199th Battalion Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers, CEF
199th Battalion, CEF | |
---|---|
![]() Recruitment poster, circa 1915 | |
Active | 1916–1917 |
Disbanded | 1917 |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Type | Infantry |
Garrison/HQ | Montreal |
Motto(s) | Latin: Quis separabit?, lit. 'Who shall separate us?' |
Theatre of war honour | The Great War, 1916–17 |
The 199th (Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War.
History
[edit]The battalion was founded by the CEF to improve their recruitment success by having an all-Irish regiment. They were also called the "Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers", as a tribute to Princess Louise Margaret, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, who funded the battalion. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city.[1]
After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was sent on a tour of Ireland at the request of the Colonial Secretary, the Canadian-born Bonar Law.[2][3] On its return to England, the battalion was absorbed into the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF, on May 11, 1917.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/ALL_IN_ONE_with_the_Irish_Canadian_Rangers_199th_Overseas_Battalion_91_Stanley_Street_Montreal_Lt.-Col._H._J._Trihey%2C_O.C._-_LCCN2005696920_%28cropped%29.tif/lossy-page1-220px-ALL_IN_ONE_with_the_Irish_Canadian_Rangers_199th_Overseas_Battalion_91_Stanley_Street_Montreal_Lt.-Col._H._J._Trihey%2C_O.C._-_LCCN2005696920_%28cropped%29.tif.jpg)
The 199th (Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers) Battalion, CEF, had two commanding officers: Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Trihey (December 26, 1916 – January 10, 1917) and Lieutenant-Colonel J. V. O'Donahoe (January 10, 1917 – April 11, 1917).
Perpetuation
[edit]In 1920, the perpetuation of the 199th Battalion was assigned to the Irish Canadian Rangers, a Montreal infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia that disbanded in 1936.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "All in One with the Irish Canadian Rangers 199th Overseas Battalion". World Digital Library. 1914–1918. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
- ^ Burns, Robin B. (1985). "The Montreal Irish and the Great War" (PDF). CCHA Historical Studies. 52: 67–81. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Drysdale, A. M. (1917). Canada to Ireland: The Visit of "The Duchess of Connaught's Own" (PDF). T. Fisher Unwin. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Government of Canada, National Defence (2005-03-09). "Annex 1B". www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.