199th Battalion Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers, CEF

The 199th (Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

199th Battalion, CEF
Recruitment poster, circa 1915
Active1916–1917
Disbanded1917
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Expeditionary Force
TypeInfantry
Garrison/HQMontreal
Motto(s)Latin: Quis separabit?, lit. 'Who shall separate us?'
Theatre of war honourThe Great War, 1916–17

History

The battalion was founded by the Canadian armed forces to improve their recruitment success by having an all Irish regiment. They were also called the "Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers", as a tribute to Princess Louise Margaret, the Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, who funded the battalion. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city.[1]

After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was sent on a tour of Ireland at the request of the Colonial Secretary, the Canadian-born Andrew Bonar Law.[2][3] On its return to England, the battalion was absorbed into the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF, on May 11, 1917.

The 199th (Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers) Battalion, CEF, had two commanding officers: Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Trihey (December 26, 1916–January 10, 1917) and Lieutenant-Colonel J. V. O'Donahoe (January 10, 1917–April 11, 1917).

In 1920, the perpetuation of the 199th Battalion was assigned to the Irish Canadian Rangers,[4] a Montreal infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia that disbanded in 1936.

References

Footnotes
  1. "All in One with the Irish Canadian Rangers 199th Overseas Battalion". World Digital Library. 1914–1918. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  2. Burns, Robin B. (1985). "The Montreal Irish and the Great War" (PDF). CCHA Historical Studies. 52: 67–81. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  3. Drysdale, A. M. (1917). Canada to Ireland: The Visit of "The Duchess of Connaught's Own" (PDF). T. Fisher Unwin. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. Government of Canada, National Defence (2005-03-09). "Annex 1B". www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-10-14.

Sources
  • Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.


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