18th Reserve Battalion

The 18th Reserve Battalion was formed under the re-organization of reserve structure in late 1916 and was based in Seaford. The 18th Reserve Battalion received the regimental designation the Manitoba Regiment with reinforcements supplied by the 1st Depot Battalion, Manitoba Regiment in Military District No.10, Winnipeg, Canada. The battalion was formed by the amalgamation of the 144th Battalion and the 203rd Battalion on January 12, 1917 under C.R.O. 271. 

The 144th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles) had been based in Witley and Seaford since their arrival in England on September 25, 1916 and had been in use as a reinforcing unit for the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 52nd Battalion in France. 

The 203rd Battalion arrived at Shorncliffe November 5, 1916 and had supplied at least one draft to the 78th Battalion before January 12, 1917. 

Two officers would command the 18th Reserve Battalion in the following 2 years.* 
Lieutenant-Colonel K. C. Bedson from January 9, 1917 to February 10, 1917. 
Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Dyer from February 10, 1917 to demobilization. 

The 18th Reserve Battalion would reinforce three battalions in the field. They are listed as follows: 

	Reinforced the 107th Pioneer Battalion October 15, 1917 to March 9, 1918
	Reinforced the 8th Battalion from January 12, 1917 to demobilization
	Reinforced the 52nd Battalion from January 12, 1917 to demobilization

The 18th Reserve Battalion would absorb an additional 5 infantry battalions in 1917, besides the 144th and 203rd used to form the battalion. They were:

	The 141st Battalion was mobilized in Fort Francis, Ontario and sailed April 29, 1917, aboard the S.S. Olympic with 17 officers and 465 other ranks. The battalion arrived at Shorncliffe May 7, 1917 and was absorbed upon arrival.
	The 181st Battalion was raised in Brandon, Manitoba and district. The battalion sailed with 20 officers and 597 other ranks and was absorbed upon their arrival at Dibgate on April 30, 1917.
	The 182nd Battalion raised in the County of Ontario, sailed May 3, 1917 aboard the S.S. Justicia with 9 officers and 208 other ranks. They were absorbed into the 18th Reserve upon their arrival at Otterpool, May 15, 1917.
	The 190th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles) sailed from Halifax aboard the S.S. Justicia on May 3, 1917 with a compliment of 9 officers and 379 other ranks. They were absorbed by the 18th Reserve upon arrival at Shorncliffe May 14, 1917.
	The 251st Battalion (Good Fellow’s) from Winnipeg were actually disbanded in Canada. The battalion sent a draft/battalion of 4 officers and 170 other ranks under the command of Captain H.R. Backhous, which sailed from Halifax, September 30, 1917, aboard the S.S. Metagama. The draft/battalion was absorbed upon their arrival in Liverpool October 17, 1917.

Eleven drafts would reinforce the 11th and 18th Reserve Battalions through to the end of the war.  Drafts Received: from Manitoba Regiment, 1st Depot Battalion, Military District No.10:

	#1 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada November 26, 1917
	#3 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada March 25, 1918
	#4 Reinforcing Draft, Brandon Detachment, sailed from Canada April 4, 1918
	#4 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada April 9, 1918
	#5 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada April 17, 1918
	#18 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada May 11, 1918
	#3 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada June 17, 1918
	#65 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada July 7, 1918
	#65 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada July 11, 1918
	#81Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada July 28, 1918
	#134 Reinforcing Draft, sailed from Canada August 30, 1918

The 18th Reserve Battalion ends their war diaries on February 28, 1919. At this point I have no official date for the dissolution of the battalion. The 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion was not perpetuated. 

Note: 

Appendix I, Officers Serving Overseas Units, Canada in the Great War, Vol. VI lists commanding officers of the 18th Reserve to 1914 which is in error, Meek repeats same officers. The 18th was formed in 1917. 

Authors Note:

Love shows the 18th Reserve as reinforcing the 8th, 78th and 52nd battalions in France. Other than drafts sent by the 203rd prior to its amalgamation there is nothing to suggest the 18th Reserve reinforced the 78th Battalion. Officially these duties fell to the 11th Reserve and 13th Reserve Battalions from 1917-1919, however, reserve battalions did supply small drafts to a variety of units and without the war diaries one cannot eliminate the possibility that some troops may have been supplied to the 78th Battalion. 

Bibliography: 

Love, David W. A Call to Arms; The Organization and Administration of Canada’s Military in World War One, Bunker to Bunker Books, Winnipeg and Calgary, 1999 

Colonel G. W. L. Nicholson, C.D. Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919, Queens Printer Ottawa, 1938 

Canada in the Great War Vol. VI, United Publishers Of Canada Ltd. Toronto, 1921, Appendix I, Commanding Officers Overseas, pgs 315-372 

Administrative Histories; C.E.F. Battalions 1-260, Canada, Department of National Defence, Directorate of History, reference number unknown. 

CEF Study Group, Matrix Utility, Stonetown Drafts

18th Reserve Battalion, War Diary.