The 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.

History The 42nd Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 10 June 1915. It disembarked in France on 9 October 1915, where it fought as part of the 7th Canadian Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The 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 42nd Battalion recruited in and was mobilized at Montreal.Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

The 42nd Battalion had five officers commanding: Lt-Col. G.S. Cantlie, 10 June 1915 – 24 December 1916 Maj. R.L.H. Ewing, 24 December 1916 – 2 January 1917 Maj. S.C. Norsworthy, 2 January 1917 – 6 April 1917 Lt-Col. B. McLennan, DSO, 6 April 1917 – 3 August 1918 Lt-Col. R.L.H. Ewing, DSO, MC, 3 August 1918-Demobilization

One member of the 42nd Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross. Private (later Lieutenant) Thomas Dinesen was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 12 August 1918 at Parvillers, France.

The novelist Will R. Bird was a member of the battalion, and wrote two books of memoirs on his war experiences: And We Go On and Ghosts Have Warm Hands.

American author and playwright Robert E. Sherwood enlisted in the 42nd Battalion after the United States Army rejected him as being too tall. He was wounded twice in France.

Battle honours The 42nd Battalion was awarded the following battle honours: MOUNT SORREL SOMME, 1916 Flers-Courcelette Ancre Heights ARRAS, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Arleux HILL 70 Ypres, 1917 Passchendaele AMIENS SCARPE, 1918 HINDENBURG LINE Canal du Nord PURSUIT TO MONS FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915–18

Perpetuation The 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF, is perpetuated by The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

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