The 202nd (Sportsmens) Battalion, CEF was a unit in 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 the First World War. Based in southside

Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city and surrounding district. It was formally authorized on July 15, 1916. Its headquarters were in the Sheppard Block at 10316 Whyte Avenue. Training occurred at Sarcee Camp, Calgary, Alberta, at the foot of what is now Battalion Park in the neighbourhood of Signal Hill. The battalion is one of many units whose glyphs, erected on the hillside, no longer exist as a result of a combination of indifference and neglect after the First World War as well as urbanization. After sailing to England on November 23, 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 9th Reserve Battalion on May 27, 1917. The 202nd (Sportsmens) Battalion, CEF, had one commanding officer during its time in existence: Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Edwin Bowen, one of Alberta's best-known sportsman and one of the province's best rifle and trap shots. The flying ace Wop May was a member of the battalion before transferring to the

Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...

. Alex Decoteau, Edmonton's and Canada's first indigenous police officer, also volunteered for the 202nd Battalion. The politician Gordon MacDonald served with the battalion while a member of the Alberta legislature. The regimental colour of the 202nd Battalion is laid up in the rotunda of the

Alberta Legislature Building The Alberta Legislature Building, located in Edmonton, is the meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Executive Council of Alberta. It is often shortened to "the Ledge". The Alberta Legislature Building is at 10801 97 Ave ...

in Edmonton. The perpetuation of the 202nd Battalion was assigned to the Edmonton Fusiliers in 1924. This regiment merged into the

19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC The 19th Alberta Dragoons was a cavalry regiment and later an armoured regiment of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. It was placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1965. In 2006, it was taken off the Supplementary Order of ...

, in 1946. The 19th in turn amalgamated into the

South Alberta Light Horse The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army Reserve. It traces its complicated lineage to the Rocky Mountain Rangers, and claims its direct ancestry to the 15th Light Horse, along ...

in 2006, and the SALH now perpetuates the 202nd Battalion. In 1929, the battalion was awarded the theatre of war honour .Appendix to General Order No. 110, 1929

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:202nd (Sportsman's) Battalion, Cef Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force South Alberta Light Horse Military units and formations established in 1916 Military units and formations disestablished in 1917 1916 establishments in Alberta Organizations based in Edmonton