11th Reserve Battalion
The 11th Reserve Battalion was formed from the 11th Infantry
Battalion and therefore information is provided in the following text to
track this unit from conception.
Love's text correctly lists the reinforcing structure from early 1918 to wars end. He also lists the units trained by the 11th Reserve Battalion correctly, with one exception. The 88th Battalion was used as a reinforcing unit until it was absorbed by the 30th Reserve Battalion on July 8, 1916.
11th Canadian Infantry Battalion
The 11th Battalion’s mobilization was authorized on August 6, 1914 under P.C.O
2067 and mobilized at Valcartier, Quebec, M.D. No. 5 and issued number block 21001-22500. The battalion was recruited in Manitoba and Saskatchewan with recruits from Winnipeg, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Regina and Saskatoon. As with virtually all the 1st contingent battalions, the vast majority of the recruits in 11th Battalion had served in pre war militia units. As of September 3, 1914, the following militia units had contributed members to the 11th Battalion.
 | 52nd Regiment (Prince Albert Volunteers) 9 officers, 141 other ranks. |
| 60th Rifles of Canada (Moosejaw, Saskatchewan), 10 officers and 284 other ranks. |
| 95th Saskatchewan Rifles (Regina, Saskatchewan) 4 officers and 167 other ranks. |
| 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers, (Winnipeg, Manitoba), 18 officers and 453 other ranks. |
| 105th Regiment Fusiliers, (Saskatoon) 7 officers and 248 other ranks.
Humboldt Detachment (Humboldt, Saskatchewan), 21 other ranks. |
Militia units would bring the strength of the 11th Battalion to 48 officers and 1,314 other ranks. (1)
On September 22, 1914 Lieutenant Colonel R. Burritt assumed command of the battalion and a week later on September 29 the 11th Battalion embarked on the S.S. Royal Edward at Quebec. On October 3, 1914 the ship sailed from Gaspe Bay with 45 officers and 1,119 other ranks arriving at Plymouth on October 14, 1914. Slightly worse for wear from the week long voyage the battalion did not disembark until October 18, marching straight to their camp at Salisbury Plain.
Salisbury Plain lies 84 miles South-West of London, two hundred square miles of pasture, quaint villages and Stonehenge, and in 1914, home to the Canadian Contingent. Awash in a sea of mud, the 11th Battalion trained while living under canvas until shortly before Christmas, when they found themselves in hutments at No. 3 & 5 Camps, Sling Plantation. Perhaps some of the officers had an inkling of the battalions’ future when they learned that the 9th, 11th, 12th and 17th Battalions were acting as a Reinforcing Depot, replacing the sick, injured and medically unfit in the rest of the division.
On January 17, 1915 the 11th Battalion moved to Tidworth Camp where they would remain until March 15, 1915. On January 18th the decision had been made to disband the 4th Brigade. The 9th, 11th, 12th and 17th Battalions would join the 6th and form the Canadian Training Depot based at Tidworth Barracks, Salisbury Plain under the command of Colonel W.R.W. James. March 15 saw the 11th Battalion moved to Shorncliffe and on April 29, 1915 the official word came under the authority of C.R.O. 450; the 11th Canadian Infantry Battalion was officially the 11th Reserve Battalion.
The 11th Reserve Battalion (April 29, 1915-December 31, 1916)
The 11th Reserve Battalion would have 4 commanding officers between 1914 and 1917.
| Lieutenant Colonel R. Burritt from September 22, 1914- August 23, 1915. |
| Colonel A. Dulmage from August 23, 1915- September 15, 1915. |
| Lieutenant Colonel A.E. Carpenter from November 26, 1915- April 27, 1916. |
| Lieutenant Colonel P. Walker May 8, 1916- January 4, 1917. |
During the period from January 1915 to January 1917 the 11th Reserve Battalion reinforced a number of Infantry Battalions’ serving in France. They are listed as
follows:
| Reinforced the 5th Battalion from January 31, 1915 to July 19, 1915 |
| Reinforced the 7th Battalion from January 31, 1915 to July 19, 1915 |
| Reinforced the 8th battalion from August 31, 1915 to December 31, 1916 |
| Reinforced the 10th Battalion from January 31, 1915 to September 9, 1915 and again from
April 29, 1916 to July 9, 1916 |
| Reinforced the 27th Battalion from September 9, 1915 to April 29, 1916 and again
from July 9, 1916 to January 1, 1917 |
| Reinforced the 50th Battalion from August, 1916 to December 31, 1916 |
| Reinforced the 52nd Battalion from April 24, 1916 to July 9, 1916 |
| Reinforced the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) from July 19, 1915 to September 9, 1915 |
| Reinforced the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles from July 9, 1916 to December 31, 1916 |
The 11th also absorbed a number of battalions arriving from Canada as well as drafts from various Canadian
battalions:
| The 45th Battalion which had arrived in Liverpool March 25, 1916 with a compliment of 38 officers and 1119 other ranks and had been used as a reinforcing unit until it was absorbed on July 7, 1916. |
| The 61st Battalion which had mobilized in Winnipeg, and sailed with 37 officers and 1096 other ranks was absorbed on July 7, 1916. The 61st had been based in Bramshott and was being used as reinforcing unit since April 11, 1916. |
| The 90th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles) which had arrived at Shorncliffe on June 8, 1916 with 36 officers and 1087 other ranks was absorbed on July 19, 1916. |
| The 151st Battalion (Central Alberta) consisting of 29 officers and 925 other ranks was
absorbed upon their arrival on October 13, 1916. Part of the battalion was split to the 9th Reserve Battalion. |
| The 184th Battalion was absorbed upon their arrival in England, November 11, 1916
having sailed with 32 officers and 1042 other ranks. |
| The 11th reserve Battalion also received at least one draft. Five officers and 249 other ranks from the 90th Battalion was sent from Canada on August 27, 1915. |
The 11th Reserve Battalion was officially absorbed into a new 11th Reserve Battalion on January 4, 1917 under C.R.O. 198. The original 11th Battalion was disbanded by P.C.O. 2702 dated October 12, 1917 and published in C.R.O. 2848 and G.O. 82-18 dated November 9, 1917.
11th Reserve Battalion (January 1, 1917-1919)
The new reserve structure was implemented in January, 1917 with perhaps some confusion. The old 11th Reserve Battalion was absorbed into the new 11th Reserve Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel P. Walker. Under Regimental Order No.198, the new 11th Reserve Battalion came into effect on January 4; however, Lieutenant-Colonel Walker assumed command on January 2 and reinforcing dates begin on January 1.
March 1917 saw the introduction of the regimental territorial system. Reserve Battalions were linked to their affiliated battalions in France by territorial regiments bearing provincial designations. The 11th Reserve Battalion had the Regimental Designation the Manitoba Regiment. The battalions’ recruiting area in Canada was Military District No.10 with their Headquarters based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The battalions’ designation in Canada was the 1st Depot Battalion, Manitoba Regiment.
The 11th Reserve Battalion would have two commanding
officers:
| Lieutenant-Colonel P. Walker from January 2, 1917 to May 7, 1917 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel P.G. Daly, C.M.G., D.S.O., May 7, 1918 to
demobilization |
A number of battalions in France were reinforced by the 11th Reserve Battalion. These are as
follows:
| Reinforced the 78th Battalion from January 1, 1917 to September 15, 1917 |
| Reinforced the 107th Battalion (Pioneer) January 1, 1917 to October 15, 1917 |
| Reinforced the 43rd Battalion from October 15, 1917 to demobilization |
| Reinforced the 16th Battalion from October 15, 1917 to March 29, 1919 (C.R.O. 2627, 5438) |
| Reinforced the 27th Battalion from January 1, 1917 to demobilization |
The 11th Battalion absorbed 5 Battalions in 1917.
| The 100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers) had been acting as a reinforcing unit since their arrival at Witley with 31 officers and 880 other ranks on September 25, 1916. In three months the 100th had reinforced the 78th Battalion, sent drafts to the 47th Battalion and 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles and received a draft of 224 other ranks from the 183rd Battalion. On January 20, 1917 they were absorbed by the 11th Reserve battalion. |
| The 197th (Scandinavian Battalion) mobilized in Winnipeg, sailed with 9 officers and 306 other ranks. They were absorbed upon their arrival at Shorncliffe, February 6, 1917. |
| The 200th Battalion from Winnipeg sailed with 17 officers and 477 other ranks and were absorbed upon their arrival at Shorncliffe on May 15, 1917. |
| The 221st Battalion from Manitoba was absorbed upon arrival at Lower Dibgate, April
30, 1917. The battalion had sailed with 24 officers and 644 other ranks. |
| The 223rd Battalion (Canadian Scandinavians) which had mobilized at Winnipeg sailed
with 17 officers and 507 other ranks. They were absorbed by the 11th Reserve Battalion upon arrival at Lower Dibgate on May14, 1917. |
In fall of 1917 the 11 existing Training Brigades were reduced to 6 and a number of Reserve Battalions were disbanded and absorbed into the remaining reserve establishment, the 11th Reserve Battalion would absorb the 14th Reserve Battalion on October 15, 1917.
With the Canadian Depot Battalions in place and actively recruiting, the 11th Reserve Battalion would no longer see battalions raised in Canada and by fall of 1917 and through 1918 reinforcements would arrive via the 11th’s counterpart in Canada, the Manitoba Regiment; 1st Depot Battalion. Eleven drafts would reinforce the 11th and 18th Reserve Battalions through to the end of the war.
Drafts Received: from Manitoba Regiment, 1st Depot Battalion; Military District
No.10:
| #1 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada November 26, 1917 |
| #3 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada March 25, 1918 |
| #4 Reinforcing Draft, Brandon Detachment, sailed from Canada April 4, 1918 |
| #4 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada April 9, 1918 |
| #5 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada April 17, 1918 |
| #18 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada May 11, 1918 |
| #3 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada June 17, 1918 |
| #65 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada July 7, 1918 |
| #65 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada July 11, 1918 |
| #81Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada July 28, 1918 |
| #134 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada August 30, 1918 |
The 11th Reserve Battalion was disbanded by G.O. 149 dated September 15,
1920. The 11th Reserve Battalion was perpetuated by the 2nd Reserve
Battalion. The Winnipeg Grenadiers, amended to The Winnipeg Grenadiers M.G in 1939 and The Winnipeg Grenadiers in 1964. In 1965 The Winnipeg Grenadiers were disbanded and placed on the Supplemental Order of Battle.
Notes:
(1) Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919: General Series Volume I, Ottawa: King's Printer, 1938, Appendices and Maps, Composition of Provisional Infantry Brigades and Battalions, Valcartier Camp, 3rd September, 1914, Appendix 85, pgs 54-57.
Bibliography:
11th Reserve Battalion, War Diary.
Love, David W. A Call to Arms; The Organization and Administration of Canada’s Military in World War One, Bunker to Bunker Books, Winnipeg and Calgary, 1999
Colonel G.W.L. Nicholson, C.D. Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919, Queens Printer Ottawa, 1938
Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919: General Series Volume I, Ottawa: King's Printer, 1938
Canada in the Great War Vol. VI, United Publishers Of Canada Ltd. Toronto, 1921, Appendix I, Commanding Officers Overseas, pgs 315-372
CEF Study Group, Matrix Utility, Stonetown Drafts
Administrative History, 11th Battalion, Canada, Department of National Defence, Directorate of History, reference number unknown
Administrative Histories; C.E.F. Battalions 1-260, Canada, Department of National Defence, Directorate of History, reference number unknown.
Perpetuation of the CEF, http://regimentalrogue.com/
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