The 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), 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 ...
during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. The 15th Battalion was authorized on 1 September 1914, embarked for Britain on 26 September 1914, and arrived in France on 15 February 1915. The battalion fought as part of the
3rd Canadian Brigade,
1st Canadian Division
The 1st Canadian Division (French: ) is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very short notice, and is staffed and ...
in France and Flanders throughout 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.]
History
The 15th Battalion recruited in
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Sudbury,
Owen Sound
Owen Sound (2021 Canadian Census, 2021 Census population 21,612) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat, seat of government of Grey County, it is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi River, Pottawatomi and Sydenham River ...
and
St. Catharines, Ontario and
Waterloo and
Coaticook, Quebec and was mobilized at
Camp Valcartier, Quebec.
[Meek, John F. ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War.'' Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ]
The battalion fought on the southern flank of the 3rd Brigade during the attack on Vimy Ridge. They met little resistance from the Germans and reached their objectives within a few hours. The battalion suffered around 20% casualties with nine officers and over a hundred other ranks being killed or wounded.
served with this battalion during the war.
The 15th Battalion had seven officers commanding:
*Lt.-Col. A.J. Currie, 22 September 1914 – 28 June 1915
*Lt.-Col. W.B. Marshall, DSO, 28 June 1915 – 19 May 1916
*Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, DSO, 20 May 1916 – 29 December 1917
*Lt.-Col. J.W. Forbes, DSO, 29 December 1917 – 15 April 1918
*Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, CMG, DSO, 15 April 1918 – 10 August 1918
*Lt.-Col. J.P. Girvan, DSO, MC, 10 August 1918 – 3 October 1918
*Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, CMG, DSO, 3 October 1918 – Demobilization
Perpetuations
The 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF, is perpetuated by the
48th Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto, Ontario, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
Regimental Badge
...
.
Battle honours
The 15th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:
*
YPRES, 1915, '17
*
GRAVENSTAFEL
*
St. Julien
*
FESTUBERT, 1915
*
MOUNT SORREL
*
SOMME, 1916
*
Pozières
*
Thiepval
*
Ancre Heights
*
ARRAS, 1917,
'18
*
VIMY, 1917
*
Arleux
*
Scarpe, 1917,
'18
*
HILL 70
*
Passchendaele
*
AMIENS
Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...
*
Drocourt-Quéant
*
HINDENBURG LINE
*
Canal du Nord
*
PURSUIT TO MONS
*
FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915–18
See also
*
List of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
References
{{reflist
Sources
*''Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919'' by Col.
G. W. L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
015
Military units and formations of Ontario
Military units and formations of Quebec
48th Highlanders of Canada