105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders), CEF

August 2015 May 2024 105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders) 22 December 1915 to 12 October 1917 Canada 1921 5th Canadian Division 15th Brigade (Designated) Infantry Battalion (Highlander) Canadian Expeditionary Force Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Lt-Col A. Ernest Ings (Charlottetown, PEI) First officer commanding Sgt-Major Joseph J. Trainor (Charlottetown, PEI) Regimental sergeant major 105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders), CEF was a battalion of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. It was recruited, through the 82nd Regiment Abegweit Light Infantry, first as a reinforcement company, and then a CEF battalion, from its headquarters in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. As initially, on 3 September 1915, the 82nd was only authorized to prepare an overseas reinforcement draft: The Infantry Reinforcement Company, Prince Edward Island, "to reinforce as soon as ready the battalions from the Maritime Provinces."http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/105th%20Battalion?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221916%22&f[1]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22June%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 1 10 June 1916 11 November 2015O'Connor 2006 3Wilson 395 Formation: A Prince Edward Island battalion In response to a very successful recruiting drive, it was requested, by the PEI Patriotic Society, to raise a battalion and authority was sought, with the 'Infantry Reinforcement Company' to be retained as its nucleus. "Understanding that the battalion should remain intact and be representation of the province throughout the war", mobilization of the battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915, and by 15 March 1916, recruiting was completed.Overseas Authorization: General Orders 1915 – HQ Ottawa – GO 151: 22 December 1915 Canada Gazette 25 March 1916 3121 Of the 1,548 recruits who offered service, 260 were rejected. This left 1,153 all ranks, in companies who were trained and quartered in Charlottetown (Lt-Col Allan – 561), Summerside (Major T.H. Inman – 493), Georgetown (Capt U.L. Dawson – 115), and Souris (Capt W.E.F. Hardy – 115).PEIG 1916 27CMC 1928 3 left|thumb|300px|The 105th Battalion CEF, Camp Valcartier 1916 On 20 April 1916, the battalion received its CEF designation as the 105th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders) and on 13 June 1916, it moved to Camp Valcartier, Quebec.http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/105th%20Battalion?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221916%22&f[1]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22June%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 13 June 1916 1 11 November 2015 Finally on 13 July 1916, it was en route to England, sailing from Halifax embarked on the SS Empress of Britain on 15 July 1916.http://cefresearch.ca/matrix/Utilities/Troopships/infantry.htm CEFSG Matrix Project – CEF Sailing List: Infantry Battalions Laughton, R.V. 8 October 2015http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_08750/1?r=0&s=1 CEF 105th BATTALION Nominal Roll – Embarkation: July 15th 1916, MoMD 8 October 2015 Arriving at Liverpool on 25 July 1916, it proceeded to Shorncliffe Army Camp in Kent, where it was attached to the 1st Canadian Training Division. The strength of the 105th Battalion leaving Canada was 37 officers and 1,107 other ranks, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A. Ernest Ings, with Lt-Col R.H. Campbell as Second-in-Command.LAC Designation RG 24, vol. 1560, File HQ 683 -168-2CMC 1928 4 Amalgamation and disbandment While recruited for assignment to the newly forming 5th Canadian Division, once in England, the battalion was not destined to see active service and was quickly designated as a reinforcing unit. Shuffled around England, while undergoing training, the 105th Battalion eventually sent out three reinforcement drafts to France, for earlier recruited and manpower short active battalions.http://www.cefresearch.ca/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=482&highlight=CEF Study Group. Posted: Sat 13 August 2005 4:16 am 3 March 2015 In the fall of 1916, large drafts of Islanders made their way to active service in France: 140 other ranks to the 13th Battalion (RHC), 1st Cdn Division, on 28 November 1916; 60 other ranks to the 25th Battalion (NSR), 2nd Cdn Division, on 28 November 1916; and then 120 other ranks to the 14th Battalion (RMR), 1st Cdn Division, on 5 December 1916.Wilson 393http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/105th%20Battalion?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221916%22&f[1]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22December%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 23 December 1916 3 11 November 2015 Having no political champion in Ottawa, with no support from HQ Militia District No.6 in Halifax, and thus no chance of active service, on 24 January 1917, the much reduced 105th Bn was amalgamated with the 104th Battalion, CEF. It having earlier come to England, from New Brunswick, and after a change of command, the CO of the 105th, Lt-Col Ings assumed command.O'Connor 2006 p. 7 . The new 104th (NB) Battalion, was quickly absorbed into the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion, CEF, it only having been organized on 20 January 1917 (as authorized in OMFC Canadian Routine Order 271 of 20 January 1917). When reinforced and again designated for service in France, the 104th (NB) Battalion was assigned to the 15 Brigade, 5th Canadian Division, on 13 February 1917.http://www.cefresearch.ca/matrix/Utilities/reserves/index.html CEF Study Group. Updated: 4 September 2012 Laughton, Richard 3 March 2015 Remaining in England, seeing the 5th Division 'officially' disbanded in April 1918, the 104th was finally broken up and, its remaining Islanders, absorbed by the 13th Reserve Battalion.Nicholson, Gerald W. L. G. W. L. Nicholson 1962 Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 Ottawa Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery 232http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.028-e.pdf LAC (Barbara Wilson) Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Reserve Battalions 32 3 March 2015 After the July 1916 departure of 105th Battalion, to England, the 82nd Regiment Abegweit Light Infantry continued recruiting, across the island. Authorized to recruit two drafts of replacements, on an establishment of 109 each, one officer and 50 other ranks were enrolled at Charlottetown and an equal number volunteered in Summerside.The Charlottetown Guardian 16 December 1916 5 http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/105th%20Battalion?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221916%22&f[1]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22December%22 The 105th Reinforcements Authorized 11 November 2015 When ready, this smaller reinforcement draft was sent directly to their now designated CEF parent – the 13th Reserve (NB) Battalion in England, sailing from Halifax embarked on the SS Olympic on 2 June 1917. Then, later, as an OMFC administrative and CEF staff exercise, on 12 October 1917, the 105th Battalion was removed from the order of battle.Privy Council Order 2702: 12 October 1917O'Connor 2006 9 The 105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders), CEF is perpetuated by The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC).Canadian Forces Publication, A-DH-267-003/AF-001 – Part One: Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments. Reviewed 3 March 2015 The commanding officer: Lt-Col A.E. Ings A. Ernest Ings was born on 11 May 1866, in Charlottetown, PEI, the youngest child of John Ings and Mary Jane Yeo, she the daughter of James Yeo of Port Hill, PEI.http://www.islandregister.com/ings.html The Descendants of John Ings and Sarah Pullin, Saint Marys, Portsea, Hampshire, England. Generation No.3 8 November 2015 First attending Prince of Wales College, in January 1880, he entered Cheltenham Proprietary College, in Gloucestershire, England, it having the purpose of educating the sons of gentlemen. There he was noted as an outstanding amateur in XV (rugby) football,http://www.cheltenhamcollege.org/history-and-archives Cheltenham College Register, 1841–1889 Cheltenham Proprietary College, London Covent Garden 1890 8 November 2015 coming out in April 1884, his interest in excellence in sport remained with him, in life, as he was later absorbed as Captain of the Abegweit Football Club, a lead organizer of local amateur athletics, and of golf, in Charlottetown.BFBC 1906 572 Studying to become a barrister, called to the bar in 1895, as the junior, he joined the established practice of two future premiers, Peters and Peters, eventually becoming a partner. When not engaged in legal matters, or managing his father's interests, he stood as a director in both the Charlottetown Steam Company and the Telephone Company, and as secretary of Charlottetown Light and Power.BFBC 1906 573 In April 1910, as one of three founding shareholders, he joined in the coming together of the new Maritime Telegraph & Telephone Company Limited and soon saw to its purchase of a noted interest in the Telephone Company of Prince Edward Island (1885) in June 1910.http://ns1758.ca/tele/teleph01.html Maritime Telegraph & Telephone Company Limited 1919 – 1999: Historical Notes dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110716092535/http://ns1758.ca/tele/teleph01.html 16 July 2011 dmy 8 November 2015http://www.islandregister.com/phones/phones.html The History of the Telephone on Prince Edward Island 8 November 2015 Like many established gentlemen of Charlottetown, he took up soldiering with the PEI militia, serving for 14 years with 'L' Squadron, Canadian (PEI) Mounted Rifles (from 1901), becoming its Second-in-Command, as it became 36th Regiment, PEI Light Horse (1914).Ings 2013 2–3 As mobilization of a Maritimes recruited mounted unit took place, a Major, 49 years old, he volunteered to be second-in-command of the 6th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles.PEIG 1916 20–120 Enrolling on 7 June 1915, arriving in England in July 1915, he served with his unit, in France from October 1915 to January 1916.https://archive.org/stream/CEF_6thCMR_1915#page/n1/mode/1up 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles Regiment, Nominal Roll 1915 – Canadian Expeditionary Force 17 July 1915 Minister of Militia and Defence 8 November 2015 The 6th CMR, mobilized at Amherst, NS, in March 1915, serving as mounted infantry, was broken up, it being dismounted and its remaining Islanders dispersed or absorbed by the newly designated CEF 4th (CMR) and 5th (CMR) Battalions, in January 1916.http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.012-e.pdf 6th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles 37 8 November 2015 Having returned to Canada and again enrolling, the 105th Battalion en route to Halifax, on promotion, Lt-Col Ings was appointed its commanding officer, on 15 July 1916.http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/105th%20Battalion%20?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_decade_s%3A%221940%22&f[1]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221944%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 28 November 1944 3 11 November 2015Ings 2013 1–3 Taking the Battalion to England, aggressively 'contesting' its reductions in strength, he remained with it until 22 January 1917, when he moved with its remaining Islanders to the 104th (NB) Battalion.http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/105th%20Battalion%20?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_decade_s%3A%221910%22&f[1]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221916%22&f[2]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22October%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 28 October 1916 15 11 November 2015 Through continued training and multiple re-designations, he commanded the 104th Battalion until 2 March 1918. His second CEF battalion command, again not seeing action in France or Flanders, remained idled in England.https://archive.org/stream/OverTheTopTheCanadianInfantryInTheFirstWorldWar/OverTheTop_djvu.txt Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War Meek, John F. Orangeville, ON 1971 94 8 November 2015 Returning to the Island, his war carried on, as he lost a son, John Walter Ings, on 18 September 1918, then serving as a Lieutenant with 56th Field Company, Royal Engineers.http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/267210 Canadian Virtual War Memorial, John Walter Ings, Lieutenant 8 November 2015 Settled for a short time, having returned to Ings House, at Dundas Esplanade, in 1919, he sold it to the Navy League of Canada, for their use as a Sailors Home.https://sailstrait.wordpress.com/tag/ings-house/ Tag Archives: Ings House 31 July 2015 8 November 2015 Widowed in 1937, seven years later he died at age 78, having come to leave the Island, on 23 November 1944, in Winnipeg, MB. After a service at St Paul's Church, he was buried in Sherwood Cemetery, beside his wife, at Charlottetown, PE.http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/Col%20A.E.%20Ings%20?type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221937%22&f[1]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22March%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 13 March 1937 14 11 November 2015http://islandnewspapers.ca/islandora/search/A.E.%20Ings%20?page=1&type=dismax&f[0]=PARENT_decade_s%3A%221940%22&f[1]=PARENT_year_s%3A%221944%22&f[2]=PARENT_month_s%3A%22November%22 The Charlottetown Guardian 24 November 1944 9 11 November 2015 See also Canada Canadian Forces History of the Canadian Army Military history of Canada References Footnotes Works cited BFBC 1906 https://islandlives.ca/islandora/object/ilives%3A191241 Past and Present of Prince Edward Island Charlottetown B. F. Bowen and Company 1906 9 November 2015 CMC 1928 http://www.historicmapworks.com/Atlas/CA/4/ Atlas of Province of Prince Edward Island, Canada and The World Cummins Map Co. Toronto, ON. 1928 15 November 2015 https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=488271 Personnel file Soldiers of the First World War: 1914–1918 Library and Archives Canada Ings Albert Ernest 23 August 2013 8 November 2015 http://vre2.upei.ca/islandmagazine/fedora/repository/vre%3Aislemag-batch2-762/OBJ The 105th – The Rise and Fall of the Island's Battalion O'Connor Ryan Island Magazine 60 Fall–Winter 2006 Prince Edward Island Museum 3 March 2015 PEIG 1916 https://islandlives.ca/islandora/object/ilives%3A208215 Year Book: Province of Prince Edward Island 1915 Prince Edward Island Government Charlottetown, PEI 1916 16 October 2015 Barbara Wilson https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.022-e.pdf Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Infantry Battalions Library and Archives Canada 3 March 2015 Category:Military units and formations established in 1915 Category:1915 establishments in Prince Edward Island Category:Canadian organizations established in 1915 Category:Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1917 Category:Organizations based in Charlottetown Category:1917 disestablishments in Canada Category:Prince Edward Island Regiment