42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF explained

Unit Name:	42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF
Dates:	7 November 1914–15 September 1920
Country:	Canada
Garrison Label:	Mobilization headquarters

The 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.

History

The 42nd Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 10 June 1915. It disembarked in France on 9 October 1915, where it fought as part of the 7th Canadian Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^[1]

The 42nd Battalion recruited in and was mobilized at Montreal.^[2]

The 42nd Battalion had five officers commanding:

• Lt-Col. G.S. Cantlie, 10 June 1915 – 24 December 1916
• Maj. R.L.H. Ewing, 24 December 1916 – 2 January 1917
• Maj. S.C. Norsworthy, 2 January 1917 – 6 April 1917
• Lt-Col. B. McLennan, DSO, 6 April 1917 – 3 August 1918
• Lt-Col. R.L.H. Ewing, DSO, MC, 3 August 1918-Demobilization^[2]

One member of the 42nd Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross. Private (later Lieutenant) Thomas Dinesen was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 12 August 1918 at Parvillers, France.^[2]

The novelist Will R. Bird was a member of the battalion, and wrote two books of memoirs on his war experiences: And We Go On and Ghosts Have Warm Hands.

Battle Honours

The 42nd Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:

• MOUNT SORREL
• SOMME, 1916
• Flers-Courcelette
• Ancre Heights
• ARRAS, 1917, '18
• Vimy, 1917
• Arleux
• HILL 70
• Ypres, 1917
• Passchendaele
• AMIENS
• SCARPE, 1918
• HINDENBURG LINE
• Canal du Nord
• PURSUIT TO MONS
• FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915–18^[2]

Perpetuation

The 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF, is perpetuated by The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.^[1]

See also

• List of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary Force

Sources

• Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962
• Book: Beresford . Charles . The 42nd Battalion C.E.F. Royal Highlanders of Canada . 1931 . December 27, 2020.

Notes and References

1. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
2. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.