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Canadian Expeditionary
Force Study Group
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| Component: |
13th Infantry Battalion |
| Active Dates: |
August 6, 1914 -September 15, 1920 |
| Theatre of Operations: |
France and Flanders |
| Major Battles / Battle Honours: |
Ypres 1915, 1917; Gravenstafel; St. Julien;
Festubert 1915; Mount Sorrel; Pozières; Thiepval; Ancre
Heights; Arras 1917, 1918; Vimy 1917; Arleux, Scarpe 1918;
Amiens; Drocourt-Quéant; Hindenburg Line; Cana du Nord; Pursuit
to Mons. |
| Location of War Diaries: |
 | Library and Archives Canada (WD Link) |
| CEFSG War Diary Transcription
(in progress = IP) |
|
Background:
Stewart reports that the battalion served in France and Flanders with
the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division form February 17, 1915 until the
armistice (Royal Highland Regiment - the Black Watch Tartan). Many
know the story of the battalions mascot, a white goat "Flora
Stewart" presented to the 3rd by a battalion of Ghurka's.
Flora was a war casualty, after eating cabbage poisoned during a gas
attack.
Nicholson reports on the 1st Infantry Battalion on
the following pages (see the Matrix
Nicholson Transcriptions):
Ypres 58, 62, 64, 67, 70, 73, 75
Tor Top 153-154
Somme 116, 185
Hugo Trench 188
Amiens 400-401
D-Q Support Line 436
Blecourt 452
From
Library and Archives Canada: no entry at this time, link is to
Brigade only
| From Black Watch
Internet Reference:
On August 1, 1914, Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister for
Canada, offered the services of Canada's help to Great Britain
in her war against Germany. Great Britain immediately accepted
this offer. Almost immediately, approximately 300 men of the
Black Watch of Canada (the Royal Highlanders) volunteered. The
Royal Highlanders of Canada gave birth to three Black Watch
Battalions during the war. By the end of August, the regiment
numbered over 1,000 men. As the numbers grew, volunteers from
the Royal Highlanders were incorporated into the 13th Battalion.
Over 60% of the initial recruits were of British origin. A large
percentage were former British soldiers who had relocated to
Canada at the turn of the century. While still in Canada, the
13th Battalion was placed in the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division
along with the 14th, 15th, and 16th battalions.
In October of 1914, the 1st Division departed for Great
Britain. The Division remained in Great Britain for additional
training until February 10th, 1915. On February 16, 1915, the
unit departed for France. After spending time in France, in
April of 1915, the battalion was used to reinforce British and
Canadian lines in Ypres sector.
From Marc Leroux Posting April 9, 2006:
This is a booklet by Stuart
Martin published in 1918 that covers the 13th from the
formation to the end of 1917; Passchendaele is not
covered. It is part of a series issued by the Canadian
War Records Office, with the proceeds from sales (six
pence) going to the Canadian War Memorials Fund.
Before
the war the Fifth Royal Highlanders of Canada were
affiliated with the Black Watch. On the outbreak of
hostilities a battalion of the Fifth was mobilised at
Montreal in August, 1914. By the 25th of the month
1,004 recruits had been accepted, and on that day the
battalion entrained for Valcartier. Here, when a
division for overseas was being organised, the
battalion became the 13th Canadian Battalion, Royal
Highlanders of Canada.
A transcribed version can be found here.
http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/writing/13th.htm
A PDF version of the scanned document can be found here.
http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/dl/downloads.asp#13th
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Sub-Components:
Primary References:
| Nicholson, G. W. L. 1962. Official
History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian
Expeditionary Force 1914-1919. Queens Printer and Controller
of Stationary, Ottawa, Canada.
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| Stewart, C. H. 1970. "Overseas" The
Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914
-1919. Little & Stewart, Mission Press, Toronto, Canada.
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| Love, D. W. 1999. "A Call to Arms"
The Organization and Administration of Canada's Military in World
War One. Bunker to Bunker Books, Winnipeg & Calgary,
Canada. |
Secondary References:
Internet References:
| This Page Last
Updated On: |
Wednesday July 02, 2008 08:26:51 PM -0400
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