The 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
History The 46th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 23 October 1915. On 11 August 1916 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.
The unit has come to be known as "The Suicide Battalion". The 46th Battalion lost 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded – a casualty rate of 91.5 percent in 27 months.
The battalion recruited throughout Saskatchewan and was mobilized at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.
The 46th Battalion had two officers commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel H. Snell, 22 October 1915 – 29 August 1916 Lieutenant-Colonel H.J. Dawson, CMG, DSO, 29 August 1916-Demobilization
One member of the 46th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross. Sergeant Hugh Cairns was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Valenciennes on 1 November 1918.
Battle honours The 46th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours: SOMME, 1916 Ancre Heights Ancre, 1916 ARRAS, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 HILL 70 Ypres, 1917 Passchendaele AMIENS Scarpe, 1918 Drocourt-Quéant HINDENBURG LINE Canal du Nord VALENCIENNES FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18
Perpetuation The perpetuation of the 46th Battalion was assigned in 1920 to 2nd Battalion (46th Battalion, CEF), The South Saskatchewan Regiment, and it is now perpetuated by The Saskatchewan Dragoons.
2nd Battalion (46th Battalion, CEF), The South Saskatchewan Regiment: 1920–1924 1st Battalion (46th Battalion, CEF), The King's Own Rifles of Canada: 1924–1936 The King's Own Rifles of Canada (MG): 1936–1942 The King's Own Rifles of Canada: 1942–1946 20th (Saskatchewan) Armoured Regiment, RCAC: 1946–1949 20th Saskatchewan Armoured Regiment: 1949–1954 The Saskatchewan Dragoons (20th Armoured Regiment): 1954–1958 The Saskatchewan Dragoons: 1958–present
See also
List of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
References
Sources Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962