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Category: Units Great War

Investigating the Canadian Expeditionary Force – CEF units of the Great War a daunting task.  The CEF constantly evolving in the Great War, becoming larger as the war progressed.  The CEF initially patterned on the structure of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).  However, in January of 1917, the Canadian Corps adopted it’s own structure. A massive re-alignment of the Corps implemented.  The structure at the battalion-level very successful in subsequent campaigns. But, the integrity of the Canadian Corps severely damaged in Canada’s Last Hundred Days. Had a fifth division been added, the Canadian Corps would have become the Canadian Army. However, Canada’s losses in the final phase of the war not sustainable. The proposed fifth division used for reinforcements.

Battle Order

Colonel G.W.L. Nicholson’s Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919 first published by the Department of National Defence in 1962 as the official history of the Canadian Army’s involvement in the Great War. The appendices of this text worth their weight in gold, particularly the battle maps, and the Battle Order as of November 1918. This snapshot-in-time reveals the hierarchy of the CEF at the end of the war.  Attempting to define the hierarchy at any other time of the war, not nearly as difficult knowing who belonged to a unit after the Nominal Roll. Nicholson’s Battle Order the best way to understand the CEF units of the Great War.

Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada holds multiple records and files for the Great War (1914–1918), mostly for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). Necessary to consider all of these records together in order to fully understand the Canadian contribution to this war. To research a specific unit, LAC provides dozens of .pdf files on unit of the Great War such as Artillery, Medical Corps, Engineers, transport units, the Forestry Corps, the Railway Troops, Cavalry, Cyclists, Ammunition Columns, Labour battalions and the Veterinary Corps.

  • Army Troops Companies and Canadian Engineers in the Great War

    Army Troops Companies and Canadian Engineers in the Great War

    Army Troops Companies and Canadian Engineers worked in the corps area. Constructing defences, accommodation and route communications. In addition, ran corps workshops and parks, built positions for heavy guns, and worked on water supply, frequently in forward areas.

    No.1 Army Troops Company, Canadian Engineers

    No.1 Army Troops Company organizes in Ottawa in September 1915 as 1st Fortress Company, Canadian Engineers. Commanded by Captain K. Stewart.Personnel drawn from Canadian Engineers Training Depot in Ottawa. Left Quebec 22 October 1915 aboard CALIFORNIA.

    Arrive in England 1 November 1915. Renamed 1st Army Corps Troops Company, Canadian Engineers in November 1915. Arrives in France 17 January 1916. 1st Canadian Division. Renamed 1st Army Troops Company, Canadian Engineers in February 1916.

    Demobilizes at Ottawa, April 1919. Disbands by General Order 192 of 1 November 1920

    Engineers repairing damaged roads following advance, 9 March 1917. MIKAN No. 3405423
    Engineers repairing damaged roads following advance, 9 March 1917. MIKAN No. 3405423

    No.2 Army Troops Company, Canadian Engineers

    No.2 Army Troops Company organized in Ottawa in August 1915 as 2nd Fortress Company, Canadian Engineers. Commanded by Captain G.H. Sharo. Personnel drawn from Canadian Engineers Training Depot in Ottawa. Left Montreal 6 November 1915 aboard SCANDINAVIAN.

    Arrives in England 16 November 1915. Renamed 2nd Army Corps Troops Company, Canadian Engineers in November 1916.

    Demobilizes at London, Ontario April 1919. Disbands by General Order 192 of 1 November 1920. Publishes “Busy Beaver” April – December 1916

    Canadian Engineers. Engineers working a quarry for road making material, February 1918. MIKAN No. 3256660
    Canadian Engineers. Engineers working a quarry for road making material, February 1918. MIKAN No. 3256660

    No.3 Army Troops Company, Canadian Engineers

    No.3 Army Troops Company organizes in Shorncliffe in May 1916 under the command of Major E. S. Hill. Personnel drawn from Canadian Engineers Training Depot in Shorncliffe.

    Arrives in France 10 June 1916. 3rd Canadian Division.

    Demobilizes at Toronto in April 1919. Disbands by General Order 192 of 1 December 1920

    Engineers repairing bridge blown up by Germans. MIKAN No. 3405426 Army Troops Companies
    Engineers repairing bridge blown up by Germans. MIKAN No. 3405426

    No.4 Army Troops Company, Canadian Engineers

    No.4 Army Troops Company organizes in Crowborough in October 1916 under the command of Major C. B. Russell. Personnel drawn from Canadian Engineers Training Depot in Shorncliffe.

    Arrives in France 22 January 1918. 4th Canadian Division.

    Demobilizes at Halifax in April 1919. Disbands by General Order 192 of 1 November 1920.

    Canadian Engineers returning from the line. MIKAN No. 3405427
    Canadian Engineers returning from the line. MIKAN No. 3405427

    No.5 Army Troops Company, Canadian Engineers

    No.5 Army Troops Company organizes in Crowborough in April 1917 under the command of Major E. R. Vence. Personnel drawn from Canadian Engineers Training Depot.

    Arrive in France 28 June 1917. Under the command of CRE Corps Troops, Canadian Corps until November 1917 when it came under the command of CRE VIII and, later, XIII Corps of the British Army. It was returned to the Canadian Corps in March 1918.

    Demobilizes at Winnipeg in April 1919. Disbands by General Order 192 of 1 November 1920.

    Engineers sterilizing water pumped from a dirty stream, 2 September 1918. MIKAN No. 3405428
    Engineers sterilizing water pumped from a dirty stream, 2 September 1918. MIKAN No. 3405428

    More Units

    Other units besides Army Troops Companies already covered:

    29th (Vancouver) Battalion in the Great War

    31st (Alberta) Battalion in the Great War

    42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) in the Great War

    Canadian Corps of Signals, Canadian Engineers, Signal Service, in the Great War

    Artillery – Heavy and Siege Battery in the Great War

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