18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF

18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF
18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF
Active	7 November 1914 - 15 September 1920
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Role	Infantry
Size	Battalion
Engagements	First World War

The 18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War.^[1]^[2]

History

The battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 April 1915. It disembarked in France on 15 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^[3]

The 18th Battalion recruited and was mobilized in London, Ontario.^[4]

The 18th Battalion had five Officers Commanding:

Lt.-Col. R.G.E Leckie, 1914 – 18 April 1915
Lt.-Col. E.W.S. Wigle, 18 April 1915 – 8 July 1916
Lt.-Col. H.L. Milligan, DSO, 8 July 1916 – 9 October 1916
Lt.-Col. G.F. Morrison, DSO, 9 October 1916 – 19 April 1917
Lt.-Col. L.E. Jones, CMG, DSO, 19 April 1917 -Demobilization^[4]

Victoria Cross

One member of the 18th Battalion, Lance-Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 9 April 1917 during the assault on Vimy Ridge.^[4]

Perpetuations

The 18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF, is perpetuated by The Essex and Kent Scottish^[3]

Battle Honours

The 18th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:

References

^ "CEF Infantry Battalions" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b "18th Battalion, CEF". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
^ ^a ^b Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109