guards' retired regimental colours. 87th Battalion Vimy Cross CGG Armoury, Montreal Canada - Unveiled on 16 September 1917 by Major general Sir David Watson. The memorial was constructed by Pioneer Sgt C.G. Durrant and bears the names of 217 of the 87th Battalion who were killed or died of wounds during the period of February 1 to June 30, 1917. Canadian National Vimy Memorial - (1936) Two Hundred and Forty Six "87th Battalion CGG" Soldiers names are inscribed on the outside wall of the monument amongst the names of the 11,285 Canadians killed in France whose final resting place is unknown. King Edward VIII unveiled it on 26 July 1936 in the presence of French President Albert Lebrun and a crowd of over 50,000 people, including 6,200 attendees from Canada. Following an extensive multi-year restoration, Queen Elizabeth II re-dedicated the monument on 9 April 2007 at a ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the battle. 18 original 87th Battalion (CGG) members participated in the 1936 Vimy Ridge pilgrimage. Approximately 22 members of The Canadian Grenadier Guards (and associates) attended the 100th Anniversary in 2017. The 18 CGG Members who participated in the 1936 Vimy Ridge Pilgrimage: Alfred E Bailey, James Boon, James M Dever, Frederick Guthrie, Arthur J Hill, Alfred H Jackson, George A McGee, Thomas A Parkinson, Arthur E Parsons, William Reid, Major Henry H Rolland, Edmund Round, Herbert H Sheel, F.W. Skeates, Dr. Even A. Stewart, Wilfred G. Symons, and Clyde T. Wilson. 87th Battalion Panel - Menin Gate Ypres. Ypres, Belgium - (1927) - 26 Members of the 87th Bn CGG are remembered at this memorial. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. The memorial is a covered archway with a bridge over the moat that surrounds the city. Inside, and on the stairwells on either side, there are panels for the names of the 56,000 soldiers, approximately 6,983 Canadians, without known graves. When the memorial was inaugurated in 1926 the Brigadier who gave the opening speech addressed those that had no grave to mourn and said "he is not missing, he is here". The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) have a panel (Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30) dedicated to the memories of Lieutenant G.E. Morris, Sgt J.W. Auldjo, Sgt. W. Brereton, Cpl. A. Anderson, Pte. O.J. Beauregard, Pte. C. Bell, Pte I. Breaux, Pte. J. Buckley, Pte. J.J.M. Calvey, Pte. N.E. Combes, Pte. R.S. Deuel, Pte. J.C. Donaghy, Pte. A. Donahue, Pte. A.J. Duff, Pte. A. Hardman, Pte. T.R. Haward, Pte. C.J. Huntley, Pte. W.F. Hurry, Pte. J. Joe, Pte. P.J. Joyce, Pte E.J. McGann, Pte. E.A. Merkley, Pte. G. Munroe, Pte. J.E. Orr, Pte. F.P. Seymour, Pte. R. D. West, Pte. E.V. Wood Two German Field Guns - the First World War Memorial Site on the Plains of Abraham, Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, QC - (2019) - Two 7.7 cm Field guns captured by the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) on September 27, 1918 southwest of Bourlon during the Battle of the Canal-du-Nord and Cambria. with dedication plaque were unveiled as a collection of 7 artillery pieces captured by the 13th (one) and 42nd (two) Bns (perpetuated by the Royal Highlanders of Canada, 22nd Bn (one) perpetuated by the Royale 22e Regiment, and the 87th (two) perpetuated by CGG, and the 60th Bn (one) perpetuated by The Victoria Rifles of Canada. The site was dedicated on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2019. Alter Frontal -See also
* The Canadian Grenadier Guards * List of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary ForceReferences
{{Reflist * ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War.'' Meek, John F. , Ont.: The Author, 1971. * ''History of the Canadian Grenadier Guards'', Colonel A Fortescue Duguid, DSO, BSc, RCA, 1965, The Gazette Publishing Company * ''Soldiers of the Queen The Canadian Grenadier Guards of Montreal 1859-2009'', Patterson, William J. BGEN(retired), 2009, Canadian Grenadier Guards Corporations * ''Best o' luck; how a fighting Kentuckian won the thanks of Britain's king'', Alexander McClintock, D.C.M., 1917, New York : George H. Doran company * ''The 87th. Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) Canadian Expeditionary Force – a very special unit.'' John Dolbec, 2016 * ''Commemorative event and service held at Silverwood's Park'' St Francis Group, 2018 87 Canadian Grenadier Guards