2nd Echelon Army Troops

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Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group

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Component:

Active Dates:

Contributors:

Theatre of Operations:

Major Battles:

Location of War Diaries:

	Library and Archives Canada (WD Link)
	CEFSG War Diary Transcription (in progress = IP)

Background:

As described in the Navigation Chart, the units that were not part of a Divisional Command in the Army Corps, but rather took their instructions from the Army HQ could be classified by three (3) levels of "Echelons".

The "Second Echelon", as described by Love⁽²⁾, referred to:

"those units and transport providing support, stores and equipment not immediately required in battle but would be once a pause occurred in the fighting".

This group is shown by Nicholson⁽¹⁾ in his summary chart in Appendix B (page 544).

Sub-Components:

The primary sub-components of the 2nd Echelon of Army Troops would consist of:

	Ambulance
	Construction
	Corps Signal Company
	Cyclists
	Engineers
	Mechanical Transport
	Railway

These 2nd Echelon units were not usually involved in the fighting, but there certainly are examples of them being caught in a fire-fight, or called upon to support the troops in the defence of a position, as compared to an offensive action.

Primary References:

Nicholson, G. W. L. 1962. Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919. Queens Printer and Controller of Stationary, Ottawa, Canada. (Appendix B - Canadian Units in France and Belgium, November 1918; Appendix D - CEF Infantry Battalions)
Love, D. W. 1999. "A Call to Arms" The Organization and Administration of Canada's Military in World War One. Bunker to Bunker Books, Winnipeg & Calgary, Canada. (Chapter 1 - Elements of Military Organization)

Secondary References:

Internet References:

This Page Last Updated On:

Tuesday January 29, 2008 04:17:15 PM -0500