The 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The 15th Battalion was authorized on 1 September 1914, embarked for Britain on 26 September 1914, and arrived in France on 15 February 1915. The battalion fought as part of the 3rd Canadian Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders throughout 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.

History

The 15th Battalion recruited in Toronto, Sudbury, Owen Sound and St. Catharines, Ontario and Waterloo and Coaticook, Quebec and was mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec.Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.

The battalion fought on the southern flank of the 3rd Brigade during the attack on Vimy Ridge. They met little resistance from the Germans and reached their objectives within a few hours. The battalion suffered around 20% casualties with nine officers and over a hundred other ranks being killed or wounded.

Brock Chisholm served with this battalion during the war.

The 15th Battalion had seven officers commanding: Lt.-Col. A.J. Currie, 22 September 1914 – 28 June 1915 Lt.-Col. W.B. Marshall, DSO, 28 June 1915 – 19 May 1916 Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, DSO, 20 May 1916 – 29 December 1917 Lt.-Col. J.W. Forbes, DSO, 29 December 1917 – 15 April 1918 Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, CMG, DSO, 15 April 1918 – 10 August 1918 Lt.-Col. J.P. Girvan, DSO, MC, 10 August 1918 – 3 October 1918 Lt.-Col. C.E. Bent, CMG, DSO, 3 October 1918 – Demobilization

Perpetuations The 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), CEF, is perpetuated by the 48th Highlanders of Canada.

Battle honours The 15th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours: YPRES, 1915, '17 GRAVENSTAFEL St. Julien FESTUBERT, 1915 MOUNT SORREL SOMME, 1916 Pozières Thiepval Ancre Heights ARRAS, 1917, '18 VIMY, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917, '18 HILL 70 Passchendaele AMIENS Drocourt-Quéant HINDENBURG LINE Canal du Nord PURSUIT TO MONS FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915–18

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