218th Battalion, CEF
Encyclopedia
The 218th Battalion, CEF, was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
during the First World War. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in that city. After sailing to England in February 1917, the battalion was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops. The 218th Battalion, CEF, had one officer commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel J. K. "Peace River Jim" Cornwall.
On October 11, 1916, soldiers from the 218th Battalion led an effort to overcome the local police in Calgary
. "The city virtually is in the hands of the soldier mob." Sergeant Morris "Two Gun" Cohen
was implicated as a leader of the events during a series of trials held in the city; however, he was acquitted after successfully defending himself in court.
On February 8, 1917, after the unit was formally re-formed, soldiers from the former battalion rioted in Calgary after being ordered to depart immediately for Europe. They attacked 14 stores, restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
The King's and Regimental Colours of the 218th Battalion were deposited in All Saints' Pro-Cathedral but were destroyed in a fire in 1919. In 1921, replicas of the colours were laid up in the rotunda of the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton.
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
during the First World War. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in that city. After sailing to England in February 1917, the battalion was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops. The 218th Battalion, CEF, had one officer commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel J. K. "Peace River Jim" Cornwall.
On October 11, 1916, soldiers from the 218th Battalion led an effort to overcome the local police in Calgary
Calgary Police Service
Calgary Police Service, formed in 1885, is the municipal police force for the City of Calgary, Alberta.- Organization :Founded in 1885, the current head of the CPS is Chief Rick Hanson...
. "The city virtually is in the hands of the soldier mob." Sergeant Morris "Two Gun" Cohen
Morris Cohen (adventurer)
Morris Abraham "Two-Gun" Cohen was a British mercenary of Jewish origin who became aide-de-camp to the Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen and a major-general in the Chinese army.-Early years:...
was implicated as a leader of the events during a series of trials held in the city; however, he was acquitted after successfully defending himself in court.
On February 8, 1917, after the unit was formally re-formed, soldiers from the former battalion rioted in Calgary after being ordered to depart immediately for Europe. They attacked 14 stores, restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
The King's and Regimental Colours of the 218th Battalion were deposited in All Saints' Pro-Cathedral but were destroyed in a fire in 1919. In 1921, replicas of the colours were laid up in the rotunda of the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton.
See also
- List of riots and civil unrest in Calgary
- Andrew Shandro (politician), the first Ukrainian CanadianUkrainian CanadianA Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
to be elected to the Alberta Legislature, enlisted in the 218th Battalion in early 1917.