46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF

The 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 46th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 23 October 1915. On 11 August 1916 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.[1]

46th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF
Distinguishing patch of the battalion
Active	1914–1920
Disbanded	1920
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Type	Infantry
Part of	10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division
Mobilization headquarters	Moose Jaw
Battle honours	List Somme, 1916 Ancre Heights Ancre, 1916 Arras, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Hill 70 Ypres, 1917 Passchendaele Amiens Scarpe, 1918 Dorcourt–Quéant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Valenciennes France and Flanders, 1916–18

The unit has come to be known as "The Suicide Battalion". The 46th Battalion lost 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded – a casualty rate of 91.5 percent in 27 months.

The battalion recruited throughout Saskatchewan and was mobilized at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.[2]

The 46th Battalion had two officers commanding:

• Lieutenant-Colonel H. Snell, 22 October 1915 – 29 August 1916
• Lieutenant-Colonel H.J. Dawson, CMG, DSO, 29 August 1916-Demobilization[3]

One member of the 46th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross. Sergeant Hugh Cairns was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Valenciennes on 1 November 1918.[4]

The 46th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:

• SOMME, 1916
• Ancre Heights
• Ancre, 1916
• ARRAS, 1917, '18
• Vimy, 1917
• HILL 70
• Ypres, 1917
• Passchendaele
• AMIENS
• Scarpe, 1918
• Drocourt-Quéant
• HINDENBURG LINE
• Canal du Nord
• VALENCIENNES
• FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18[5]

The perpetuation of the 46th Battalion was assigned in 1920 to 2nd Battalion (46th Battalion, CEF), The South Saskatchewan Regiment, and it is now perpetuated by The Saskatchewan Dragoons.[1]

• 2nd Battalion (46th Battalion, CEF), The South Saskatchewan Regiment: 1920–1924
• 1st Battalion (46th Battalion, CEF), The King's Own Rifles of Canada: 1924–1936
• The King's Own Rifles of Canada (MG): 1936–1942
• The King's Own Rifles of Canada: 1942–1946
• 20th (Saskatchewan) Armoured Regiment, RCAC: 1946–1949
• 20th Saskatchewan Armoured Regiment: 1949–1954
• The Saskatchewan Dragoons (20th Armoured Regiment): 1954–1958
• The Saskatchewan Dragoons: 1958–present