161st Battalion

Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group

Component:

161st Battalion

Active Dates:

1915 - 1920

Contributors:

Men of Huron, Susan, rlaughton, CWS Teacher

Theatre of Operations:

France and Flanders

Major Battles / Battle Honours:

Amiens, Arras 1918, Hindenburg Line, Pursuit to Mons

Location of War Diaries:

	Library and Archives Canada (WD Link)
	CEFSG War Diary Transcription (in progress = IP)

Background:

The 161st Battalion is one of those that would have been recorded as having been broken up for reinforcements, it not for the fact that it was first part of the 5th Division, 14th Infantry Brigade. The 5th Division never made it to battle as a CEF Division, so eventually it was absorbed by the 4th Reserve Battalion to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.

CEFSG Forum Posting requesting additional information:

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Captain James Lloyd Evans

Men of Huron wrote:

The 161st was an infantry Battalion raised in Huron County, Ontario (Clinton). It was mobilized on May 22nd 1916 and sailed to England on November 2nd 1916. It's fate would have been the same as most of the later war battalions, it would have been quickly broken up for reinforcements, had it not been included in the 5th Canadian Division, which was formed in January 1917. This Division was part of Sir Sam Hughes' plan for creating a Canadian Army in the field.

Officers of the 161st Battalion
Photo courtesy of Susan
list of men in photo hyperlink - from Steve

CWS Teacher Wrote: Remembering the 161st Huron Battalion - Exeter
Many of the young men who served in World War I from our school enlisted with the 161st Huron Battalion. The Battalion recruited in Clinton, Wingham, Seaforth, and Exeter, starting in the late fall of 1915. It was then moved to London for training at Carling Heights (the site of the "Real Canadian Super Store" on Oxford Street, just east of Wolseley Barracks). In October, 1916 the battalion was sent to England on the SS Lapland. It was originally slated to be part of the 14th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division - Part of Sir Sam Hughes plan to field an independent First Canadian Army. However, the plans for a fifth division were scrapped due to falling recruitment (and Sir Sam falling out of political favour). The battalion was absorbed into the 4th Reserve Battalion, and drafts of men were sent to other battalions actively engaged in the fighting overseas. Men from the 161st served with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, 5th CMR, 10th Bn., 18th Bn., 19th Bn., 47th Bn., 58th Bn., and other units.

This picture is a postcard brought in by Jason M., and shows the "Exeter Boys" in front of the Town Hall. This may have been taken just prior to their departure, when the colours of the 161st Battalion were "laid up" at Trivitt Memorial Church.

We have been able to tentatively identify a couple of the soldiers. The man with the moustache immediately behind the right marker (second rank, farthest to the left in this picture) we believe is 654488 Pte. Sydney West, who was a teacher at Exeter High School. He taught industrial arts, and was a mason by trade. He was killed at Passchendale 26 Oct 1917 with the 58th Battalion, and is remembered at the Menin Gate. The man in the fifth rank, 10th row from the left (peeking out from behind the man in front of him) is believed to be 654489, Pte. Almer Thomas Willis, who won the MM with the 47th Battalion during the crossing of the Canal du Nord; KIA 27 Sept 1918

Exeter Area Men of the 161st Battalion
photo courtesy of CWS Teacher
details of men in forum posting

Matrix Note:

There are now 2 sections in the Matrix that note the 161st:

	The Original 5th - in a "Reorganized Unit"
	5th Division, Army Corps

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.
	Stewart, C. H. 1970. "Overseas" The Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914 -1919. Little & Stewart, Mission Press, Toronto, Canada.
	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.
	Livesay, J. F. B. 1919. Canada's Hundred Days: With the Canadian Corps from Amiens to Mons, Aug. 8 - Nov. 11, 1918. Thomas Allen, Toronto. (Available on the Internet as an Archive Download)

Secondary References:

Internet References:

CWS Teacher

This Page Last Updated On:

Tuesday January 29, 2008 01:17:00 PM -0800