The 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I.

History The 24th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 11 May 1915, arriving in France on 16 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The 24th Battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.

The 24th Battalion recruited and was mobilized at Montreal, Quebec.Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

The 24th Battalion had seven Officers Commanding: Lt.-Col. J.A. Gunn, DSO, 11 May 1915 – 31 October 1916 Lt.-Col. R.O. Alexander, DSO, 1 November 1916 – 7 December 1916 Lt.-Col. C.F. Ritchie, 7 December 1916 – 14 April 1917 Lt.-Col. R.O. Alexander, DSO, 14 April 1917 – 4 August 1917 Lt.-Col. C.F. Ritchie, MC, 4 August 1917 – 22 January 1918 Lt.-Col. W.H. Clark-Kennedy, VC, DSO, 22 January 1918 – 28 August 1918 Lt.-Col. C.F. Ritchie, DSO, MC, 5 September 1918-DemobilizationMeek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

One member of the 24th Battalion, Officer Commanding Lt.-Col. William Hew Clark-Kennedy, VC, CMG, DSO was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 27 and 28 August on the Fresnes-Rouvroy line, France.Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

Perpetuation The 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF, is perpetuated by The Victoria Rifles of Canada, 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.

Battle honours

The 24th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:

MOUNT SORREL SOMME, 1916, '18 Flers-Courcelette Thiepval Ancre Heights ARRAS, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917, '18 HILL 70 Ypres 1917 Passchendaele AMIENS HINDENBURG LINE Canal du Nord Cambrai, 1918 PURSUIT TO MONS FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

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

External links