insert background summary
Chris Wight Forum Posting: 46th
Battalion "The Suicide Battalion"
From the Internet Reference (Saskatoon Dragoons) Noted
Below:
The 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion (South Saskatchewan)
was established on 1 February 1915, with its headquarters in the
Moose Jaw Armoury. Command was given to LCol Herbert Snell, a
Moose Jaw merchant and alderman who, up until then, had
commanded the 60th Rifles. The 46th moved to Camp Sewell,
Manitoba (also known as Camp Hughes) on 28 May 1915. On 18
October they left for Halifax, sailed for England on 23 October,
and arrived at Plymouth a week later. Their strength on leaving
Canada was 36 officers and 1115 other ranks. While training in
England, parts of the battalion were broken off and farmed out
to other units. In return, the 46th received personnel from
other battalions such as the 65th Battalion (Saskatoon). They
departed from Southampton on 10 August 1916, arriving at Havre
in France the next day.
The 46th Battalion served with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th
Canadian Division from 11 August 1916 until the Armistice. The
unit has come to be known as "The Suicide Battalion".
The 46th Battalion lost 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded - a
casualty rate of 91.5 percent - and won 16 battle
honours in 27 months.
