The 86th (Machine Gun) Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry division ...
, which was raised for overseas service during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Authorized on December 22, 1915, the battalion embarked for Britain in May 1916. Based at Shorncliffe, the battalion was reorganized as the Canadian Machine Gun Depot, CEF and provided reinforcements for Canadian units in the field until it was disbanded on 1 September 1917.
It is believed to have been "the first of its kind in the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
."
History
The 86th Battalion was authorized on December 22, 1915, and was recruited in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
,
Wentworth Wentworth may refer to:
People
* Wentworth (surname)
* Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth (1873–1957), Lady Wentworth, notable Arabian horse breeder
* S. Wentworth Horton (1885–1960), New York state senator
* Wentworth Miller (born 1 ...
and
Dundas, Ontario : ''For the county in eastern Ontario see Dundas County, Ontario. For the upper tier county, see United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.''
Dundas is a community and town in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is nicknamed the ''Valley Town' ...
, and was mobilized at Hamilton.
[Meek, John F. ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War.'' Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ] Recruits were drawn from several local depot regiments. These included the 13th Regiment, 91st Highlanders, 2nd Dragoons and the 1st Field Engineers. Men were also selected from the 77th Regiment in Dundas as well as the 44th Regiment in
Welland
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada. As of 2021, it had a population of 55,750.
The city is in the centre of Niagara and located within a half-hour driving distance to Niagara Falls, Niagara-o ...
. The battalion's fourth machine gun company (D Company) was formed from the latter of these.
[
The battalion departed for ]Camp Niagara
Camp may refer to:
Outdoor accommodation and recreation
* Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site
* a temporary settlement for nomads
* Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descri ...
on September 23, 1915, with a strength of about 1,000 men. They remained at Camp Niagara until early November, when they returned to Hamilton. They were subsequently stationed at the Old Armouries on James Street.[
The 86th Machine Gun Battalion embarked for Britain on 19 May 1916. Upon reaching their destination, the battalion moved into Risborough Barracks, at Shorncliffe, for further training. On June 22, 1916, the 86th Machine Gun Battalion was redesignated the Canadian Machine Gun Depot.][ After training the men were transferred as reinforcements to various machine gun units that were serving on the Western Front.][ although according to Ken Scheffler there is mention in the Hamilton ''Spectator'' of the depot existing in 1919.][
The regimental colours were laid up in St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Hamilton on November 16, 1919. In 2013, when the church building became unused, the colours were moved to the Sergeants' Mess of the John Weir Foote VC Armoury.]
Perpetuation and battle honours
The 86th Battalion was awarded the battle honour "THE GREAT WAR, 1916".[
The battalion is perpetuated by ]The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) (RHLI) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, based at John Weir Foote VC Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario. The RHLI is part of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, which is part of 4 ...
.[
]
Photos
Photo of the 86th Machine Gun Battalion
Recruitment Poster Recruitment poster for 86th Machine Gun Battalion
References
Further reading
* {{cite book , title=Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 , first= G.W.L. , last=Nicholson , publisher=Queen's Printer , location=Ottawa, Ontario , year=1962
086
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
Military units and formations of Ontario