The 44th Battalion (Manitoba), 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 ...
.
History
The 44th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 23 October 1915. It disembarked in France on 12 August 1916, where it fought as part of the
10th Canadian Brigade,
4th Canadian Division
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. It is currently responsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian province of Ontario and is headquartered at Denison Armoury in Toronto. The division was first created as ...
, in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.
In August 1918, the 44th Battalion was renamed the 44th Battalion (New Brunswick), CEF.
[Meek, John F. (1971). ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War''. Orangeville, Ont. ]
The 44th Battalion recruited in and was mobilized at
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
.
The 44th Battalion had three officers commanding:
*Lt-Col. E.R. Wayland, 22 October 1915 – 11 December 1915
*Lt.-Col. J.H. Sills, 27 December 1915 – 16 January 1917
*Lt.-Col. R.D. Davies, DSO, 22 January 1917 – demobilization
Battle honours
The 44th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:
*
Somme, 1916
The Battle of the Somme (; ), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 Nove ...
*
Ancre Heights
*
Ancre, 1916
*
Arras, 1917
The Battle of Arras, also known as the Second Battle of Arras, was a British offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the We ...
,
'18
*
Vimy, 1917
*
Hill 70
The Battle of Hill 70 took place in the First World War between the Canadian Corps and attached units against five divisions of the German 6th Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Ca ...
*
Ypres 1917
Ypres ( ; ; ; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though
the Dutch name is the official one, the city's French name is most commonly used in English. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres/Ieper ...
*
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 ...
*
Scarpe 1918
*
Drocourt-Quéant
*
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line (, Siegfried Position) was a German Defense line, defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in France during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to ...
*
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord (, literally ''Canal of the North'') is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise in Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal in Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-min ...
*
Valenciennes
Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department, Hauts-de-France, France.
It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced ...
*
France and Flanders, 1916-18
Perpetuation
In 1920 the perpetuation of the 44th Battalion was assigned to the
Carleton Light Infantry, which held it until 1936. The perpetuation then passed to the
Carleton and York Regiment (1936–1954), the New Brunswick Regiment (1954–1956) and the
Royal New Brunswick Regiment from 1956.
The perpetuation was transferred to the
Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles (R Wpg Rif) are a Primary Reserve one-battalion infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Nicknamed the "Little Black Devils", they are based at Minto Armoury in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles are part of 3r ...
on 11 September 1969.
See also
*
References
{{reflist
Sources
*''Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919'' by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
044
Military units and formations of Manitoba