The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF was an infantrybattalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The 78th Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916. It disembarked in France on 13 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the armistice. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.[1]
78th Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers
The distinguishing patch of the 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF.
The 78th Battalion recruited in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the surrounding area and was mobilized at Winnipeg.[2]
During the attack on Vimy Ridge the 78th was a followup battalion to the 38th, 72nd, and 73rd Battalions and was meant to exploit gains made by their initial attack. Unfortunately an intact German trench held up the attack and the 78th were hit by a German counterattack. The battalion lost 75 killed, 261 wounded and 159 missing.[3]
The 78th Battalion had three officers commanding:
Lt.-Col. J. Kirkcaldy, DSO, 22 May 1916 – 15 November 1917
Lt.-Col. J.N. Semmens 16 November 1917 – 19 March 1918
Lt.-Col. J. Kirkcaldy, CMG, DSO, 19 March 1918-Demobilization[2]
Lt. James Edward Tait, VC, 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF.Lt. Samuel Lewis Honey VC, DCM, MM, 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF.
Two members of the 78th Battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross. Lt. James Edward Tait was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 9 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens. Lt. Samuel Lewis Honey was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 27 September 1918 during operations in the vicinity of Bourlon Wood. He had previously been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal.[2]
Battle Honoursedit
The 78th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:
Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
October 28, 2023
78th, battalion, winnipeg, grenadiers, infantry, battalion, canadian, expeditionary, force, during, world, 78th, battalion, authorized, july, 1915, embarked, great, britain, 1916, disembarked, france, august, 1916, where, fought, part, 12th, brigade, canadian,. The 78th Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I The 78th Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916 It disembarked in France on 13 August 1916 where it fought as part of the 12th Brigade 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the armistice The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920 1 78th BattalionWinnipeg GrenadiersThe distinguishing patch of the 78th Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers CEF Active10 July 1915 15 September 1920CommandersCommandersLt Col J Kirkcaldy DSOCommandersLt Col J N SemmensCommandersLt Col J Kirkcaldy CMG DSO Contents 1 History 2 Battle Honours 3 Perpetuation 4 See also 5 References 5 1 SourcesHistory editThe 78th Battalion recruited in Winnipeg Manitoba and the surrounding area and was mobilized at Winnipeg 2 During the attack on Vimy Ridge the 78th was a followup battalion to the 38th 72nd and 73rd Battalions and was meant to exploit gains made by their initial attack Unfortunately an intact German trench held up the attack and the 78th were hit by a German counterattack The battalion lost 75 killed 261 wounded and 159 missing 3 The 78th Battalion had three officers commanding Lt Col J Kirkcaldy DSO 22 May 1916 15 November 1917 Lt Col J N Semmens 16 November 1917 19 March 1918 Lt Col J Kirkcaldy CMG DSO 19 March 1918 Demobilization 2 nbsp Lt James Edward Tait VC 78th Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers CEF nbsp Lt Samuel Lewis Honey VC DCM MM 78th Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers CEF Two members of the 78th Battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross Lt James Edward Tait was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 9 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens Lt Samuel Lewis Honey was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 27 September 1918 during operations in the vicinity of Bourlon Wood He had previously been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal 2 Battle Honours editThe 78th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours SOMME 1916 Ancre Heights Ancre 1916 ARRAS 1917 18 Vimy 1917 Ypres 1917 Passchendaele AMIENS Scarpe 1918 Drocourt Queant HINDENBURG LINE Canal du Nord VALENCIENNES SAMBRE FRANCE AND FLANDERS 1916 18 2 Perpetuation editThe 78th Battalion CEF is perpetuated by The Winnipeg Grenadiers currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle 1 See also editList of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary ForceReferences edit 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 Cook Tim 7 March 2017 Vimy Allen Lane ISBN 978 0735233164 Sources edit Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914 1919 by Col G W L Nicholson CD Queen s Printer Ottawa Ontario 1962 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 78th Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers CEF amp oldid 1135637943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
