When recruitment drives began in Ontario during the First World War, Bruce County’s community spirit spurred on the 160th (Bruce) Battalion to become one of the most quickly formed Battalions in Ontario.
- 1,112 of 1,336 160th Battalion Soldiers served overseas:
- 979 in France, and 33 in Great Britain (Kraemer, Fall 2023).
This article provides an introduction to the Battalion with brief descriptions of its recruitment, training, successes, and demobilization.
Early Enlisters
British patriotism, community pride, peer pressure, and a desire for adventure spurred thousands of Canadians to enlist for overseas service during the first half of the war. Hundreds of Bruce County born & raised men enlisted across Canada soon after war was declared in 1914 and 1915.
160th Battalion Recruitment
At the end of 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Weir, former commander of the 32nd Bruce Regiment, received instructions to form a battalion made entirely residents of Bruce County’s hamlets, villages, towns and townships. Based in Walkerton, Ontario, the unit began recruiting right away.
Four companies were mobilized:
- “A” Company from Walkerton, Cargill, Paisley, Port Elgin and Southampton
- “B” Company from Chesley, Tara, Hepworth and Teeswater
- “C” Company from Wiarton, Lion’s Head, Tobermory, and Cape Chin. C Company also included 108 volunteers from Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
- “D” Company from Kincardine, Lucknow, Ripley and Tiverton
A Military Band was featured at recruitment rallies and in local parades, playing patriotic music, encouraging others to join. Many of the men of the Chesley Citizen’s Band enlisted together to form the 160th’s Battalion Band. Local newspapers advertised the rallies and printed the names of people who enlisted.
As more men enlisted, more of their friends and community members also joined. They were farmers, carpenters, merchants, tradesmen, teachers, and students, most with minimal or no military training. They began training locally with their company units during recruitment.
Local Training and Military Displays
At the beginning of May 1916, around 1,300 of Bruce County’s men travelled to Walkerton to begin a month of training together.
Community pride continued to grow as the Battalion gave a Military Demonstration at the Walkerton Exhibition Grounds on May 24, 1916. One of the largest crowds in the history of Walkerton assembled to watch the displays of physical exercises, sports and a Battalion drill. The May 25, 1916 Walkerton Telescope reported that:
“The enthusiasm reached a climax when the entire Battalion marched past the grandstand at the conclusion …” They also reported that there were at least 10,000 visitors in town, and that “The Special train from the north was so crowded that it was necessary to run an extra special train back at night. The event raised around $1,200 for tents for the Battalion.
In early June 1916, the Battalion marched to Chesley where it received its colours. There, again, they were met with a large, supportive crowd. (See our Marching Maneuvers article for more details). The Chesley Enterprise reported on June 8 1916:
“The Premier’s speech at the presentation of the colors was a forceful one. He referred to the boys of the Battalion being the worthy sons of pioneer fathers… It was with a glow of pride that he instanced the fact that the Bruce Battalion had been formed more rapidly than any other rural Battalion in Ontario.”
On June 21, 1916, the Battalion travelled by train to Grosvenor Camp, London, Ontario for three months of training. Not all received the full three months instruction though, as 90% of the men were allowed to return home on one month’s leave in August or September to help harvest crops on their family farms. After the return of men from the farming furlough, the Battalion moved to Carling Heights in London.
On October 14, 1916, after posing for the Battalion photograph below, the 160th Battalion left London for Halifax, from which they sailed to England. There, they spent over another year of training at Bramshott and Witley Camps.
Training in England
In England, the 160th Battalion was placed in the 13th Brigade of the 5th Canadian Division. The Battalion distinguished itself as hard and competent workers throughout the arduous, and sometimes monotonous, training. Their dedication was reflected in their success in 13th Brigade sports and efficiency competitions, which also kept the men engaged. Some examples:
- Silver Cup: The 160th won the Silver Cup presented by Brigadier General Embury on August 17, 1917 for the highest aggregate points obtained in Military Events (winning two first-place and four second-place prizes), and for second-highest aggregate points in Athletic Events (winning one first-place, four second-place, and three third-place prizes.)
- Brigade Efficiency Awards: At the conclusion of this week-long competition, on September 19, 1917, the 160th Battalion won: Revolver (for Officers), Bombing (rifle grenades), Physical Training, Erection of Wire Entanglements and Royal Army Medical Corps Stretcher and First Aid.
- Krug Trophy: No. 6 (Tara) Platoon won the Bruce County Krug family-donated trophy for the highest number of aggregate points of all branches of training in Platoon Drill & Efficiency, November 1917.
Read more about these accomplishments in Library and Archives Canada’s 160th Battalion War Diaries.
The 160th also distinguished itself by leading “by a big margin all battalions both in England and in France in its subscriptions to the victory War Loan.” As the 160th Battalion Chaplain reported: “Not only was this a very loyal and patriotic thing to do, but it is significant of the sobriety and carefulness on the part of the men.” Read the Chaplain’s January 30, 1918 letter to the Paisley Advocate here.
Disbanding
In mid-February 1918, the 5th Division, of which the 160th Battalion was a part, broke up to provide reinforcements for units already fighting in France. The 160th firs provided drafts of 100 men to each of the 1st Battalion and 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. The remaining men were absorbed into the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion. Within a month, all men were drafted to other battalions, including the 1st, 18th, 47th, and 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion. Still others were drafted to various Engineer, Railway, Forestry, and Machine Gun battalions.Fighting on the Front Lines
On the front lines of battle, most of the 160th Battalion soldiers served in what became known as The Hundred Days Campaign from August 8 to November 11, 1918.
- 90 members of the 160th lost their lives in battle.
- In total, 105 men died in Europe (from battle, illness or accident)
- 5 died of illness in Canada before going overseas,
- 10 died while serving in Great Britain,
- 4 died later in Canada, with their cause of their death related to military service. (The number of later deaths caused by the effects of war may be even higher).
We continue to remember these men, their families and communities.
- Visit BruceRemembers.org to search for Bruce County-connected soldiers and military personnel.
- Visit Online Collections for descriptions of more 160th Battalion resources in the Collection.
Consider Donating Items to BCM&CC
Contact the Archives & Research Room if you are interested in discussing a possible donation of military items related to a current or former Bruce County resident: archives@brucecounty.on.ca or 226-909-2426
Sources
Bartley, Allan. “Heroes in Waiting: The 160th Bruce Battalion in the Great War.” Port Elgin, Ontario: The Brucedale Press, 1996. Print. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, AX996.001.001
Canada. War Diary of the 160th (Bruce) Canadian Infantry Battalion. RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4946. Library and Archives Canada. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record
James, F. Treve and Thomas Johnston, eds. “Bruce in Khaki containing a History of the 160th Overseas Bruce Battalion and Complete Nominal Roll of all Men who were at any Time on the Strength of the Battalion.” Chesley: F. Treve James and Thomas Johnston, 1934. Print. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, A987.031.015
Kincardine Reporter, March 30, 1916. “The 160th Bruce Battalion, O.S., C.E.F.” pages 1 and 4.
Kraemer, Kent. “The 160th Dispatch” column. Marathon of History Magazine, Fall 2023. Marathon of History Magazine – Fall 2023. https://publuu.com/flip-book/70758/856777/page/18 Accessed January 2025.
Kraemer, Kent. “The 160th Dispatch” column. Marathon of History Magazine, Spring 2023.Marathon of History Magazine – Spring 2023. https://publuu.com/flip-book/70758/365057/page/30. Accessed January 2025.
Walkerton Telescope May 25, 1916 “Biggest Day on Record” page 1.
