5th BATTALION C.E.F.
The 1st Battalion, Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG) has the great
honour of perpetuating the 5th Battalion C.E.F. The Battle Honours carried on its Colours were won by that great battalion of the First World War. Here follows a very condensed account of that famous battalion.
All of Canada's battalions of the First World War had numerical titles. Among these was the 5th Bn. C.E.F. It was to this battalion that the Saskatoon militia unit, the 105th Regiment "Fusiliers" (Saskatoon) made its largest contribution. After training at Valcartier, the battalion embarked on the S.S. Lapland at Quebec and sailed
with the convoy of thirty transports with naval escort from Gaspe on 3rd October 1914. It arrived at Plymouth on the 14th October and disembarked at Devonmouth on the 20th October. The winter
of 1914-15 was spent in training on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, where the Canadian Division (later the 1st Canadian Division) was organized.
On the 10th of February 1915, the Battalion embarked on the S.S. Lake Michigan at Avonmouth, and, four days later disembarked at St. Nazaire, France. From the date of arrival until the Armistice
11th November, 1918, the Battalion saw prolonged and arduous service. This service is best indicated by the Battle Honours which were awarded after the war. These were:
"YPRES, 1915-17"- "GRAVENSTAFEL"- ST. JULIEN" -
"FESTUBERT, 1915" -"MOUNT SORREL55 - "SOMME, 1916"
"THIEPVAL" - "ANCRE HEIGHTS" - "ARRAS, 1917-18" -
"VIMY, 1917"- "ARLEUX" - HILL 70" - "PASSCHENDAELE" - "AMIENS" - "SCARPE, 1918' - DROCOURT-QUEANT" - "HINDENBURG LINE" - "CANAL DU NORD" -"PURSUIT TO MONS" - "FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18"
During this period 5,818 other ranks passed through the Battalion.
Battle casualties were very heavy and were:
Killed, including died of wounds 1297
Wounded or gassed 3221
Total 4518
The following table of honours and awards to personnel of the
Battalion speak highly of their courage and devotion to duty
Victoria Cross 1
Companion of the Order of the Bath 3
Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George 4
Distinguished Service Order 25
Military Cross 46
Distinguished Conduct Medal 34
Military Medal 233
Meritorious Service Medal 12
Mentioned in Dispatches 92
Names brought to notice of Secretary of State for War 4
FOREIGN DECORATIONS
FRENCH
Legion d'Honneur-Chevalier 1
Legion d'Honneur-Officier 2
Medaille d'Honneur 1
Croix de Guerre 4
BELGIAN
Croix de Guerre 5
RUSSIAN
Medal of St. George-3rd Class 1
Medal of St. George-2nd Class 1
Medal of St. George-4th Class 1
Cross of St. George-4th Class 2
Commanding officers of the Battalion during the First Great War were:
Lt.-Col. G. S. Tuxford, C.M.G. (later Br.-Gen., C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O., G.O.S 3 Cdn. Inf. Bde.)
Lt.-Col. H. M. Dyer, D.S.O. (later Br.-Gen. C.B. C.M.G., D.S.O.,
G.O.S. 7 Cdn. Inf. Bde.)
Lt.-Col. L. P. O. Tudor, D.S.O.
After the Armistice the Battalion marched to Germany, and then on 15th March, 1919, embarked at Havre for England, arriving at Weymouth the following day. On 10th April, the Battalion em-
barked on the S.S. Carmania at Liverpool and eight days later disembarked at Halifax, N.S. Demobilization of the 5th Bn. was carried out at Regina on the 24th of April, 1919. The Colours of the 5th Bn. are deposited in Christ Church, Saskatoon.
honour of perpetuating the 5th Battalion C.E.F. The Battle Honours carried on its Colours were won by that great battalion of the First World War. Here follows a very condensed account of that famous battalion.
All of Canada's battalions of the First World War had numerical titles. Among these was the 5th Bn. C.E.F. It was to this battalion that the Saskatoon militia unit, the 105th Regiment "Fusiliers" (Saskatoon) made its largest contribution. After training at Valcartier, the battalion embarked on the S.S. Lapland at Quebec and sailed
with the convoy of thirty transports with naval escort from Gaspe on 3rd October 1914. It arrived at Plymouth on the 14th October and disembarked at Devonmouth on the 20th October. The winter
of 1914-15 was spent in training on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, where the Canadian Division (later the 1st Canadian Division) was organized.
On the 10th of February 1915, the Battalion embarked on the S.S. Lake Michigan at Avonmouth, and, four days later disembarked at St. Nazaire, France. From the date of arrival until the Armistice
11th November, 1918, the Battalion saw prolonged and arduous service. This service is best indicated by the Battle Honours which were awarded after the war. These were:
"YPRES, 1915-17"- "GRAVENSTAFEL"- ST. JULIEN" -
"FESTUBERT, 1915" -"MOUNT SORREL55 - "SOMME, 1916"
"THIEPVAL" - "ANCRE HEIGHTS" - "ARRAS, 1917-18" -
"VIMY, 1917"- "ARLEUX" - HILL 70" - "PASSCHENDAELE" - "AMIENS" - "SCARPE, 1918' - DROCOURT-QUEANT" - "HINDENBURG LINE" - "CANAL DU NORD" -"PURSUIT TO MONS" - "FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18"
During this period 5,818 other ranks passed through the Battalion.
Battle casualties were very heavy and were:
Killed, including died of wounds 1297
Wounded or gassed 3221
Total 4518
The following table of honours and awards to personnel of the
Battalion speak highly of their courage and devotion to duty
Victoria Cross 1
Companion of the Order of the Bath 3
Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George 4
Distinguished Service Order 25
Military Cross 46
Distinguished Conduct Medal 34
Military Medal 233
Meritorious Service Medal 12
Mentioned in Dispatches 92
Names brought to notice of Secretary of State for War 4
FOREIGN DECORATIONS
FRENCH
Legion d'Honneur-Chevalier 1
Legion d'Honneur-Officier 2
Medaille d'Honneur 1
Croix de Guerre 4
BELGIAN
Croix de Guerre 5
RUSSIAN
Medal of St. George-3rd Class 1
Medal of St. George-2nd Class 1
Medal of St. George-4th Class 1
Cross of St. George-4th Class 2
Commanding officers of the Battalion during the First Great War were:
Lt.-Col. G. S. Tuxford, C.M.G. (later Br.-Gen., C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O., G.O.S 3 Cdn. Inf. Bde.)
Lt.-Col. H. M. Dyer, D.S.O. (later Br.-Gen. C.B. C.M.G., D.S.O.,
G.O.S. 7 Cdn. Inf. Bde.)
Lt.-Col. L. P. O. Tudor, D.S.O.
After the Armistice the Battalion marched to Germany, and then on 15th March, 1919, embarked at Havre for England, arriving at Weymouth the following day. On 10th April, the Battalion em-
barked on the S.S. Carmania at Liverpool and eight days later disembarked at Halifax, N.S. Demobilization of the 5th Bn. was carried out at Regina on the 24th of April, 1919. The Colours of the 5th Bn. are deposited in Christ Church, Saskatoon.
