The 54th Battalion (Kootenay), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
History The 54th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914, embarked for Britain on 22 November 1915 and disembarked in France on 14 August 1916. It fought as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
The 54th Battalion recruited in Southern British Columbia and was mobilized at Nelson, B.C.Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.
The 54th Battalion had three Officers Commanding: Lt-Col A.G.H. Kemball, CB, DSO 22 November 1915 – 1 March 1917 Lt.-Col. V.V. Harvey, DSO, 2 March 1917 – 24 August 1917 Lt.-Col. A.B. Carey, CMG, DSO, 24 August 1917-DemobilizationMeek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.
Battle honours The 54th 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 SAMBRE FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.
Perpetuation The 54th Battalion (Kootenay), CEF, is perpetuated by The 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
Notable people Harry Letson, Canadian Army Adjutant General in World War II
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