15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF

The 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 15th Battalion was authorized on 1 September 1914, embarked for Britain on 26 September 1914 and arrived in France on 15 February 1915. The battalion fought as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders throughout the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.[1]

The 15th Battalion recruited in Toronto, Sudbury, Owen Sound and St. Catharines, Ontario and Waterloo and Coaticook, Quebec and was mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec.[2]

The battalion fought on the southern flank of the 3rd Brigade during the attack on Vimy Ridge. They met little resistance from the Germans and reached their objectives within a few hours. The battalion suffered around 20% casualties with nine officers and over a hundred other ranks being killed or wounded.[3]

The 15th Battalion had seven officers commanding:

  • Lt.-Col. A.J. Currie, 22 September 1914 – 28 June 1915
  • Lt.-Col. W.B. Marshall, DSO, 28 June 1915 – 19 May 1916
  • Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, DSO, 20 May 1916 – 29 December 1917
  • Lt.-Col. J.W. Forbes, DSO, 29 December 1917 – 15 April 1918
  • Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, CMG, DSO, 15 April 1918 – 10 August 1918
  • Lt.-Col. J.P. Girvan, DSO, MC, 10 August 1918 – 3 October 1918
  • Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, CMG, DSO, 3 October 1918 – Demobilization[4]

The 15th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:

The 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF, is perpetuated by the 48th Highlanders of Canada.[6]

References
  1. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
  2. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
  3. Cook, Tim (7 March 2017). Vimy. Allen Lane. ISBN 0735233160.
  4. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
  5. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
  6. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.

Sources
  • Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 by Col. G. W. L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
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