REINFORCING THE P.P.C.L.I. FROM THE 23RD BATTALION

REINFORCING THE PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY IN EARLY 1915 FROM THE 23RD BATTALION

"After arriving in France with 27 officers and 956 other ranks on December 20, 1914, in six weeks of constant trench duty the Regiment had suffered seventy casualties, including five officers. But wastage from sickness had been abnormal, and the Regiment was for a few days, nearly 400 men under strength. The arrival of the overseas draft which had been left at Tidworth under Captain Agar Adamson brought the numbers up to 700. (February 22, 1915 - Captain A. Adamson, Lt. Martin, 111 other ranks) These reinforcements for the most part came from the broken-up 12th Battalion, CEF. But this draft exhausted all the reserves in sight, for the Canadian reinforcements in England were ear-marked for the 1st Canadian Division, now arriving in France. (the privately raised P.P.C.L.I. were detached in England to the 80th Brigade, 27th Imperial division, British Army). In the spring of 1915 there was no system for reinforcing the P.P.C.L.I. For eight months after their arrival in France the Patricia's had reason to be anxious about their future. Small drafts from various Canadian sources kept up the number during the spring, and fought splendidly in the 2nd Battle of Ypres; but these were secured with difficulty, and after much suspense."

"Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was never in any sense a territorial Regiment; although, towards the end of the War, it became one of the five overseas battalions (P.P.C.L.I. and, 2nd, 16th, 21st, 38th Battalions, C.E.F.) which were formed for administrative and reinforcement purposes into the Eastern Ontario Regiment with its headquarters at Ottawa, where the Original Battalion was mobilized.

The personnel of the Patricia's in the field was in fact strikingly representative of every Province of the Dominion and the Yukon Territory. The "Originals" and the "University Companies" which together made up nearly 50 per cent of the strength in the field, were drawn from all parts of Canada; while among the 3000 or more other Officers, N.C.O.'s and men who served with the Patricia's in France and Belgium were representative of more than 140 infantry battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, as well as many men who had first enlisted in sister branches of the Force: the Royal Canadian Dragoons and other cavalry regiments, the C.F.A., C.E., C.A.S.C., C.A.M.C., Signalling Training Depot, etc. Many drafts, especially after the middle of 1917, consisted of small parties from four or more battalions of the C.E.F. which has been assembled at the reinforcement Depots for the Eastern Ontario Regiment.

In January to June 1915 the following units provided drafts for reinforcing the Patricia's in the field:

12th Battalion, C.E.F. (New Brunswick,Quebec,Prince Edward Island)

23rd Battalion, C.E.F.(Victoria,Vancouver,Saskatchewan,Alberta,Manitoba,Montreal,Quebec City)

28th Battalion, C.E.F. (Alberta,Saskatchewan,Manitoba)

30th Battalion, C.E.F. (Victoria, BC)

32th Battalion, C.E.F. (Saskatchewan,Manitoba)"

Excepts from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry 1914-1919, Ralph Hodder-Williams, 2nd Edition Vols.1 & 2, 1968

"Several times during the first six weeks in the line, the Regiment dropped to nearly four hundred men under strength, Only seventy casualties were killed or wounded and the remainder were from exposure and wet. Captain Adamson arrived with the first major reinforcement draft of 111 men while the unit was in Divisional Reserve and resting (Pt II D.O. 2 officers, 119 other ranks)at Westoutre (22 February). Lack of future replacements were beginning to threaten the continued existence of the Regiment. No formal agreement with the Canadian Defence and Militia Department concerning this matter had been reached when the Regiment was first authorized. A number of battalions from the first Canadian Contingent in England were made into Canadian Depot units. These were to feed the 1st Division when it was committed to the continent. It also became the source of reinforcements for the Regiment until June 1915. In particular the men joining the Patricia's came from the 12th; 23rd; 28th; 30th; and 32nd Canadian Expeditionary Battalions (the last four battalions' men collectively known as the "500 Draft". The 12th Battalion supplied most of the first reinforcement draft led by Captain Adamson). The second source of replacements from July to December 1915, and the one that ultimately saved the Regiment from extinction was the privately raised PPCLI Reinforcing Universities Companies."

From With The Patricia's In Flanders 1914-1918, Then & Now, Stephen K. Newman, Bellewarde House Publishing, Victoria, 2000

***NOTE***
We know from the on-line file of Cpl. William Harvey, #51190, that the 27th (Cameron Highlanders) Battalion of Winnipeg also contributed volunteers to the "500 Draft"

Collectively the drafts from the last four units were assembled in Quebec City into one central draft administered by the staff of the 23rd Overseas Battalion and known as the "500 Draft". So the "small drafts" Hodder-Williams refers to (February 22, 1915 - 2 officers,111 other ranks; March 1, 1915 - 8 officers, 146 other ranks; March 27, 1915 - 3 officers, 66 other ranks) were in part, for the most part soldiers from the "500 Draft". These men had sailed from Halifax January 21, 1915 on the S.S. Vaderland with no or very little basic training. As well the majority had no military experience. So one can see that the men in the drafts sent in the February and March drafts would have only the very basic military training, unlike Canadian soldiers later in the war. The "500 Draft" landed in Liverpool January 30, 1915 and were sent to Canadahar Barracks, Tidworth to join the 12th Battalion, which had just been assigned as a reinforcement Battalion to the new 1st Canadian Division which  was about to be sent to France. The February and March drafts were sent to the P.P.C.L.I. from this depot.

S.S. Vaderland (later HMT Southland, 1915) 

Possibly the most noted member passing through the 23^rd Battalion coming from the ranks and the one with the most distinguished career and highest ranked officer, was Private Melville Ten Broeke #51456. His service record can be found on-line HERE   Melville Ten Broeke enlisted November 3, 1914 in the 23^rd Battalion, CEF in Edmonton and joined the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry from the "500 Draft" as a reinforcement soldier in France March, 1915. Born in India of British parents, the 24 year old Civil Engineer claimed to have belonged to the Bedford Territorials in Bedfordshire, England prior to emigrating to Canada, as well as the Canadian 101^st Regiment, on settling in Edmonton. He was commissioned in June, 1916 and rose to the rank of Major before the end of the war. On reorganization of the Regiment as a unit within the permanent Force he was accepted with the rank of Major. At the termination of his period of command in 1932, he retired with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he volunteered once again and was appointed to the Command of the Western Regimental Depot. In 1943, after holding a number of Staff appointments, he resigned due to ill health. Died in Victoria 1963.

Circumstances of Death, L/Cpl Walter McKenzie #51268

Although the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was a privately raised Canadian Battalion, it initially was assigned to the 80^thBrigade, 27^th Division, British Expeditionary Force. As a component of this unit, it entered the trenches on January 6, 1915 in the Dickebusch area of Belgium and began receiving casualties almost immediately. Particularly, because of the poor trench conditions, men suffered terribly in the first tour of duty from “trench feet” made worse by wet weather and from the flimsy Canadian-made boots with which they were equipped. In a period of less than three months, some 238 of their number had either been killed or wounded and another 200 or so were in hospital for “shell shock”. The casualties reached fifty in the first month including several officers. By February 21, the battalion was given a full week of relief and rest at Westoutre. However a few men from the 1st Contingents 12th Battalion, now considered a reinforcement Battalion, were sent to the P.P.C.L.I. in the field.  

L/Cpl Harry Crabtree, #51122, Voormezeele #3 Cemetery

These soldiers and the "500 Draft" were the only reinforcements the P.P.C.L.I.were to receive until the early summer when specially raised University Companies began to cross the Atlantic. On May 8, 1915, after the infamous Battle of Bellewarde Ridge, the Battalion numbers were down to 4 officers and 150 men before being withdrawn from battle. We can see from the list of 125 reinforcements received from the 23^rd Battalion that 46 died while in service of the P.P.C.L.I. and a further 2 were taken prisoners. The majority were wounded in the Battle of Bellewarde Ridge and other actions in April and May, 1915. Many had only been in battle a matter of days before becoming casualties. The reinforcement soldiers from the 23^rd Battalion did the P.P.C.L.I. proud - a least 3 Military Crosses were won, a similar number of Military Medals and several bars, 2 Prisoners of War, 3 battlefield commissions, and a future Commanding Officer of the Regiment was guaranteed.

P.P.C.L.I. REINFORCEMENTS FROM the 23^rd BATTALION

51010 Hart, William Sgt PPCLI Wnd 08/05/15 SOS 12/05/15

51011 Jones, Ivor Pte PPCLI DOW 09/05/15 Bailleul C.C. Ext

51013 Creed, Hugh Pte PPCLI Wnd 08/05/15 SOS 12/09/18

51015 Dorans, Neil Sgt PPCLI Wnd 04/05/15 SOS 07/05/15 Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51021 Lognon, Thomas W. Cpl PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate SA enl QC 36 QC

51025 Jones, Horace J. L/Cpl PPCLI Wnd 08/05/15 SOS 17/05/15 Imp Forces enl QC BC

51028 Mitchell, Robert A. L/Cpl PPCLI KIA 24/04/15 Menin Gate QOR 27 NS

51039 Ashwood, John Pte PPCLI Wnd 08/05/15 SOS 30/05/15 CAMC Mtl ImpForce Eng

51040 Angell, Walter F. Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate Mem. 31 enl Mtl Ont

51074 Brodie, Robert Pte PPCLI Wnd? also see #841225 enl Mtl Royal Navy Eng

51075 Bullen, Richard Pte PPCLI SOS to C.L.P. 09/03/18 enl QC Imp Forces Ire

51076 Burke, John J. Pte PP g 06/1915 SOS 21/06/15 QC ImpForces Eng PPCLI #489

51077 Bowe, James Pte PPCLI MIA 04/05/15 Menin Gate 38 enl QC Kilkenny, Ire

51078 Bradbury, Charles Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 08/05/15 Menin Gate 31 Eng

51079 Barry, John Pte enlist QC C.M.R. b.Eng

51080 Burrows, George W. Pte PPCLI DOW 11/05/15 Bailleul CC Ext

51081 Blair, John Pte enlist QC Imp Forces Eng

51082 Bunting, Frederick Pte PPCLI MM

51091 Cavanagh, Thomas L. Pte PPCLI

51114 Coullard, Frank Pte enlist QC 8^th Regiment Royal Rifles Eng

51115 Chrystal, Martin Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 35 Scot

51117 Campbell, Archie Pte PPCLI

51116 Carvosso, James Capt PPCLI MC & amp; bar as Pte com.16/10/16 6 Xwnd Cal Eng

51118 Carlyle, John Pte enlist Mtl Terr Eng

51120 Carter, Michael Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 37 enl Mtl QC

51119 Cleaver, Walter Pte enlist Mtl R.C.R. Eng

51121 Cave, Edward Pte enlist Mtl Terr Eng

51122 Crabtree, Harry Pte PPCLI KIA 16/03/15 Voormezeele Enc #3 Cemetery Eng.

51123 Curry, Abraham Pte enlist Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51124 Cawe, Jack Pte enlist Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51127 Dyer, Issac W. Pte enlist Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51128 Davidson, John Pte enlist Mtl 5^th Regt. Scot

51129 Donaldson. Herbert Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/18 Menin Gate age 48 ex NWMP India

51131 Duncan, Robert Pte PPCLI see #1251022 age 23 Scot

51141 Denison, Edgar Street L/Cpl 16th Bn KIA 23/04/15 Menin Lark Hill Feb 9/15 35 Ont

51151 Edmondson, Samuel Pte PPCLI MIA MIA 04/06/16 Menin Gate 31 enl Mtl Ire

51152 Illingsworth, Frederick Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 29 Eng

51157 Flannigan, Richard Pte enl Mtl Imp Forces Ire

51158 Farrell, Archie B. Cpl PPCLI DOW 31/10/17 9 Elms Brit Cem 31 enl Mtl Ire

51159 Flynn, Joseph Pte enl Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51168 Dibbs, David Pte PPCLI KIA 04/05/15 Tyne Cot MC age 33 enl Mtl Scot

51171 Gray, Archibald Pte PPCLI

51180 Gallagher, Patrick C. Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 23 Eng

51182 Goodman, Thomas H.W. Pte enl Mtl Royal Navy Eng

51183 Grant, John Pte enl Mtl Nil Ire

51184 Gregory, Cecil Pte enl Mtl Nil Eng

51185 Garner, Harry Pte enl Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51186 Grainger, William H. Pte PPCLI DOW 16/04/17 Boulogne East Cem 1st Rgt 28 Eng

51187 Galbraith, Donald S. Pte PPCLI

51190 Harvey, William L/Cpl PPCLI KIA Bellewerde 04/05/15 Menin Gate Scotland

51215 Heath, Gideon Pte PPCLI DOD 23/03/15 Boulogne Eastern Cem. age 45 Scot

51216 Heath, William Pte enl Mtl C.A.S.C. 22 Eng

51217 Hales, James L/Cpl PPCLI Wnd 04/05/15 TOS 11/05/15 QC 1st GG 42 Eng

51218 Harper, Robert Pte enl QC Terr Eng

51219 Heap, Albert Pte enl Mtl Terr Eng

51220 Henderson, Alfred C. Pte PPCLI KIA 04/05/15 Menin Gate enl Mtl 25 Scot

51221 Harrison, John W. Pte enl QC Imp Forces Eng

51222 Horan, James Pte PPCLI

51239 Joe, Jaquet Pte PPCLI

51244 Johnston, John Edgar Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate enl QC enl QC 25 Eng

51248 James, George O. Sgt enl. QC Imp Forces Eng

51253 Saunders, William Sgt enl Mtl Royal Navy Eng

51257 Wylie, Richard Col Sgt enl QC Imp Forces Scot

51259 Mortimer, Arthur N.B. Capt PPCLI MC enl as Cpl comm. 05/11/16

51267 Worrall, Thomas P. Pte PPCLI enl Mtl IF wd GSW reinlist 08/08/18 4^thBn Eng

51268 McKenzie, Walter Cpl PPCLI DOW 17/03/15 Bailleul Com Cem Ed age39 Scot

51270 Palmer, Charles E, L/Cpl enl QC R.G.A. Eng

51271 Scotting, John W. L/Cpl PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate Mem. 32 Eng.

51279 King, George Thomas Pte PPCLI KIA May8/15 Menin 32nd 22 Eng Bluestein medals

51288 Kennedy, Josiah A.C. Lt. PPCLI, comm. Royal Irish Rifles

51289 Kelly, John Pte PPCLI Acc nr Kemmel KIA 21/01/16 Menin enQC 28 Scot

51290 King, G. Pte enl QC Imp Forces Eng

51291 Kirby, William Pte PPCLI DOD 08/02/18 hearfailure Fosse #10 enl QC 34 Eng

51292 Knight, Richard Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate age 29 Eng

51293 Lovatt, Thomas Pte enl Mtl Terr Eng

51294 Lee, Robert Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 27 Imp Foces enl QC age 35 Scot

51295 Lamour, Robert Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate ex 3D gns 32 Ire

51296 Lawrence, Frank D. Pte PPCLI KIA 04/05/15 Menin Gate 33 SA Scot

51299 Longmate, John R. Pte PPCLI 11th Res enl. Tidworth underage Wnd June/15 Eng

51322 McRae, James Pte 16^th Bn MIA 20/05/15 Vimy PPCLI Terr el QC age 28 Eng

51323 McPhee, Peter Pte PPCLI

51324 McGuirk, James Pte PPCLI MIA 02/06/16 Menin G Imp Forces enl QC 19 Eng

51345 Mackintosh, Peter E. Pte PPCLI

51346 McGregor, James Pte enl QC Imp Forces Scot

51347 Martin, Joseph Pte enl Mtl Royal Navy Eng

51348 Morgan, D.B. Pte enl QC 20^th Horse Wales

51349 Middleton, John James Pte PPCLI DOW 11/05/15 Wimereux Com Cem age 34 Scot

51350 Middleton, J.K. Pte enl QC Imp Forces Scot

51351 Morgan, Edward Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate ImForces enl Mtl 32 Eng

51352 Manson, James Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 21 Scot

51366 Newby, Sidney H. Pte enl Mtl Nil Eng

51369 Olive, John Pte enl Mtl Terr Eng

51382 Pearn, Robert Pte enl QC 102^nd Regt 31 Eng

51396 Richardson, Eric Pte enl Mtl Nil Eng

51397 Ramshaw, Robinson W. Pte enl QC Imp Forces Eng

51413 Swan, Harry Hunt Pte PPCLI

51414 Savage, Henry E. Pte enl Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51415 Sullivan, Thomas Pte enl Mtl Imp Forces Eng

51416 Stephen, Alexander Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin G Imp Forces enl QC 27 Scot

51417 Stowe, Edger Pte PPCLI POW 08/0515 MM Escapee 17/09/17 Eng

51418 Stewart, James Pte encl QC 8^th Regt Eng

51419 Strachan, Allan Pte PPCLI KIA 15/03/15 Pheasant Wood Cem. Scot.

51420 Sprague, Charles H. Pte PPCLI

51421 Sutton, John Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 MeninG RCHA 38 Calgary Eng %

51422 Scott, Damiel Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 19 Ire

51423 Scott, John Scott Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 33 Scot

51424 Shapcott, William H. Pte enl Mtl 27^th Horse Scot

51425 Sharpe, William H. Pte PPCLI POW 2/06/16 rel 22/11/18 32 Nil enl Mtl QC

51426 Stone, Leonard Pte PPCLI

51427 Sullivan, Robert M. Pte PPCLI POW 26/08/18 Rel 07/01/19 Mtl Terr Wales

51428 Smail, Joseph Alba Pte enl Mtl Imp Forces Scot

51441 Stewart, James Pte PPCLI KIA 04/05/15 Menin Gate 33 Ire

51454 Tildesley, Frederick Pte PPCLI

51455 Thornton, Harry W. Pte enl QC Aust. Mil. Eng
51456 Ten Broeke

51457 Tucker, Herbert Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin G Royal N enl Mtl 25 Nfld

51458 Tully, Thomas Pte PPCLI KIA 08/05/15 Menin G uncl.medals IF QC 32 Scot

51466 Upton, Harry Cpl enl QC Imp Forces Eng

51483 Wiltshire, Albert C. Pte enl Mtl Nil Eng

51484 Wilson, Arthur W. SQMS PPCLI DOD 11/05/19 Burton Leonard Church age 45 Eng

51485 Wells, Willoughby Pte enl Mtl Nil Eng

51486 Whiting, Harry Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin G Terrs enl QC 36 Eng

51487 Welch, Thomas L/Cpl PPCLI DOW 24/03/15 Dickenbusch MC 6^th Regt Mtl Eng.

51488 Wood, George Pte PPCLI MIA 02/06/16 Menin Gate also 4^th Bn 39 Eng

51490 Wightman, Archibald Pte PPCLI

51491 Williamson, George Pte Terrs enl QC Scot

51489 Wood, George Pte PPCLI MIA 08/05/15 Menin Gate 34 Eng

51492 Webb, John H. Pte enl QC Imp Forces Eng

I believe the first casualty to a 23rd Battalion replacement was Private Harry Crabtree, #51122. From Steve Newman's fine work, With The Patricia's In Flanders, we see:

Crabtree, Harry Private 51122. Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England Jul 1879. . Served with 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers (Volunteers). Employed as a moulder before joining 23rd Bn 23 Oct 1914. Became a member of the Patricia Reinforcements in Jan 1915 and joined PPCLI in the field in the St. Eloi Sector 11 Mar 1915. He was listed killed five days later on 16 Mar 1915. The enemy assaulted and captured the Mound at St. Eloi on the 14 Mar. The Battalion marched from their Reserve position at Westoutre to Dickebusch and then towards St. Eloi during the same evening. They were to attack and recapture the area West of the Mound in concert with the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade in the early morning of the 15th. The attack was cancelled after Lt.-Col. Farquhar surveyed the scene after the initial foray towards the German positions. Casualties during this manoeuvre were Lt. Cameron killed along with seven NCOs and men killed. Pte Crabtree was among them. Another two officers and seventeen ranks were wounded. Age 35 (I believe one of the wounded was L/Cpl Walter McKenzie, also from the 23rd Battalion, who died of wounds the next day March 17, 1915)

A special word of thanks to Stephen K. Newman and members of the CEF Study Group Forum especially Jim "jayelbee" and "GrandfatherMichael" for their assistance on this topic over the years.

The listing of men from the 23rd Battalion that were drafted into the P.P.C.L.I. is incomplete and to be considered a work in progress. Any corrections, omissions or corrections would be greatly appreciated.

This blog is a compilation from a number of sources - some of the information may be repeated - I apologize for that.