The 91st Overseas Battalion
In the World War I Room, the Museum tells the story of this
conflict and the part Elgin County residents played.
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.
Why Regiments Were Split
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.
Where the 91st Saw Action
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 courageous
service were awarded to members of the 91st Battalion. For more on
the 91st Battalion see the Elgin Regiment page.