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Canadian Expeditionary
Force Study Group
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| Component: |
54th Battalion |
| Active Dates: |
Canada: May 1, 1915 - November 22, 1915
England: November 30, 1915 - August 15, 1916
France: August 14, 1916 - April 28, 1919 |
| Theatre of Operations: |
France and Flanders |
| Major Battles / Battle
Honours: |
MOUNT SORREL; SOMME
1916; ARRAS 1917, 1918; HILL 70; YPRES 1917; AMIENS; HINDENBURG
LINE; PURSUIT TO MONS |
| Location of War Diaries: |
 | Library and Archives Canada (WD
Link) |
| CEFSG War Diary Transcription
(in progress = IP) |
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Background:
The records of the 54th
Infantry Battalion are one case in many where caution has to be
used when referring to the primary references. Stewart
states that the battalion was broken up to provide
reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field, yet we know
they went on to participate with the 11th Infantry Brigade in
the 4th Division. In the CEFSG
Forum discussions, the following was reported:
We know that the 54th Bn served as a unit in France: but it was a close thing. There were two reinforcing drafts that were sent overseas ahead of the 54th and they were literally pounced upon, dismantled and sent in drafts to other Bns throughout the CEF. I have found some men in the 2nd Bn. Even when the 54th main body arrived in Britain more drafts were taken from it and it only survived through the efforts of their commanding officer and a transfusion of drafts from other Bns. including the 53rd, 65th, 62nd and 71st.
Reference: the regimental history "Cinquante-quatre" Chapter 2 Second Period.
Love reports the 54th Battalion was in the
11th Infantry Brigade. Meek notes that the 54th changed
names from the "Kootenay Battalion" to the
"Central Ontario Battalion" in August 1917.
Library
and Archives Canada reports on the 54th Battalion:
The 54th Canadian Infantry
Battalion was organized in May 1915 under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel W.M. Davis under authorization published in
General Order 86 of 1 July 1915. The battalion was mobilized
in Vernon and recruited in rural areas of British Columbia.
Two drafts consisting of a total of 5 officers and 250 men
were sent to England on 21 July and 23 October 1915. The
battalion itself embarked at Halifax 22 November 1915 aboard
SAXONIA, disembarking in England on 30 November 1915. Its
strength was 36 officers and 1111 other ranks. The battalion
arrived in France on 13 August 1916becoming part of the 4th
Canadian Division, 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It was
later reinforced by the 16th Canadian Reserve Battalion. The
battalion returned to England on 29 April 1919, disembarked in
Canada on 6 June 1919, was demobilized on 12 June 1919, and
was disbanded by General Order 149 of 15 September 1920.
The battalion supported a brass band. The battalion colours
were deposited in Nelson Cathedral on 24 May 1921.
The 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion was perpetuated by The
Kootenay Regiment.
Nicholson refers to the action of the 54th
Battalion as follows:
Desire Support Trench 196
Beaucourt Wood 405
Marly 475
Raids of the 54th 189, 234, 338
From Internet Reference
Noted Below:
Please refer directly to the web sites
noted for information on the 54th Battalion.
The CD ROM noted is commercial and is available for purchase
from that site:
CD ROM - The 54th Kootenay Battalion 1915 - 1919
This contains the original 1919 story of the 54th Canadian
Infantry Battalion who fought with the Canadian Expeditionary
Force from summer 1916 to Nov 11, 1918 in France and Belgium. It
traces their operations in Ypres, Somme, Vimy and Passchendale
and the final advance to Valenciennes, France.
One of the soldiers to serve with the 54th Battalion was
Harold Allin Rogers, the founder of the Kinsmen Club (now Kin
Canada) service organization. You will find the
story of Hal on the Kin Canada web site. We now
also have a posting on the CEFSG Forum that details the service
record of Harold
Allin Rogers.
| Harold A. Rogers was born in London, Ont.
on Jan. 3 1899. Harold (Hal) moved to Hamilton, Ont. to
work for his father when he was appointed manager of the
Standard Sanitary Co. Ltd. Soon after the move, in March
1916, Hal, at the age of 17, enlisted with the 173rd
Argyle and Sutherland Battalion. After further training
in England, and anxious to get to the front lines, he
transferred to the 54th Kootenay Battalion. He fought at
Vimy Ridge, Lens, Hill 70 and Ypres, where his
leadership skills in the field led to his promotion to
the rank of corporal and a recommendation for a
commission. Before it could be acted upon, he was gassed
at the Passchendaele front (Ypres) and wounded at the
Amiens front. After hospitalization in England, he
returned home to Hamilton in January 1919. |
Harold Allin Rogers
1899-1994
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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: |
Friday October 03, 2008 09:06:41 AM -0400
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