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The 15th
Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a unit
raised for service in the First World War.
History
The 15th
Battalion was organized in Valcartier Camp in accordance
with Camp Order 241 of 2 September 1914.1
The battalion
was composed of recruits from the Toronto area and was
initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J.A. Currie. The
unit embarked for overseas from Quebec City on 3
October 1914 aboard S.S. Megantic and disembarked in the U.K. on 14 October
1914 with a strength of 46 officers, 1109 other ranks.
The unit
moved to France on 14 February 1915 as a battalion of the
3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, a component of the (1st)
Canadian Division.
The unit was
eventually reinforced by the 5th Canadian Reserve
Battalion.
At the
conclusion of the war, the battalion returned to England on
24 March 1919, and returned home to Canada on 7 May 1919,
with official demobilization following on 10 May 1919.
Disbandment occurred by General Order 149 of 15 September
1920 |
15th
Battalion, CEF |
Image courtesy of Bill Ellis |
Organized: 2
September 1914
Initial Strength: 46 officers, 1109 other
ranks
Service: Component of the 3rd Infantry
Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and
Flanders.
Disbanded: G.O. 149/1920 eff 15 September 1920
Perpetuated by: The 48th Highlanders of
Canada |
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The battalion had a
dog named Bruno as a mascot.2 Battalion brass, bugle and
pipe bands also existed. The influence of the 48th Highlanders was
evident in dress and traditions, and the unit was a kilted battalion
wearing the Davidson tartan.3
The battalion was affiliated with the 92nd and 134th Battalions, and
after the war officially perpetuated by The 48th Highlanders of Canada, to
whom they turned their colours over in 1919.
Insignia
In 1914, there had been little time to
adopt distinctive unit badges for the hastily assembled battalions
of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. As many battalions were drawn
from men from several of the pre-war Militia regiments, there was a
desire to avoid using existing badges and forming associations with
those existing units, in favour of creating new identities - the
General Officer Commanding the 1st Canadian Contingent (later 1st
Canadian Division) is quoted as saying sometime in October or
November of 1914 "there must be distinctive badges for each unit."4
Until unit badges were approved and issued, a mixture of
pre-war Militia badges and maple-leaf pattern General Service badges
were seen.
Metal cap and collar badges were also
worn on service dress.
In
mid-1916, cloth "battle-patches" were added to the sleeves of the
Service Dress and greatcoat. The 1st Division was distinguished by a
red rectangle, 3 inches wide by 2 inches tall, worn on each upper
arm. The 15th Battalion was further distinguished by a blue triangle
worn above the rectangle, the blue indicating the 3rd Brigade, and
the triangle indicating the third-senior
battalion in the brigade. More information on formation patches can
be found in the article on the
organization of the division.
Metal cap and collar badges were also
worn on service dress.
Battle Honours
Ypres 1915, 17
St. Julien
Mount Sorrel
Pozieres
Ancre Heights
Vimy, 1917
Scarpe, 1917, '18
Passchendaele
Drocourt-Quéant
Canal du Nord |
Gravenstafel
Festubert, 1915
Somme, 1916
Thiepval
Arras 1917, '18
Arleux
Hill 70
Amiens
Hindenburg Line
Pursuit to Mons |
France and Flanders, 1915-18 |
Notes
-
Guide to Sources,
p.80, (copy in RG24, vol. 1258, file HQ 593-2-1, pt. 1).
-
Ibid, which references RG 24, vol.
1760, file DH 510-37; vol. 1845, file GAQ 11-22
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Stewart, p.8
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Harper, Joseph A Source of
Pride: Regimental Badges and Titles in the Canadian
Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 (Service Publications,
Ottawa, ON, 1999) ISBN 0-9699845-8-8 p.5
References
-
Love, David W.
A Call to Arms: The Organization and Administration of
Canada's Military in World War One (Bunker to Bunker
Books, Calgary, AB, 1999) ISBN 1894255-03-8
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Stewart, Charles
H. Overseas: The Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 (Little & Stewart,
Toronto, ON, 1970)
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Guide to Sources Relating to
Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Infantry Battalions (Library
and Archives Canada, Ottawa, ON, 2012)
Archival Holdings
The following holdings at Library and
Archives Canada may be useful for further research on this unit:
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War diary, 18 Oct. 1914 - 31 March
1919
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Badges
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Inspection reports, clothing and
equipment
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Mobilization accounts
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Demobilization
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History
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Appointment of officers
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15th Battalion
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DHS file
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Records of personnel
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Promotions
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Promotions, appointments
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Clothing and equipment
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RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3877, folder 10,
file 3
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War trophies
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RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3890, folder 46,
file 26
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Strength, Jan. 1918 - Dec. 1919
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RG 9, III-C-1, vol. 3894, folder 57,
file 33
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Reports on minor operations, 5-7
Aug. 1916
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4017, folder 34,
file 12
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Operation orders, 23 Sept. 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4067, folder 6,
file 6
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Administration arrangements, 1917 -
1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 1
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Agriculture, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1, file 2
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Aircraft, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 3
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Small arms and ammunition, 1917 -
1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 4
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Artillery, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 5
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Badges and patches, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 6
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Bands, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 7
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Booby traps, 27-28 July 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 8
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Burials, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 9
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Corps reinforcement camp 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 10
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Canteens, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 11
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Casualties, 1915 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 12
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Censorship, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 13
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Chinese troops, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 14
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Receipts for payment of claims, 1916
- 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 15
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Clothing and equipment, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1,
file 16
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Codes and station calls, Aug. 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1, file 17
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Conferences, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1, file 18
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Congratulatory messages, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1, file 19
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Correspondence: personnel, transfers, etc. 1916
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1, file 20
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Jews, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 1, file 21
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Defences, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 1
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Defence schemes, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 2
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Trenches
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 3
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Wire and wiring, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 4
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Work and working parties, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 5
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Discipline, March 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 6
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German uniforms, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 7
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Dumps, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 8
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Education, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 9
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Entertainment, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 10
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Establishment, 1916 - 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 11
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Gas, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 12
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Grenades, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 13
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Gifts, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 14
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Machine and Lewis guns, 1915 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 15
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Inspections, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 16
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Intelligence summaries, 26 Feb. 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 17
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Intelligence, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 18
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Leave, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 19
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Lectures, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 20
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Liaison, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 21
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Maps, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 22
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Correspondence re maps, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 23
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Medical, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 24
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Mascots, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4076, folder 2, file 25
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Mining, 1915 - 1916
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 1
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Moves and reliefs, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 2
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Nominal rolls, May - Dec. 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 3
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Observation
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 4
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Officers, Sept. 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 5
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Organization, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 6
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Operations. Ypres, April 1915
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 7
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Operations. Ypres, report on
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 8
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Operations. Vimy Ridge, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 9
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Operations. Hill 70, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 10
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Operations. Passchendaele, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 11
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Operations. Somme, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 12
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Operations. Amiens, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 13
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Operations. Drocourt-Quéant Line, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 14
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Operations. Canal du Nord, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 3, file 15
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Minor operations, 1 Jan. - 16 Feb. 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 1
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Minor operations, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade., 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 2
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Minor operations, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade., March 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 3
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Minor operations, German raid, 2 Jan. 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 4
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Minor operations, French, 11-16 March 1916
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 5
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Minor operations, German, 22 Oct. 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 6
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Minor operations, notes on, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 7
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Minor operations, 4th Australian Division, 30 July 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 8
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Minor operations, summaries, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4, file 9
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Operation orders, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4077, folder 4077, files 20-21
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Battalion orders, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 1
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Town orders, Bully-Grenay, 20 Jan. 1917
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RG 9, III, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 2
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Patrols, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 3
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Paymasters, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 4
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Personnel, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 5
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Prisoners of war, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 6
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Light railways, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 7
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Rations, 1915 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 8
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Reconnaissance, 27-31 Dec. 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 9
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Reinforcements, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 10
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Remounts, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 11
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Salvage, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 12
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Signal service, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 13
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Signals, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 14
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Sports, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 15
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Trench stores, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4078, folder 7, file 16
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Strength, 1915 - 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, files 1-2
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Office supplies, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 3
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Tanks, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 4
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Trench tours, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 5
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Training, 1916 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, files 6-7
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Transport and traffic, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 8
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Trench mortars, 1916 - 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 9
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Trophies, 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 10
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Visits, 1917 - 1918
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 11
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Weights, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 12
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YMCA, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-3, vol. 4079, folder 8, file 13
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Orders, 1917
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RG 9, III-C-4, vol. 4341, folder 2, file 7
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Badges
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 13
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Historical record (incl. recruiting)
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 12
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Operations. St Eloi, 30 April 1916
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 15
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Operations. Mount Sorrel, 2-3 June 1916
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 16
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Operations. Hill 70, 15 Aug. 1917
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 17
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Minor operations, 13 Feb. 1918
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 18
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Photographs
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RG 9, III-D-1, vol. 4692, folder 50, file 14
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Nominal roll on embarkation, 1914
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Promotions, appointments
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Purchase of kilts
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Daily Orders
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RG 150, vol. 69
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File Part 1=1914/09/09-1914/12/27
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File Part 2=1914/11/03-1915/03/07
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File Part 3=1915/06/02-1915/05/23
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File Part 4=1915/06/05-1915/12/25
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File Part 5=1916/01/08-1916/06/30
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File Part 6=1916/07/07-1916/09/30
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File Part 7=1916/10/02-1916/12/31
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File Part 8=1917/01/02-1917/06/30
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File Part 9=1917/07/02-1917/12/29
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File Part 10=1918/01/05-1918/07/31
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File Part 11=1918/08/05-1918/11/05
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File Part 12=1918/11/05-1919/05/20
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