Osprey, Men-at-Arms #439 The Canadian Corps in World War I (2007) OCR 8.12

SAVE OFFLINE

The Canadian Corps in World War I

Dedication

Flfst pubUshed in Great Bntaln in 2007 by Osprey Publishing Midland House. West Way. Solley. O.f",d 0X2 OPH. UK 443 Park Avenue Soulh. New Yorll. NY 100\6. USA Ema~.

To the memory of my greal-uncle, Albert Vermelle. 22e balaillon canadien-franqais. kOled in action 6 August 1916. Lost but never lorgotten.

InfoOospreypubllshlng.com

C 2007 Osprey Publlshlng ltd. All nghts resOlVed. Apart from any lair deabng I", Iho purpose of prIvate study.

Author's note

research. cnhClSm or rovlew. as petmllled under the Copynghl DeSIgns and Patenls Act. 1988. no part 01 thIS pubhcauon may be reproduced. stoted 111 a relneval system, or Iransmllted In any fOfTll '" by any means. electronic. eleclncal. chemical, mechanlcal. optical. photocopylOg. recording", othel\'/IS", wlthoulthe pr/O< wnlten parmisslOll 01 the copylight owner. Enqultres should be addressed 10 the Publishers. ISBN 978 184603 186 1 EdItOr. Martin Windrow

This slim volume allempts to provide a necessarily very concise account of the background. organization. uniforms. arms and eqUipment of the Canadian Corps on the Western Front. with brief additional notes on other Canadian land. sea and air forces. A list of units is Included. but in the space available it IS impossible 10 list lheir actions; that 'nformation can be lound in other works. There exist masses of data on this topic. and much thaI Is contained herein comes from manuscript sources; the bibliography selecls a lew. but by no means all of the published sources used.

Page illYOUls by Alan Hamp

The author wishes to e.press his gratitude to Francis Back. the late Joseph H.Harper. Clive Law, Charles Taylor, the staff at National Defence's Dlreclorate of History and Heritage. and Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. Unless otherwise credited, all Illustrations are from lhe aulhor's photographs.

Typeser In Heillel ca Nooe and ITC Now Baskervlne Inde. by Glyn SUlclifle Originated by PPS Grasmere. leed•• UK Prlnled In China through World Prinlltd.

07 08 09 10 t t

10 g 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

A CIP catalOgue record f", Ihls book Is available from the Bnl,.h Ubrary

Artist's note FOR A CATALOGUE OF AlL BOOKS PUBUSHEO BY OSPREY MIUTARY AND AVIATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Readers may care to noIe that the original pa ntings from which the colour plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whalsoever is relained by the PUblishers. All enquiries should be addressed to:

North America: Osprey Direct, c/o Random House Distribution Cenler 400 Hahn Road. Wastminster MD 21157 Email: InloOo.preydlreclcom

www.gerryembleton.com

All olher regions:

The Publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this mailer.

Osprey Direcl. UK. PO Bo. 140, Welllngborough. Northanls. NNB 2FA, UK Email: InfoOo.preydimclco.uk Buy online at www.ospreypubllshing.com

TITLE PAGE Canadian artillery In action, In a 1918 painting by Kenneth Forbes. During the

Canadian World War I Statistics

Great War the RCA grew from a few batteries to large artillery groups for all five divisions, with some 20 (mostly field) brigades and 12 siege batteries, served by nearly 44,000 men, of whom 2,565 were killed. Canadian gunners quickly became proficient and Innovative In the development of artillery barrage tactics. By 1918 eight Canadian sIege batteries were equipped with the 61n howitzer shown herej it could fire a 100lb (45kg) shell to a distance of 9,500 yards (5.4 miles, 8.7km). (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

Estimated 1914 population; Regular army strength In 1914: Total males enlisted in Canadian Expeditionary Force: Of Which. served overseas: MIlitary nurSing sisters In CEF Of which. served overseas: Total enlisted In CEF: Of which. killed or misslng: Wounded; Prisoners of war:

7.870,000 3,110 616.557 421.510 2.854 2.411 619.636 58.990 149.710 2.820

Royal CanadJan Navy strength 1I11914: 350 RCN strength 101918: 5.500 RCN killed or 1TlISS1ng: 150

Total enlisted in Canadian services: 628.462 CanadianS In Bntish aIr services; c.23.000 Of which, killed or missing; 1.563 Canadians in the British Royal Navy: c.3,000 Of WhICh. killed or missing: c.300 Total Canadians killed or m sslng (from Book of Remembrance): National debt 1914; National debt 1919: Ne moundland population: Newfoundlanders enlisted: 01 which. killed or missing:

66.655

$544.000.000 $2,500.000,000 230.000 12.425 1.602

THE CANAD AN CORPS IN WORLD WAR I

Regulars of the Royal Canadian Regt in full dress, c,1913 - from their medals, some are veterans of the Boer War (1900-02). They wear white helmets with scarlet puggaree, brass fittings and regimental badge; scarlet tunics with dark blue collar, cuffs and shoulder straps, white piping and chevrons, brass buttons and collar badges; dark blue trousers with a narrow scarlet stripe. and low black boots, with the brown leather belt of the M1899 Oliver equipment, and Ross rifles. (Private collection)

INTRODUCTION 2()Lh CENT RY DAWNEI, ,ana ta was Cl bOOlllil g OunLr in rull develupmellL, £1 ormou on Lh mal iL had onl a fell' million inhabiLilnt sl read froll the AthlllLic to Lhe Pa ilic, Ill~arl all f them :eLLlc I wiLhin th rough I , 200 mil . ( .30 kill) or 1110:L 'asil r habitable unlry north of Lhe on tin ~I L-wid bord ~r wiLh its onl, ncighbour the nitc I tales or mcri a. in IS r the U"aIlScOllLincntal rail",a r link" had opened th . WesL Tn prairic' to. ulem I1L and hundr d' 01" Lhousal 1 or immigrants had pOLlr d in ver r I ar' I ' Ih - earl, 1~1O() ciLi s, L wn rarm. all I ranch s werc nllt hrooming I til' 'n Lake upcrinr, nd Ih anadian Ro kics. atLlral I' .Ources W re being xploil·d 'ver h re, and 'iz', hi indusLri : had b -en rounded 'Il Monu"ea] and TornillO, the larg 'L ciLi s. P liLi alii, m SL p ople olllsi I or anada believed Lhat iL was a BriLish 'colony'; in [acl, it had aLlained 'elf-governmcnL lind I' lh BrilL'll rown in (' the middle of the 19th llLur I with iL~ own [eclera! padial lent. B) I D05 th> COlIl1U' r had nin province', ach, iLh extensi\ it l rnaljLlrisdiclions and Lheir own legislatur .; apart I"rom thi' regional aspect, inslitlltions were paLLerned after thos' in Britain. Foreign diploma" was Lh> one area that anada did nUL conlrol' thi' was lIalLlrally lel"l t Ih nil. d I ingdom, the 'moLiler coulllry' LO man r .anaclian. anacla's diplomalic d aling I\~th lhe nil cI laLes mostl), n rn d mUlllal lmd , and it was (and l' mains) hard to ["ind mol' cordial l' lati ns b LI n LWO 0\' I' ign nalions. •anacla, like ilS sOllthern n >ighbour was (and I' mains) a ountr I shal ed b' great wav s of immigration. In l1l 19th nlllr)' mo t immigrams came ("rom lh British [sl " join d [I' n Lh turn 01" the 20th ntur' by man' from Lh krain, rmany and Russia; th se m II llic I in the Prairie'. Between 189 I and 191] alone the populaLioll rose b, IIcarl ' three million, l x ced s ven milli n . uls. Th diversit r of anada's population ha I a l"unciamenLal impact on ils ntribuLion LO lh· Grcat V\ ar; b 'neath Lh' veneer o[ .anada'· STilE

3

The 90Ul CEF Bn (Winnipeg Rifles) on a route march in Canada during the late summer of 1914. All wear the khaki service dress; this was typical of the city units of the Volunteer Mllilla at that time, though many rural units still had not received it. In the summer heat some men wear only shirts. Most have the rigid Canadian field service cap, but some can be seen to wear Wolseley pattern pith helmets. All carry the Ross rifle. (Private collection)

11lario, had lurll d oul lar I' an engin ring 4

cOIl'j lC'd 0111,

or a r II'

A member of the Volunteer Aid Detachments (VAD), trained in nursing care by the Order of 5t John. The uniform was a grey single-breasted dress with detachable white cuffs and collar, a white apron and small white cap; note the black-andwhite armband of the Order. The VADs worked In Canadian and, from 1916, overseaS hospitals, In England, France, Italy, Greece and Egypt; by November 1918 the Order had some 400 members from Canada and Newfoundland serving overseas. The Germans twice bombed the Canadian Order's large hospital at Etaples, France, in May 1918, destroying ten wards and killing a nurse, several patients and orderlies and wounding many others, (Private collection)

senior adlllinisLnH rs. B for' t\\IgwiI I~)I-I, few Canadian orri r had ollll1lallded anYllting III I' lhan a few regular 01111 ani ., 'Ind (lnl' 12 Itad CO III pi I I lit Brill h i\rm(s slarr course at Caml ed . in England, [n 'j ltc (r "linda" larg Fr n h-. pe'~king pOlulaLion. English was Ih onl\, language' I' 'd in Ihe ann d service" Ind' d. rOllLh' I"rolll 'I' nch Callad,l's hOll1groi if' wishing to nler lhe Royal i\!ilil,uT Colleg weI' I' q\lired La be llm;n[ in English - Lhen a raLher UnCOlll1l10n a c I "lplishll1 nt, .. nel a rC'quircn III lhaL al1lollllled 10 ('xclllsioli. For Cal a lians aura Icd to !Hililar . affair,. the VOllillteCI' i\!ilitia orli iall' ~iv n til I( ngll -II i:ling namc of 'N n-PcnmlllenI \cti,' MiliLi.· - wa.' 11101' il 1"1" Ling an I. wilh .. bOlil 75,000 om er and III n in 191 , il \\la, Lh' onl' 'iz .. bl for c Ih' OllnLr' might Lilli upun in all cmergenc', It had abulIl 110 ingle-batlalion inf'lI11r' regimenl:. ~5 regimellL 01" 'aval I' '. '10 baucrics and J':- cUlIlpanic 01" an iller " and varioll, 'uppon s n~ > , Il was Elirly \\"cll organiz' I. and iLS III n w I' Sill P Is('d t coml1t'I.' I ria's 01" lraining ;11 th ir area', militia amp (V 1")' 'c:tr, ~Iililiam n gOI a 'mall 'drill' pay; II }' W re i.sued with I a.i (and on n slill carl l) uniform, arlll and qllipm III and mighl v n hal' . ,I ees lO an armour' I llildin , Rliralul1ilS di t not far a, II' II as orp. in I ig iri ',,11'1 i h tended to g t the cream of til 'wailable rf'SOllr S IIHlIlk to ollle 01" lheir IIsuall ' wealth, and innuenlial ,eni r officers. Indeed, politic- were a (;Ictor in lh (mmi,sion,granl c11O: niornrfi rs;th "ew reuuallysucc :sful busillC's.m n in h ir omnllmil~', looking for lhe.o ial prf'.tig Ihal Ih 'up rb pI' -ll 14 om'r" filii dr s. uniform, cI"l'~inly lent th m, Tn In li apart from i~ annual Irainiu , Lhe only lime a militia mil was lik 1)' t I '1II'd n a u," dUly lI'a" in 'Aid l .iviJ POll' 1", Ill( sll)' 10 pUl tOll'n 'lrik's at h 'lori", h rc was no obligalion 10 "olllni ('I' into Ihe Illililia anrl 1110 I }'oung III n did nol. lill, Ih re were lllan~' new CI\'alr' unit. in Lh Irairi provin . ,joining an all' a \' I"p labl numb I' f I' lunt 1" I.ell'h I' - X pl in Ih I orulo IS provin ll'b her th \'iabl unil w r III 'LJy IIUI \e up of . n Ii 'h- an I OlS- :anadians. Wilh a I" w well-app inl d Fr n -h- ana lian I' 'gim nl in r-.lunll"("al and u'be ity, an I a h L f skel ton nlr;ll r im nLS, Th' image of a onlrolling liqu' or Illario officer', rlllllour d to b I igot cI Prot stanl', did nOl mak III institution 'peciall' aLlractivc [0 Francol h 11 P LClllial I' nih.. For Lho (' wh ncvcnhc1 'S, wish cI 10 march and drill lhere wa' .~ Fr 11 'h-'I c :anadian orps, ,,\ ell known to the erman' by n w a 'lit· as 'ault lroop', the corps wa' 'hifted to its jUl11pin r-olT po 'ilion' in "crec)'. 'neral urri recall d: 'Th 'Inadian 'orps was In ved down to f 1'111 til' 'P arh ad lha alla k. Th II' op' n lh righl and on Lh I II' r rd r d LO tak th ir lim fro III , an I mak til ir ad m " a ording to til wi Il' f, Ih anadian l'( S.' On 8 Augu't th aniller)' 01 'ned ul ,m r than 00 Bri i 'h tan k ' lumb 'red forward, and the infantr . advanc d: Lh surprise wa' 'omplet , an I th C 'ntnn lin> ollap ed il whaL Lud ndorrr hims If lat r d ril ed as Ih' 'bla k da' )1' th ~ 'rtnan Arm)", POI' LII' first tim 'inee 191 Lh 'truggle b am a war 111 \ cmenL, and the Canadian .orps prov 'C! a I pt at mavin J' f~I't in :1 iL of bcin heavil)' IULnulllbcrcd, The 1 clivi'ion of the Third Ann' all I Lh' :atl'ldian orp' fa 'd 33 rman divi"ions, while Ih> Furth Arlll' s 16 clivi, ion' fa d an th'r ~., ivlor British livi ions II' 're c mlllill d whil Ih' Fr>neh and Am ri ans laull h d alia k t k P th C rmallS upi cl rllrLh I' lllh, Th anadian orp

r

n

The Vimy Ridge bombardment, 20 March-9 April 1917; a 4,5in howitzer is shown in this detail from a 1919 painting by Richard Jack. Even in the chilling cold and rain the tiring work of serving guns at high rates of fire made men so hot that many worked In shirtsleeves or stripped to the waist. Success at Vi my owed as much to meticulous preparation as to courage in the infantry assault. Many miles of rail tracks, water pipelines and telephone cables were installed, and tunnels were dug that allowed troops to come forward under cover. For two weeks some 983 guns hammered the ridge, and for the first time thorough observation and the reporting of intelligence allowed the Canadians to locate and knock out some 80 per cent of the German batteries before the assault. (Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

or

21

lh n La 'k'c1 b' Haig wilh pier ina Lhe bup Lin, whi h wa Brilish; from then on, it did n t malleI's milch ifil 111' wer-' c1l1adian 01' British so long a. the' got 1 th 111 n '\Vift1,. Be~ re Ih - war anadiHn'lrtill 1" Inel r--armed \liLh th n '\I' Brilish I -pdr g"n., whi h b '1111 Lh mainsta of Lh ,EF fi 'leI "rlill I' ': th' older 12-pelr gUll, w I' th' main arLill'r ' u'aining w apon in ell ·Ida. During Ih I' al \t\ar, :anaelian orelnan II' nl From a ~ \ dozen moelern Ii lei guns (first nrc I at lh 11 m' on 2 t"rch 191!1 • 10 lh usan I: ['gun: fall' rts. B' th laL 1'1 an fLh war a h ana lian Ii III rig-ad had Lhree I -pdr ball ri - and on 4,-in howitz r I all ry. TIle h lil , 4 milli n hell a e and 14 million pound' of xpJo-iv , >

or

An original armoured car of the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Bde, c,191B. This unitoriginally the 1st Automobile MG Bde, raised in 1914 - was the brainchild of Maj Raymond Brutinel, an emigrant from France who had become a Canadian millionaire. It initially had nine officers and 114 men, to man eight armoured cars (paid for by a group of patriotic citizens), armed with two Colt 'potato-digger' machine guns; this was the first motorized MG unit raised In the British Empire, The unit eventually had 20 of these MG carriers. built by Autocar of Ardmore, PA, USA; they served in France until 191B. The vehicle shown here, armed with the later Vickers MGs, had a 2-ton chassis. with 5mm front and 3mm rear armour; powered by a 22hp engine, It could reach a maximum of 25mph (40km/h) on roads. On the front of the olive-green hull note the brigade marking (top left), above a dark red arrow (the usual MG symbol) and a bright red bar on a white panel, together with a tactical sign and vehicle letter in white. The arrow and bar were also painted on the front 01 the men's steel helmets, (Canadian War Museum. Ottawa)

4

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Th Hi'lOI' and Helita Oir 'IOl