The 116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF, was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

of the

Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...

in the Great War.

History

The battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 23 July 1916. From October to December 1916 it provided reinforcements for 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 19 ...

. On 11 February 1917 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 9th Canadian Brigade,

3rd Canadian Division The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as Northwestern Ontario including the ...

in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments. The 116th Battalion recruited in Ontario County and was mobilized at Uxbridge, Ontario. The battalion had four Officers Commanding: * Lt.-Col. S.S. Sharpe, DSO, 23 July 1916 – 28 December 1917 * Lt.-Col. G.R. Pearkes, VC, DSO, MC, 28 December 1917 – 17 September 1918 *Lt.-Col. D. Carmichael, DSO, MC, 18 September 1918 – 26 November 1918 * Lt.-Col. G.R. Pearkes, VC, DSO, MC, 25 November 1918-Demobilization The twice-Officer Commanding the Battalion, Lt.-Col. George R. Pearkes, would go on to a distinguished military and political career. He retired from the Canadian Army in 1945 as a Major-General, served as a Member of Parliament, including as the Minister of National Defence from 1957 to 1960 and as the

Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia The lieutenant governor of British Columbia () is the representative of the monarch in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The office of lieutenant governor is an office of the Crown and serves as a representative of the monarchy in the ...

from 1960 to 1968.

Battle honours

The 116th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours: *Arras, 1917–18 *VIMY 1917 *HILL 70 *YPRES 1917 *PASSCHENDAELE *AMIENS *Scarpe, 1918 *DROCOURT-QUEANT *HINDENBURG LINE *CANAL DU NORD *CAMBRAI 1918 *Valenciennes *FRANCE and FLANDERS 1917-18

Perpetuation

The 116th Battalion is perpetuated by

The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) The Ontario Regiment ( RCAC) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army. The unit is based in downtown Oshawa, Ontario, and is named after Ontario County (1852–1974). Formed in 1866, and more commonly known as th ...

References

Works cited

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External links