9th Reserve Battalion

The 9th Reserve Battalion was formed from the 11th Infantry Battalion and therefore information is provided in the following text to track this unit from conception.

9th Infantry Battalion (1915-1917)

The Battalion was recruited in Edmonton, Alberta under the authority of Privy Council Order 2067 dated August 6, 1914 and mobilization authorized the following day. On August 7, 1914 the officer commanding the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers received the authorization to mobilize a force of 250 other ranks. Further communication with Militia Headquarters resulted in permission to mobilize a full battalion. On August 23, 1914, a compliment of 950 other ranks was placed on two trains under the command of Major P. Anderson. The battalion commander Lieutenant-Colonel Osborne remained in Edmonton to continue with recruiting. 

Officially the 9th Battalion was mobilized at M.D. No.5, Camp Valcartier, Quebec, Aug.6, 1914, and assigned number block 18001-19500. The battalion picked up 77 volunteers in Ottawa and a further 305 Officers and other ranks arrived on August 28, 1914 to bring the total to 1255 Officers and other ranks. Medical exams at Valcartier would fail 35 other ranks. Lieutenant-Colonel S. Maynard Rodgers, an undertaker by profession, formerly of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade (militia) and a veteran of the North-West Rebellion Campaign and the Boer War; assumed command with Lieutenant-Colonel Osborne serving as second in command. Officers from other units were added to the battalion at Valcartier but a full twenty-one of 44 officers were members of the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers, while virtually all other ranks were recruited from the militia regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Clegg would note in 1917 “it was however, the only battalion in the 1st Division recruited and mobilized practically entirely from a Canadian Militia Regiment” (1) 
The battalion embarked the S.S. Zeeland at Quebec, September 30, 1914 along with 3 Field Companies of the Royal Canadian Engineers and sailed October 3rd, 1914 with 44 officers and 1,101 other ranks, arriving in Plymouth October 17, 1914 disembarking on October 20 at Devonport.

The 9th Battalion proceeded to Salisbury Plain and settled at Pond Farm Camp, where they remained under canvas until November 19, 1914 when severe weather forced the battalion into hutments at Sling Plantation until January 1, 1915.

Lieutenant-Colonel Osborne as well as Lieutenants Crilley, McDonald and Malhoit applied for and received special permission to return to Canada. The formation of the 1st Canadian Division would bring significant changes to the 9th Battalion. At this time the battalion learned, to their disappointment, of their new designation as a Reserve Unit to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division. Almost immediately about 500 other ranks were drafted into various 1st Brigade battalions to fill vacancies left by absentees, those in hospital and troops no longer fit for service since their arrival in England. For the remainder of the war the battalion would train reinforcements for the front. On January 15, 1915 the battalion moved into Bhurtpore Barracks at Tidworth and began their service under the Canadian Training Depot. In early March Lieutenant-Colonel S. M. Rodgers was appointed commanding officer of the Canadian Training Depot, Tidworth and Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Clegg, a long serving militia veteran and former c/o of the 57th Regiment Peterborough Rangers, took over temporary command of the 9th Battalion.

9th Reserve Battalion

On April 29, 1915 under R.O. 450 dated April 29, 1915, the battalion was officially re-organized as a Reserve battalion. Subsequently the battalion was stationed at Ross Barracks, Shorncliff from March 15, 1915 to May 1, 1915. During this period calls for reinforcements virtually depleted the remaining officers and other ranks of the original 9th Battalion. The move to Shorncliffe coincided with the formation of a new entity the Canadian Training Division, and the abolishment of the Canadian Training Depot, the General Base Depot and the Infantry Base Depot. 

On May 1, 1915 the battalion moved under canvas at Lower Dibgate, Shorncliffe and would remain there until November 1, 1915. On May 4, 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel E. E. W. Moore; former commanding officer of the 13th Royal Regiment, Hamilton Ontario and commanding officer of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade (militia) at the outbreak of the war; assumed command of the battalion. The battalion found themselves in the East Sandling Hutments, Tidworth from November 1, 1915 to May 1, 1916 and the St. Martin Plain Hutments, Tidworth from May 1, 1916 to January 20, 1917. Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Clegg returned to temporary command from May 7, 1916 to January 1, 1917 and was in command when the battalion moved to Bramshott Camp from January 20, 1916 to January 24, 1917. 

The latter part of 1916 would see plans for a massive re-organization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and especially the manner in which reserves were organized, trained and dispersed to the front. On January 1, 1917 the 9th Reserve Battalion was absorbed by a new 9th Reserve Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.C.D Armstrong who assumed command of the new unit January 24, 1917. Under C.R.O.198 the business and affairs of the original 9th Battalion were wound up and by January 24th the battalion ceased to exist. 

The original members of the 9th Battalion reinforced the 1st Brigade, 299 officers and other ranks to the 1st Battalion, 195 to the 2nd Battalion, 1,048 to the 3rd Battalion and 190 to the 4th Battalion. In actuality there wasn’t a combat battalion in any of the first 3 Canadian Divisions that did not receive personnel from the 9th at some point before 1917. Officially the 9th Battalion reinforced the following battalions before its absorption into the new 9th Reserve Battalion between the dates shown:

	Reinforced the 1st Battalion from January 17, 1915 to June 19, 1915
	Reinforced the 2nd Battalion from January 17, 1915 to June 19, 1915
	Reinforced the 3rd Battalion from January 17, 1915 to September 9, 1915
	Reinforced the 4th Battalion from January 17, 1915 to September 9, 1915
	Reinforced the 10th Battalion from September 9, 1915 to April 29, 1916, and again from July 9, 1916 to January 1, 1917
	Reinforced the 31st Battalion from September 9, 1915 to January 24, 1917
	Reinforced the 49th Battalion from October 13, 1915 to January 24th, 1917
	Reinforced the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles from April 29, 1916 to January 24, 1917

During the battalions almost 2 years as a reserve unit some 5,000 officers and men would be taken on strength with the 9th Battalion. On September 11, 1915 the 9th Battalion received two drafts from Alberta based battalions, 5 officers and 250 other ranks from the 66th Battalion in Edmonton and 5 officers and 250 other ranks from the 56th Battalion in Calgary, having sailed on the S.S. Metagama from Montreal. In 1916 the 9th Battalion absorbed 8 under strength battalions from Canada, and part of another. 

The 56th Battalion, which had mobilized at Calgary, Alberta and sailed with 40 officers and 1073 other ranks, was absorbed on July 6, 1916. The 56th had been used as a reinforcing unit since April 10, 1916. 

The 63rd Battalion (Edmonton, Alberta) had been in use as a reinforcing unit since its arrival May 5, 1916 with 36 officers and 1013 other ranks. It was absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion on July 7, 1916. 

Another Edmonton battalion the 66th was absorbed on August 1, 1916. They had arrived at Otterpool on May 7, 1916 with 36 officers and 1075 other ranks and had been acting as a reinforcing unit until absorbed by the 9th. 

The 82nd Battalion mobilized in Calgary and sailed with 34 officers and 1006 other ranks, arriving at Liverpool on May 29, 1916. As a reinforcing unit the 66th Battalion sent drafts of 65 of all ranks to the 72nd Battalion, 89 of all ranks to the 54th Battalion and 53 of all ranks to the 102nd Battalion before being absorbed on July 18, 1916. 

The 89th Battalion, from Calgary, was largely absorbed by other battalions, after 
sailing with 33 officers and 969 other ranks, only 168 other ranks were absorbed by the 9th in the weeks after June 8, 1916. 

The 145th Battalion was absorbed upon their arrival at Shorncliffe on October 7, 1916. The battalion from Moncton, N.B. sailed with 19 officers and 524 other ranks. 
The 151st Battalion (Central Alberta) consisting of 29 officers and 925 other ranks was absorbed upon their arrival on October 13, 1916. Part of the battalion was split to the 11th Reserve Battalion. 

The 192nd Battalion was absorbed upon arrival in England November 12, 1916 consisting of 23 officers and 424 other ranks. 

The 209th Battalion (Swift Current) was absorbed on December 5, 1916, having sailed from Canada with 29 officers and 915 other ranks. Seven hundred and seventy two soldiers of the 209th would find themselves scattered among 6 different battalions in France. The 10th Battalion would receive 312 other ranks with 53 listed on strength by November 11, 1918. The 28th Battalion would draft 105 with 19 on strength by November 11, 1918. The 31st Battalion would receive 22 with 3 on strength at war’s end. The 49th Battalion would end up with 157 and only 35 on strength November 11, 1918 and the 102nd Battalion would find themselves with 176 men of the 209th and 19 on strength by armistice. 

Some 155 officers and 5,836 other ranks would be sent out as drafts to fighting units, including 2,591other ranks in the last six months of 1916. 

The 101st Edmonton Fusiliers would remain justifiably proud of their contribution to the war. Men of the 101st, serving in various Edmonton battalions, would receive one Victoria Cross, two D.S.O’s, three M.C.’s, six D.C.M’s, eleven M.M’s and one O.B.E as well as numerous foreign decorations. Over 359 members of the unit would serve as officers during the war, a record unequalled by any other Canadian militia unit. On Armistice Day 91 members of the original 9th Battalion would still be serving in combat units with the Canadian Corps. 

The 9th Reserve Battalion was officially disbanded by Privy Council Order 2545 dated September 15, 1917 and published in C.R.O 2750 dated October 27, 1917. The administrative history and records of the commanding officers indicate the battalions affairs were not concluded until January 24, 1917. 

9th Canadian Reserve Battalion (January 2, 1917- October 15, 1917) 

On January 24, 1917 the 9th Reserve Battalion was absorbed by a new 9th Reserve Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. D Armstrong who assumed command of the new unit January 2, 1917 and would remain its commanding officer until October 15, 1917. (2)

In March 1917 saw the introduction of the regimental territorial system. Reserve Battalions were linked to their affiliated battalions in France by territorial regiments bearing provincial designations. The 9th Reserve Battalion had the Regimental Designation the Alberta Regiment. The battalions’ recruiting area in Canada was Military District No.13 with their Headquarters based in Calgary, Alberta. The battalions’ designation in Canada was the 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment. 
The 9th Reserve Battalion would reinforce 4 battalions in France between January and October of 1917. During the same period the battalion reinforced the 202nd Battalion in England which had been earmarked for the 13th Brigade, 5th Canadian Division. 

	Reinforced the 10th Battalion from January 24, 1917 to October 15, 1917
	Reinforced the 49th Battalion from January 24, 1917 to October 15, 1917
	Reinforced the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles from January 24, 1917 to October 15, 1917
	Reinforced the 202nd Battalion from January 24, 1917 to May 27, 1917

The 9th Reserve Battalion would absorb two Alberta battalions during that same period. 

	The 194th Battalion (Edmonton Highlanders) had arrived at Shoreham with 31 officers and 912 other ranks on November 21, 1916. The battalion was used as a reinforcing unit for two months before being absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion on January 21, 1917.
	The 202nd (Sportsmen’s) Battalion from Edmonton arrived at Witley on November 30, 1916 with 27 officers and 746 other ranks. Earmarked for the 13th Brigade, 5th Canadian Division, the battalion was reinforced by the 9th Reserve Battalion until May 27, 1917 when the 202nd Battalion was absorbed by the 9th and its personnel used to reinforce existing battalions in France.

In fall of 1917 the 11 existing Training Brigades were reduced to 6 and a number of Reserve Battalions were disbanded and absorbed into the remaining reserve establishment, the 9th Reserve Battalion would be absorbed the 21st Reserve Battalion on October 15, 1917.

The 9th Battalion was perpetuated by the 2nd battalion (Edmonton Fusiliers) The Edmonton Regiment which was amended to the 1st Battalion; The Edmonton Fusiliers G.O.68 dated May 5, 1924. During the Second World War the 9th was perpetuated by The Edmonton Fusiliers (M.G.), then the 19th Alberta Dragoons which were placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1964. 

Notes:

(1) Historical Record of the 9th Reserve Battalion, Reference 15-1312, letter from Lt-Col Clegg to Officer in Charge, Canadian War Records, April 9, 1917, Canada, Department of Defence, Historical Section

(2) Although the new reserve structure seems to have come into effect January 1, 1917, some battalions did not begin their war diaries and until dates ranging from January 4 to 24. The old 9th Reserve Battalion administrative history, letters and documents all list January 24, 1917 as the final day of the 9th Reserve Battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel E.B. Clegg. 

Bibliography: 

Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919: General Series Volume I, Ottawa: King's Printer, 1938 

Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919: General Series Volume I: Chronology, Appendices and Maps, Ottawa: King's Printer, 1938 

Return of the Troops; (Stweart, 1970) A Plain Account of the Demobilization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 

Canada in the Great War Volume VI., Appendix I, Officers Serving Overseas Units, United Publishers of Canada Ltd. Toronto, 1921, pg315-372 

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 

Historical Record of the 9th Reserve Battalion, Reference 15-1312, letters from Lt-Col Clegg to Officer in Charge, Canadian War Records, April 9, 1917, Canada, Department of Defence; Historical Section