Infantry battalion structure 1914 – 1918
1914: First contingent CEF Organization chart 1914 At the outbreak of the war in 1914 the structure of the infantry battalion was in a state of flux and the pre-war eight company structure while well suited to its role in training Militia was not adaptable to the tactical realities unfolding on the European battlefield. Prior […]
The Battalion
Starting with this page you will learn about the organization of Canadian infantry battalion and how it changed during the war. You wil also learn about the leadership structure of the battalion and see lists of Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers at various stages of the war. Finally we present three galleries of photos of […]
Trench warfare
Trench warfare in the Great War was employed primarily in an area in northern France and Belgium known as The Western Front. It developed in late 1914 as the opposing armies dug in to prevent flanking attacks from the other. The armies of World War I were constituted as they were a century before and […]
Ships
This page provides information on ships that are connected to the history of the 15th Battalion from the 1st Contingent convoy vessels that transported the unit to England in 1914 through to the vessels that repatriated the Battalion’s men in 1919. Canada’s Answer by Norman Wilkinson. The original painting, some 215cm x 368 cm, is […]
Reinforcements
From its very origins, the composition of the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada) was not comprised of Officers and Men exclusively from the parent Militia Regiment – the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The Battalion was authorized on 6 August 1914 and the majority of its original strength was indeed made up of Officers and […]
Insignia
learn about rank insignia Cap badge 1 Cap badge 2 Cap badge 3 Shoulder title Tunic button Collar badge 1 Collar badge 2 Shoulder patch 3rd Infantry brigade – 1st Canadian Division Rank insignia Click on an image below to learn more about each rank and how it contributed to the Battalion. All rank badges […]
Other memorials
Other memorials By mid 1915 the 15th Bn was no longer a unit predominantly of men from Toronto and it never would be again throughout the war because of the manner in which the CEF reinforced units at the front. Over 65 CEF units supplied men to the 15th Battalion and it rapidly became a […]
Books of Remembrance
The Regimental Church In the right-hand abutment of the Memorial Communion Table in St Andrews’s Church are 25 loose leaf pages with the names and rank of the dead in both World Wars: 1,818 soldiers. The book has beautiful handwriting of good-sized block script and is very legible. When the Book is opened showing two […]
Commemoration
Customs & Traditions How we honour those who served – especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Learn More Families Remember Learn about some of the families who are honouring their ancestors. Learn More Regimental Memorials Queen’s Park, St Andrew’s church and Mount Pleasant Cemetary Learn More Books of Remembrance In our Books of Remembrance, […]
Battle honours
In recognition of its service during the First World War, in 1928 the 15th Battalion, perpetuated by the 48th Highlanders of Canada, was awarded 21 Battle Honours – ten of which are emblazoned on the Regimental Colour. As well as on the Regimental Colour, the ten Battle Honours are also displayed on the Pipe Major’s […]