163rd Battalion (French-Canadian), CEF
(Redirected from 163rd (Canadien-Francais) Battalion, CEF)
The 163rd (Canadien-Francais) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 throughout the province of Quebec. In May 1916, the battalion sailed for the Imperial fortress of Bermuda, where it remained on garrison duty until late November of the same year.[1] After arriving in England, the battalion was absorbed into the 10th Reserve Battalion on January 8, 1917. The 163rd (Canadien-Francais) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. H. DesRosiers.
The journalist Olivar Asselin was a member of the battalion.
The battalion is perpetuated by Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke.
See also
References
- ^ Guttadauria, Marie (2016-04-25). "First World War: Artifact W1-11: Private JOSEPH LEROUX, 660756, Canadian Infantry CEF – First World War". Friends of the Canadian War Museum. Friends of the Canadian War Museum. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
On March 31, 1916 at the age of 28, my great-uncle Joseph Leroux born in Bourget, Ontario, travelled to Montreal to enlist and become a First World War soldier in the CEF. He was assigned to the 163rd battalion, a mainly French speaking unit originally “Les Fusilliers de Sherbrooke, Montréal”. He did his army training in Bermuda until November then sailed to England and disembarked in December of 1916. He was sent to France on May 18, 1917 and was taken on strength of the 22nd battalion (a.k.a. the Van Doos). Unfortunately, a few weeks later on 7 July 1917, he was killed in action in the field. He is buried in the Van Loos British Commonwealth Cemetery, France.
- Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.