123rd Battalion (Royal Grenadiers), CEF

History

The official authorization to raise the 123rd Overseas Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF, was Militia General Order 151, dated December 6, 1915. However, Orders had previously been issued by Militia District No. 2 on November 12, and by the time the official order was published, the recruitment for the Battalion was virtually complete, although some members had signed up for service as early as September 1915. They were based in Toronto, Ontario. The Battalion recruited, trained and mobilized as an infantry battalion in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War. Many senior members of the 123rd Battalion had served with the 10th Royal Grenadiers prior to attesting in the 123rd Battalion. Of the total 1,100 soldiers on strength on December 28, 1915, only 110 had come from the Central Recruiting Depot; all others had come from the direct recruitment efforts of the Battalion itself. They had trained at home as infantry soldiers. The 10th Royal Grenadiers also contributed approximately 30% of the soldiers who attested in the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF starting in September 1914.

The Battalion was separated into two groups in Halifax for mobilization to England, the first group sailing on the SS Cameronia and the second group sailing on the SS Metagama, which departed Halifax harbour August 9, 1916, arriving in England August 17 and 18, 1916, respectively. Among other Battalions in the convoy was the 124th Battalion (Governor General's Body Guard), CEF, which was also redesignated as a pioneer battalion.

On January 17, 1917, five months after arrival in England, the Battalion was repurposed as a pioneer battalion and redesignated as the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF, but continued to report through the 3rd Infantry Division commanded by Major General Louis James Lipsett. While most of the other Canadian Pioneer Battalions reported through the Canadian Engineers, the 123rd (and 124th) continued to report through the Infantry organization. They commenced training as Pioneers, under the guidance of a Major of the British Pioneers. Many of the original members were fully trained as infantry soldiers and later as pioneers.

The 123rd Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Bernard Kingsmill, who was the Commanding Officer of the 10th Royal Grenadiers at the time the 123rd Battalion was authorized on November 12, 1915, until May 25, 1918, when the Battalion reorganized as the 3rd Canadian Engineer Brigade, comprising the 7th and 8th and 9th Canadian Engineer Battalions. Throughout 1917 and into mid-1918, the 123rd Battalion absorbed large contingents of reinforcements, primarily from the 180th Battalion, 129th Battalion, 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion and 3rd Reserve Battalion, and others.

In many cases the 123rd Battalion served with front line troops, and in fact, in front of the front line troops, to install barbed wire, improve roads, and establish battlements, fortification and dugouts for the front-line infantry troops to use and occupy. They suffered many casualties. Among their principal roles was to install bridge works and build plank roads to facilitate movement of troops, artillery pieces, and supply columns; only to have the Germans shell the roads, requiring immense efforts to get Canadians to and from the front. Many soldiers were wounded or died while serving with the 123rd Battalion, and many officers and men were decorated for their courageous acts.

The 123rd Overseas Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, was demobilized and disbanded on September 15, 1920, at the same time the CEF was disbanded. The unit is perpetuated by The Royal Regiment of Canada.

Battle honours

The 123rd Battalion was awarded the following battle honours: