Private Joseph Daniels in the Great War

Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Private Joseph Daniels, a Métis soldier, served with the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Battalion during the Battle of Amiens. Joe initially enlisted with the 194th Overseas Battalion. Following his service helps to understand the reorganizations of machine gun companies, and the creation of tank battalions in the CEF.

Each infantry battalion in Belgium and France had machine gun sections and, in the winter of 1915-1916, they formed brigade machine gun companies. A further reorganization took place in March 1918 when machine gun battalions created, and tank battalions included in the Canadian Machine Gun Corps.

Enlistment of Private Joseph Daniels

Private Joseph Daniels 905046 of St-Paul-de-Métis born in Edmonton, Alberta in November of 1897. St-Paul-de-Métis or St-Paul-des-Métis, a town in east-central Alberta surrounded by the County of St. Paul No. 19. Joe a lumberman. Noted as sole support for his mother Elinor Daniels of St-Paul-de-Métis. He assigned her $35 of his monthly pay. Enlisted 27 April 1916 in Edmonton. He stood 5′ 8″ tall, 185 pounds, with medium complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair, a Roman Catholic.

In 1884, St. Paul (Meoomen) Cardinal, a Métis soldier and veteran of the Red River Resistance, settled at the Métis wintering spot that was to be named after him. In 1896, the federal government agreed to lease four townships to the Oblate Fathers. The Church granted a 21-year lease by the Federal cabinet, and the colony became known as St-Paul-des-Métis.

1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Organized in Ottawa in August 1914 as Automobile Machine Gun Brigade No 1 commanded by Major R Brutinel. Mobilized at Ottawa and Valcartier. Recruited across Canada. About 50% chauffeurs and mechanics. Cars, trucks and guns donated by prominent and patriotic citizens. Left Quebec 29 September 1914 aboard CORINTHIAN with the first contingent.

1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade arrived in England 20 October 1914 with a strength of 9 officers, 128 other ranks. Arrived in France 17 June 1915, attached to 1st Canadian Division and redesignated as 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. Reorganized 8 June 1918. Absorbed Borden’s Motor Machine Gun Battery as well as C and D Batteries of 18th Canadian Machine Gun Company.

Machine Gun Squadron, Canadian Cavalry Brigade

Organized in Tully, France on 20 February 1916 under the command of Captain W T Lawless, later by Captain W K Walker. Formed from machine gun sections of Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona Horse and Fort Garry Horse. Redesignated as 1st Canadian Machine Gun Squadron on 4 April 1917.

194th Battalion

Organized in January 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W C Craig. Mobilized at Edmonton and also recruited in the Edmonton district. Embarked from Halifax 14 November 1916 aboard OLYMPIC, and later disembarked England 20 November 1916, with a strength of 31 officers, 912 other ranks. Draft of 125 to 49th Battalion in December 1916.

Drafts of 78 to 49th Battalion (including Pte Daniels), 31 to 3rd Canadian Labour Battalion, 100 to 3rd Canadian Railway Troops and 89 to 1st Canadian Labour Battalion in January 1917. The 194th Battalion absorbed by 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 4 January 1917.

Private Joseph Daniels ToS (Taken-on-Strength) 49th Battalion from 28 December 1916.

49th Battalion

The 49th Canadian Infantry Battalion organized in January 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Antrobus Griesbach, born in Fort Qu’Appelle, North-West Territories, the son of Henry Arthur Griesbach, a North-West Mounted Police officer. Henry on the NWMP’s famous 1874 March West, finishing the march in Edmonton. The 49th Battalion mobilized at Edmonton and also recruited in Edmonton. Embarked from Montreal 4 June 1915 aboard METAGAMA, and later disembarked in England on 13 June 1915 with a strength of 36 officers, 996 other ranks.

Funeral of Captain Clement Gawler Mead MC

Captain Mead of “A” Coy, 49th Battalion, accidentally killed by his own men in January 1918.

The 49th Battalion arrived in France 9 October 1915 with the 3rd Canadian Division, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion.

Influenza

Private Joseph Daniels, King George Hospital, London, admitted 20 December 1916, influenza, and later discharged on 2 January 1917.

Private Joseph Daniels ToS 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion from 23 January 1917.

9th Canadian Reserve Battalion (Alberta)

Organized at Bramshott on 4 January 1917 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. G. Armstrong. Formed by absorbing 9th, 194th and 209th Battalions. Absorbed 202nd Battalion on 27 May 1917. Reinforced 10th and 49th Battalions. Absorbed by 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion on 15 October 1917.

Canadian Machine Gun Depot

Private Joseph Daniels transferred to the CMG Depot on 15 March 1917, which had organized at Crowborough earlier on 4 January 1917.

Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Organized in France on 16 April 1917 to take entire charge of the machine guns of the Canadian Corps. Composed of:

• Machine Gun Squadron, Canadian Cavalry Brigade
• Machine gun companies
• 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade and motor machine gun batteries
• A depot organized in England on 4 January 1917

Brigade machine gun companies detached from their respective brigades on 8 September 1917 and formed the companies of the different divisional machine gun battalions.

Pte Daniels posted to the 10th CMG Company 1 March 1918.

10th Canadian Machine Gun Company

The 10th Canadian Machine Gun Company organized at Bramshott in June 1916 as the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Company. Commanded by A/Major J Ness. Composed of personnel from 44th, 46th, 47th and 50th Infantry Battalions.

Arrived in France 11 August 1916. Redesignated as 10th Canadian Machine Gun Company in August 1916. The 10th, 11th, 12th, and 16th Canadian Machine Gun Companies detached from their respective infantry brigades in September 1917 and formed the 10th, 11th, 12th and 16th Companies of the 4th Canadian Divisional Machine Gun Battalion.

The 10th Canadian Machine Gun Company reorganized on 23 March 1918 to form the 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Pte Daniels absorbed into the 4th Battalion CMGC, 19 March 1918.

4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Organized in France on 23 March 1918 as a result of the reorganization of the 4th Canadian Divisional Machine Gun Battalion composed of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 16th Canadian Machine Gun Companies. Initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel M A Scott.

Battle of Amiens

In the left hand side of the photo, Private Joseph Daniels is looking back at the camera.

Featured image: Wounded and prisoners captured by Canadians – Battle of Amiens, 8 August 1918. In the left hand side of the photo, Private Joseph Daniels is looking back at the camera. 905046 Pte Daniels enlisted on 27 April 1916 in the 194 Bn. He served in France with the 4th Div MG Coy and was discharged on 20 June 1919.

More than 4,600 images captured on the Western Front by the three Canadian Official Photographers with the CWRO. Other Ranks seldom identified in these photos.

Last Hundred Days

Private Joseph Daniels granted leave of absence to UK on 21 October 1918, later returning to his unit on 6 November 1918.

The most Eastern Outpost on the British Western Front held by Canadians East of Mons. November, 1918. [Battery of machine guns in the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps.] Soldiers have bayonets fitted to their rifles, with a lewis machine gun on the embankment.

Canadian armoured cars passing Saluting Base. [Mons, Belgium]. November, 1918. A Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade armoured autocar, armed with Vickers machine guns, and what appears to be a Lewis gun on the front, is on parade through the streets of Mons.

Demobilization

Private Joseph Daniels returned to England in February of 1919.

On 5 March 1919, Pte Daniels sentenced to 5 Days FP No 2 for WOAS Absent without Leave from 0700 hrs 4 March 1919 to 0900 hours on 5 March 1919. Also forfeits 2 days Pay by regulation.

Joe AWOL during the Kinmel Park Riot, but returned to barracks before Sapper William Tarasevich killed by bayonet in the camp.

4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Disbanded by General Order 209 of 15 November 1920.

1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Returned to Canada 20 April 1919. Demobilized 22 April 1919. Disbanded by General Order 209 of 15 November 1920. Colours presented at Carlisle, Cumberland on 29 March 1919. Deposited in Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, on 4 May 1919.

Presentation of Colours to the 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Brigade, by Lady Perley

On 3 April 1919, Presentation of King’s and Regimental Colours to the Brigade by Lady Perley. The photos published in CANADA on 18 April 1919.

In 1922, Sir Julian Byng presented the Colours to Gold Commissioner George P Mackenzie, the chief executive of the territory, in Minto Park before hundreds of citizens, including George Black and a company of returned soldiers. The ladies of the IODE, who originally commissioned the creation of the colours, including Martha Black, turned out in a body for the presentation.

Private Joseph Daniels proceeded to Canada on 6 June, and later discharged at No 2 District Depot, Toronto on 20 June 1919. He died in 1983.

National Métis Veterans’ Memorial

The National Métis Veterans’ Memorial Monument engraved in honour of all Métis veterans. Unveiled in July 2014, marking the achievement of its installation at Batoche.

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