The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF was a Household Foot Guards infantry unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
History Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit was authorized on September 15, 1915, as an exclusively Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) formation with Guards uniforms and accoutrements approved by The Governor General of Canada, HRH, Duke of Connaught (Colonel of the Canadian Grenadier Guards). Mobilization and recruiting for soldiers began on October 23, 1915.
More than 4,213 men served in the 87th Battalion, representing all regions of Canada, but predominantly Ontario, until the last few months of the war when the balance was furnished by soldiers from Quebec (included the need to form a francophone company) The battalion earned 17 battle honours at a cost of 886 dead and 2,246 wounded, many of them wounded multiple times.
Unit distinctions & achievements The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF holds several distinctions in compared to other CEF battalions: CGG was one of only 7 Militia Regiments (out of 51 CEF units) to recruit their own battalions that fought as a distinct unit within the Canadian Corps. The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF was one of only 3 Canadian CEF Infantry units authorized by the Minister of Militia, Sir Sam Hughes, to recruit across all of Canada. The other 2 were the Royal Canadian Regiment and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) was the only Canadian Foot Guards CEF unit active during The Great War. The Governor Generals Foot Guards (GGFG) contributed volunteers for the 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF, and the 77th Battalion CEF (Ottawa), CEF. The Governor Generals Horse Guards (GGHG) contributed men for the 4th and 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles (Bantams) CEF, but these were composite or regional units and none bore the title or accoutrements of a FootGuards unit. Title of 'Guardsman' was awarded by King George V in 1919 as a permanent distinction in conjunction with all other Guards units, in recognition of their collective contributions to victory in the Great War. 87th Battalion were the first to liberate Belgium on 5 November 1918. Patrols from the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), of the 4th Division, crossed the River Aunelle, thereby marking the liberation, by the Canadians, of the first part of occupied Belgium. The 87th Battalion had within its ranks 4 members who Founded/Formed CEF Battalions during WWI: BGen Frank S. Meighen (14th and 87th Bns); Col. Hercule Barre (150th Bn); Maj. Olivar F-J. Asselin (163rd Bn); and LCol J. V. O'Donahoe, (199th Bn) The 87th Battalion contained 10% of the Black Canadian Soldiers who fought as part of Infantry Battalions during The Battle of Vimy Ridge.Canadian Military Journal • Vol. 18, No. 1, Winter 2017 The 87th Battalion contained over 2.6% of CEF Canadian First Nation Soldiers who fought and were killed in action as part of the CEF during WW1. Tribes represented in CGG Uniform included Mohawk, Mi'kmaq, and Haudenosaunea. (Pte Angus Laforce 1916; Pte Archie Simpson 1917; Pte Harry Barnhart 1917; Pte Stephen Bernard 1917; Pte William Crow; Pte John Deny; Pte Arthur Honyust 1917; and Pte Joe John 1917.)
Unit milestones Mobilization and England The 87th Battalion departed Canada after boarding R.M.S. Empress of Britain on April 23, 1916, and arrived in Liverpool, England on May 5, 1916. The battalion arrived and billeted on May 27 at Bramshott Military Camp as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade (until June 1916) and then designated as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division in August of the same year. During the period in England, the battalion received training from an officer and four drill sergeants from the British Grenadier Guards, all trench veterans, all previously wounded in action (WIA). On August 11/12, the battalion crossed over to France and landed at Le Havre, France on August 13, 1916, with a total strength of 1,090 all ranks. The battalion served the duration of the war as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Infantry Division.
First Actions & casualties Following the Battle of Mont Sorrel, 303 members of the 87th Battalion were detached to reinforce the 1st Battalion (Ontario Regiment), CEF. Of these CGG members, two, 177281 Private John Leitch, (later KIA 9 April 1917), and 178218 Private William Anson Ogilvie, would distinguish themselves with the 1st Battalion during the Battle of the Somme and win multiple Military Medals for bravery in the field. The initial loss of men were replaced by 391 officers & men from the 77th, Battalion, (Ottawa) CEF, from the GGFG. The battalion was introduced and indoctrinated into trench warfare beginning August 18, 1916 in the Ypres area. Their first casualties, two wounded, occurred that same day. The first 87th Battalion fatality occurred on August 26, 1916. Total casualties for the first weeks of the war were eventually 17 KIA / 25 WIA. On September 16, 1916, the 87th battalion participated in their first trench raid resulting in 36 casualties out of 60 engaged unit members.
Battle of the Somme On 10 October 1916, the 87th Battalion was relocated to Albert area along the Ancre area and on the 21 October, attacked and took a section of Regina Trench. The first gallantry awards earned by the 87th Battalion were awarded to four members for the attack on Regina Trench, CSM W. Blaney, Sgt. J.C. Noon, Ptes J.E. Blaney, and J.D. Hunter. After some routine activities and tours along the front, on November 18, the 87th Battalion was assigned to capture a section of Desire Trench, as well as its support systems. The attack was launched from Regina Trench. It succeeded well beyond expectations, and in addition to capturing Desire, Major Franklin Hall, with 41 volunteers, with only their rifles, bayonets, grenades and 2 Lewis Guns advanced a further 500 yards and captured part of Grandcourt Trench, including taking 115 prisoners. 80 of these were taken unaided by four privates; Roy, Thompson, Garneau and Winke.
Battle of Vimy Ridge The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a gallant yet terrible tragedy for the battalion. One Military Cross (MC), 14 Military Medals(MM), and 1 Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) were awarded to members of the 87th Bn. Total casualties for the Battle were 315 all ranks out of an attacking force of 520 (60.6%). 10 of the 11 officers who led the first wave, were casualties.Soldiers Of The Queen The Canadian Grenadier Guards 1859-2009, BGen (retired) William J. Patterson, OMM, CD
"The 4th Canadian Division's principal objective was Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of the whole Ridge. Once taken, its summit would give the Canadians a commanding view of German rearward defences. Because of its importance, the Germans had fortified Hill 145 with well-wired trenches and a series of deep dug-outs beneath its rear slope. The brigades of the 4th Division were hampered by fire from the Pimple, the other prominent height, which inflicted costly losses on the advancing waves of infantry."
From the start of the battle, progress on the right was slow because, for a time, the centre had practically collapsed. The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) were in the first wave but for some reason, a section of enemy trench barely a hundred metres in front of them had been left untouched by the artillery bombardment. Subsequently, the lead assault company was virtually wiped out within the first few minutes. This caused a delay of the other guardsmen so that they lost the barrage, and those who tried to continue the advance were cut down by German machine gunners firing from positions of relative safety in the untouched trenches.
"The 87th Battalion War diaries reports that six of the seven officers leading the 87th into battle were killed or wounded within the first hours. "Word had been received that Captain Harry Sare, MID (Officer Commanding the Assault), had been shot through the head with a bullet and could no longer carry on. Lieutenant Yonkles had also been hit in the left arm, Majors Joy and Ross and Lieut. Savage had been killed, and Lieut. Sinclair badly wounded, leaving Lieutenant Hannaford the only available officer of those who went over." The 87th Battalion first day casualties for April 9 at Vimy Ridge were 7 officers & 149 men killed; 4 officers and 155 men wounded with most having occurred have occurred within the first few minutes of the battle.
Officers Commanding Lieut.-Col. F.S. Meighen (September 20, 1915 to March 29, 1916) Lieut.-Col. J. P. Rexford (March 27, 1916 to August 1, 1916) Lieut.-Col. R. W. Frost, DSO (August 2, 1916 to April 6, 1917) Major H. LeR. Shaw (April 7, 1917 to May 7, 1917) Lieut.-Col. J. V. P. O'Donahoe, DSO (May 8, 1917 to April 5, 1918) Major J. S. Ralston, MC (April 6, 1918 to May 14, 1918) Lieut.-Col. K. M. Perry, DSO and Bar (May 15, 1918 to September 10, 1918), one of only 92 Canadians of the CEF to be awarded a 2nd DSO Lieut.-Col. F. S. Meighen, CMG (October 14, 1918 to March 7, 1919) Lieut.-Col. R. Bickerdike, DSO and Bar (March 7, 1919, until demobilization), one of only 92 Canadians of the CEF to be awarded a 2nd DSO
Battle honours Somme 1916 Ancre Heights Ancre, 1916 Arras, 1917 & 1918 Vimy, 1917 Hill 70 Ypres, 1915 Passchendaele, 1917 Amiens, 1918 Scarpe, 1918 Drocourt-Queant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Valenciennes Sambre France and Flanders, 1916–18
Victoria Cross Awards Private John Francis Young The award of the VC was announced in the London Gazette on December 14, 1918. Private Young was in Kidderminster, England at the time and received the decoration from King George V at Buckingham Palace in April 1919. That month, he married Ida May Thatcher at St. Mary's Church in Kidderminster. He took his bride back to Canada dying in 1929.
Commemorations / Plaques honouring John Francis Young, VC
Montreal, Canada: A tribute plaque in front of Sergeant Young's Heads Stone in Mount Royal Cemetery was unveiled by The Canadian Grenadier Guards. The Canadian Grenadier Guards' Junior Ranks Mess is named the "John Francis Young Club" in his honour. Past and present serving members of The Canadian Grenadier Guards are required to execute a proper halt, come to attention, each time entering the Jr. Ranks Mess. There is a memorial plaque to him in the CGG Sergeants' mess.
Kidderminster, England: The dedication of a new road name and a paving stone in J.F. Young's memory was unveiled by the Wyre Forest District Council. The ceremony in front took place outside St Mary's and All Saints Church in Kidderminster on September 3, 2018. The ceremony was attended by local dignitaries and veterans' organisations as well as representatives of the Canadian High Commission and the Canadian Grenadier Guards.
York, Ontario - Canada: The Canadian Victoria Cross Memorial commissioned by The Mount Pleasant Group is a beautiful memorial dedicated to the 99 men who have been awarded the Victoria Cross while fighting as with the Canadian military. The monument is set out to represent the shapes of the Victoria Cross and a Maple Leaf and occupies the main walkway along the boulevard that runs through York Cemetery. Unveiled in July 2017, the memorial has individual plaques for each VC winner describing their actions of bravery which led to their receiving the highest honour awarded by the British Commonwealth. Also featured is a large replica of the Victoria Cross and an accompanying plaque that describes the history and significance of the award.