27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, CEF
Encyclopedia
The 27th City of Winnipeg
Battalion was the first independent battalion
to be raised in Manitoba
in the First World War. Officially it was not given a name and fell among the many nameless Canadian
battalions raised to conform with the new numbering system introduced by Col. Sam Hughes
, Canada’s defence minister
in 1914.
The battalion was raised as part of a response to the demand for fresh reinforcements early in 1915, as Canada struggled overseas with its single division. It became part of the 2nd Division
, 6th Infantry Brigade along with its sister 28th Battalion, 29th, and 31st Calgary Battalions. A common private of the 27th Battalion during the First World War could expect to earn between $1.00 and $1.10 a day, or around $30 a month.
The 27th Battalion, with the 2nd Division, arrived in France
in September, 1915, and met up with the 1st Division
by mid-month. Together these two divisions formed the Canadian Corps
and were led by General Alderson
. The Canadian Corps, including the 27th, would not participate in any major offensive for almost a full year, when the Battalion would receive its ‘baptism of fire
’ at the Battle of St. Eloi, 5 kilometres from Ypres
.
It was reported the officers of the 27th had not slept for over 100 hours, this was most apparent with the Commander, I.R. Snider, a veteran of the North-West Rebellion
of 1885 and the South African War, of the 27th Battalion who, during the battle of St. Eloi, stayed awake for 6 straight days trying to relieve the strain ‘on his beloved boys’. After the battle he broke down and cried, he was removed from command ‘being diagnosed with shell shock
’. The Battle of St. Eloi had claimed 40 of his men’s lives and wounded another 189.
The Somme
Valley became the new objective of the Canadian Corps. When the Canadians arrived in the Somme Valley the British had been fighting for 3 months and they had traded 250 000 men for 8 kilometres German trenches. On the opening day of the Somme offensive alone, July 1, 1916, 20 000 British, Canadian and Commonwealth
soldiers died and another 40 000 were wounded; it was the single heaviest day of casualties in history.
One of the most notable battles of Somme the 27th Battalion participated in was the Battle of Courcelette on September 15, 1916. This battle marked the first time in history tanks were used in warfare. However, all 6 tanks that used that day were knocked out; they were incredibly unreliable. The Canadians suffered around 7000 casualties during the battle which lasted until the 22nd of September. Despite all this the Canadians, more specifically the 27th, were successful as they were at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge
, September 26, 1916; in fact the Canadians did not lose a single battle in the First World War.
Battalions wanted to ensure they received the glory and credit for their captures. One way of doing this was marking the prisoners with the battalion's insignia or the unit’s designation. For example, at the Battle of Courcelette some of the men of the 27th had brought some green paint forward and marked the 250 prisoners they took with a rectangle and a circle above it as they sent back to the rear.
It was no surprise that Germans would rank the Canadian 1st and 2nd divisions among the top 8 deadliest and most dangerous divisions. The 2nd Division came overseas following the 1st Division and consequently had big expectations riding on them. At the Second Battle of Ypres
in the spring of 1915, only arriving on the battlefield a week before with little experience in warfare, the 1st Canadian Division
was the only Division that held its ground against the German’s gas attack. The British nor the French could hold their ground and had to fall back. It was largely due to the stubbornness of the Canadians that the Allies were able to repulse the attack.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
Battalion was the first independent battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
to be raised in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in the First World War. Officially it was not given a name and fell among the many nameless Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
battalions raised to conform with the new numbering system introduced by Col. Sam Hughes
Sam Hughes
For other people of the same name see Sam Hughes Sir Samuel Hughes, KCB, PC was the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during World War I...
, Canada’s defence minister
Minister of National Defence (Canada)
The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
in 1914.
The battalion was raised as part of a response to the demand for fresh reinforcements early in 1915, as Canada struggled overseas with its single division. It became part of the 2nd Division
2nd Canadian Division
The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:...
, 6th Infantry Brigade along with its sister 28th Battalion, 29th, and 31st Calgary Battalions. A common private of the 27th Battalion during the First World War could expect to earn between $1.00 and $1.10 a day, or around $30 a month.
The 27th Battalion, with the 2nd Division, arrived in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in September, 1915, and met up with the 1st Division
1st Canadian Division
Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,...
by mid-month. Together these two divisions formed the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
and were led by General Alderson
Edwin Alderson
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Alfred Hervey Alderson KCB was a senior British Army officer who served in several campaigns of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
. The Canadian Corps, including the 27th, would not participate in any major offensive for almost a full year, when the Battalion would receive its ‘baptism of fire
Baptism of Fire
Baptism of Fire is a 1943 documentary film starring Elisha Cook Jr. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature....
’ at the Battle of St. Eloi, 5 kilometres from Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
.
It was reported the officers of the 27th had not slept for over 100 hours, this was most apparent with the Commander, I.R. Snider, a veteran of the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885 and the South African War, of the 27th Battalion who, during the battle of St. Eloi, stayed awake for 6 straight days trying to relieve the strain ‘on his beloved boys’. After the battle he broke down and cried, he was removed from command ‘being diagnosed with shell shock
Shell Shock
Shell Shock, also known as 82nd Marines Attack was a 1964 film by B-movie director John Hayes. The film takes place in Italy during World War II, and tells the story of a sergeant with his group of soldiers....
’. The Battle of St. Eloi had claimed 40 of his men’s lives and wounded another 189.
The Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
Valley became the new objective of the Canadian Corps. When the Canadians arrived in the Somme Valley the British had been fighting for 3 months and they had traded 250 000 men for 8 kilometres German trenches. On the opening day of the Somme offensive alone, July 1, 1916, 20 000 British, Canadian and Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
soldiers died and another 40 000 were wounded; it was the single heaviest day of casualties in history.
One of the most notable battles of Somme the 27th Battalion participated in was the Battle of Courcelette on September 15, 1916. This battle marked the first time in history tanks were used in warfare. However, all 6 tanks that used that day were knocked out; they were incredibly unreliable. The Canadians suffered around 7000 casualties during the battle which lasted until the 22nd of September. Despite all this the Canadians, more specifically the 27th, were successful as they were at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge
Battle of Thiepval Ridge
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme and was designed to benefit from British Fourth Army's Battle of Morval by starting 24 hours afterwards...
, September 26, 1916; in fact the Canadians did not lose a single battle in the First World War.
Battalions wanted to ensure they received the glory and credit for their captures. One way of doing this was marking the prisoners with the battalion's insignia or the unit’s designation. For example, at the Battle of Courcelette some of the men of the 27th had brought some green paint forward and marked the 250 prisoners they took with a rectangle and a circle above it as they sent back to the rear.
It was no surprise that Germans would rank the Canadian 1st and 2nd divisions among the top 8 deadliest and most dangerous divisions. The 2nd Division came overseas following the 1st Division and consequently had big expectations riding on them. At the Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
in the spring of 1915, only arriving on the battlefield a week before with little experience in warfare, the 1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Division
Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,...
was the only Division that held its ground against the German’s gas attack. The British nor the French could hold their ground and had to fall back. It was largely due to the stubbornness of the Canadians that the Allies were able to repulse the attack.