86th (Machine Gun) Battalion, CEF
Encyclopedia
The 86th Battalion, CEF was "the first of its kind in the British Empire
." It was raised and based in Hamilton, Ontario
in August 1915.
The actual recruiting was fairly diverse, coming from local depot regiments. These included the 13th Regiment, 91st Highlanders, 2nd Dragoons and 1st Field Engineers. Men were also selected from the 77th Regiment in Dundas
as well as the 44th Regiment in Welland
. The battalion's Company D was formed from the latter of these.
The battalion departed for Camp Niagara on September 23, 1915, formed of approximately 1000 men. The men of the 86th Machine Gun Battalion were stationed at Camp Niagara for just over a month, returning to Hamilton on November 9, 1915, to be stationed at the Old Armouries on James Street in Hamilton.
The 86th Machine Gun Battalion was sent to England
in May 1916 and was stationed at the Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe, where training was completed. On May 22, 1916, the 86th Machine Gun Battalion was redesignated the Canadian Machine Gun Depot. After training the men were transferred to various machine gun units as required.
Lt. Col. W. W. Stewart remained in command of the unit until March 16, 1917, when he took a temporary leave of absence to tour the Front. And so it was that on April 11, 1917, while with the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade, that he was killed.
Lt. Col. W. M. Balfour, who had taken over command of the Canadian Machine Gun Depot, therefore remained in command. On October 8, 1917, Lt. Col. Balfour and Lt. Col. W. N. Moorehouse of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion replaced each other as the officer commanding of their respective units. On March 18, 1919, Lt. Col. Balfour resumed command of the Canadian Machine Gun Depot and remaind its commander until it was demobilized.
The 86th Battalion is perpetuated by The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
.
Recruitment Poster|Recruitment poster for 86th Machine Gun Battalion
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
." It was raised and based in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
in August 1915.
The actual recruiting was fairly diverse, coming from local depot regiments. These included the 13th Regiment, 91st Highlanders, 2nd Dragoons and 1st Field Engineers. Men were also selected from the 77th Regiment in Dundas
Dundas County, Ontario
Dundas County is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Dundas was created in 1792 by the area's first settlers: German Loyalists who had fought with Sir John Johnson in the American Revolutionary War. The settlers, descendants of the Palatine immigrants to America in 1710, had immigrated to...
as well as the 44th Regiment in Welland
Welland
-Places:* River Welland in the east of England* Welland, Worcestershire, a village in England* Welland River in Ontario, Canada, named after its English counterpart* Welland Canal, named after the Canadian river...
. The battalion's Company D was formed from the latter of these.
The battalion departed for Camp Niagara on September 23, 1915, formed of approximately 1000 men. The men of the 86th Machine Gun Battalion were stationed at Camp Niagara for just over a month, returning to Hamilton on November 9, 1915, to be stationed at the Old Armouries on James Street in Hamilton.
The 86th Machine Gun Battalion was sent to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in May 1916 and was stationed at the Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe, where training was completed. On May 22, 1916, the 86th Machine Gun Battalion was redesignated the Canadian Machine Gun Depot. After training the men were transferred to various machine gun units as required.
Lt. Col. W. W. Stewart remained in command of the unit until March 16, 1917, when he took a temporary leave of absence to tour the Front. And so it was that on April 11, 1917, while with the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade, that he was killed.
Lt. Col. W. M. Balfour, who had taken over command of the Canadian Machine Gun Depot, therefore remained in command. On October 8, 1917, Lt. Col. Balfour and Lt. Col. W. N. Moorehouse of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion replaced each other as the officer commanding of their respective units. On March 18, 1919, Lt. Col. Balfour resumed command of the Canadian Machine Gun Depot and remaind its commander until it was demobilized.
The 86th Battalion is perpetuated by The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry is a Primary Reserve unit of the Canadian Forces based at John W. Foote VC Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario....
.
Photos
86th Machine Gun Battalion, CEF|Photo of the 86th Machine Gun Battalion
Recruitment Poster|Recruitment poster for 86th Machine Gun Battalion
