16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF

Military unit during WWI (1914–1920) January 2023 April 2022 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF 16 Bn CEF.jpg Distinguishing patch 1914–1920 Canada Canadian Expeditionary Force Infantry 3rd Brigade, CEF Ypres, 1915, '17 Gravenstafel St Julien Festubert, 1915 Mount Sorrel Somme, 1916 Pozières Theipval Ancre Heights Arras, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917, '18 Hill 70 Passchendaele Amiens Drocourt–Quéant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Pursuit to Mons France and Flanders, 1915-18 1920 LCol Cyrus Wesley Peck The 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. It was organized at Valcartier on 2 September 1914 and was composed of recruits from the 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada, the 72nd Regiment "Seaforth Highlanders of Canada", and the 50th Regiment "Highlanders".CEF Infantry Battalions Library and Archives Canada https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Documents/infantry%20battalions.pdf16th Battalion, CEF https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/regiments/cef/016battalion.htm 2022-02-20 www.canadiansoldiers.comMark Zuehlke Brave battalion: the remarkable saga of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) in the First World War https://books.google.com/books?id=JAIeLDcq2IAC&pg=PP1 27 November 2011 28 August 2008 John Wiley and Sons 978-0-470-15416-8 1– History The 16th Battalion served in the 3rd Canadian Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. Since its early beginnings, the battalion had a high standard of conduct on the battlefield and was commanded by outstanding leaders. One such was Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, KCMG, who rose to command the Canadian Corps during the Great War. Currie was a master tactician whose skills led the Canadians to victory at Vimy Ridge and Amiens. Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Wesley Peck commanded the battalion for many months in the trenches. Four members of the 16th Battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross: Piper James Cleland Richardson, Private William Johnstone Milne,Urquhart Hugh MacIntyre https://books.google.com/books?id=JgsaAQAAMAAJ The History of the 16th Battalion (the Canadian Scottish) Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1919 Macmillan Company of Canada, Limited 1932 214 Lance-Corporal William Henry Metcalf, and Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Peck. Piper James Richardson was just 18 years old when he enlisted, and was killed during the Battle of the Somme shortly after having played his company through No Man's Land. He disappeared in shellfire after going back to retrieve the bagpipes he laid aside to bring back a wounded comrade. thumb|Medals of a soldier in the battalion The battalion fought on the northern flank of the 3rd Brigade during the attack on Vimy Ridge. Several German positions survived the pre-attack artillery barrage and, though the 16th achieved its objectives, it paid a heavy price with 333 killed and wounded.Cook Tim Vimy 7 March 2017 Allen Lane 978-0735233164 thumb|left|The Conquerors by Eric Kennington; originally titled The Victims it was renamed after objections from the battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Cy Peck. The Canadian historian René Chartrand noted that despite the fact that black Canadians were only supposed to serve in construction units, one of the soldiers in the painting The Conquerors is a black man, suggesting that at least some black Canadians served as infantrymen in World War I.Chartrand, René The Canadian Corps in World I, London: Osprey, 2007 page 38. The battalion returned to England on 27 March 1919, disembarked in Canada on 4 May 1919, was demobilized on 8 May 1919, and was disbanded by General Order 149 of 15 September 1920. Perpetuations thumb|right|Canadian Scottish advancing near Inchy during the Battle of the Canal du Nord, 27 September 1918 The 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF is perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's).Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments. Battle honours Ypres, 1915, '17 Gravenstafel St Julien Festubert, 1915 Mount Sorrel Somme, 1916 Pozières Theipval Ancre Heights Arras, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917, '18 Hill 70 Passchendaele Amiens Drocourt–Quéant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Pursuit to Mons France and Flanders, 1915-18 See also Canada List of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary Force References External links Canadian Scottish Regiment Collection at University of Victoria, Special Collections Category:Military units and formations established in 1914 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1920 016 Category:Canadian organizations established in 1914 Category:Military units and formations of Quebec Category:Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)