NARHFThe 91st Overseas Battalion
In the World War I Room, the Museum tells the story of this conflict and the part Elgin County residents played. The 91stBattalion exhibit begins the story.
Like most areas in Canada, Elgin County raised its own overseas battalion. The 91st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, was formed in October, 1915, under command of Lt. Col. W. J. Green, a veteran of the Boer War. Men from Elgin were quick to volunteer for active duty as soon as World War I began on August 8, 1914, with 48 signing up in the first ninety minutes.
In June of 1916, the 91st Battalion left St. Thomas bound for England. On arrival, the men of the 91st were split up to provide reinforcements for more than 23 other battalions already in France. This action was a common practice in 1916, and was not an unfavourable reflection on the value of the battalion. Entire Counties had been depleted of manpower when their battalions were decimated in battle, and so it became standard policy for county regiments to be divided among several units to minimize disasters of this kind. Two hundred men were sent to the 18th Battalion and 256 men to the 33rd Battalion. Over the course of the war, more than 2,400 men from Elgin would volunteer for active service.
Members of the 91st Battalion saw action in all of the great and bloody conflicts in which Canadian troops were involved - the Somme, Arras, Passchendaele, Ypres, St. Elois, Vimy Ridge, and Amiens. Five officers and 167 men of other ranks were killed in action or died in service. Fifty-eight decorations for valour were awarded to members of the 91st Battalion. For more on the 91st Battalion see the Elgin Regiment page for more information.
Back to The Hall of Honour Forward to E.W. Sifton V.C. Exhibit