Lest

About the picture: This is “Nellie, mascot of the 3rd Battalion” (Toronto Regiment, First World War),” writes Pete. “She is adorned with various patches and badges (years of service, wounds, gallantry) that must have been donated by the men of the unit who were dog lovers and wanted to dress her up a little. Thanks for the blog and the sound advice!”

Below is an entry from Wiki on the Third Battalion. One thousand, one hundred and sixty-five men went to battle in this WW1 unit as part of the outsized Canadian forces. Our guys sailed into the teeth of conflict to aid Britain and its allies opposing German aggression.

The war erupted on July 28th, 1914, and these men started signing up within weeks. They soon saw death and destruction, fought at Vimy, showed valour and paid a heavy price. Upon war’s end, only 40 returned to Toronto.

It’s worth noting the United States, unlike Canada, did not join the war effort until just before Christmas in 1917, as its leader, Woodrow Wilson, had adopted an isoltationist stance. History now repeats with the incoming president. Amerca was equally reluctant to fight in WW2, until attacked at Pearl Harbour. Our nation had been in the battle then for three tortuous years. When called, we answered. Duty.

About 40 million people died in the Great War, including 61,000 Canadians. There were only eight million of us at that time, so our contribution and sacrifices were utterly remarkable.

We have a great deal to be proud of. Heads held high.

Lest we forget

The Battalion

“The 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force that saw service in the First World War. It was created on 2 September 1914 with recruits from Toronto, primarily from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada with additional drafts from the 10th Royal Grenadiers and the Governor General’s Body Guard.

“The battalion organized and trained at Camp Valcartier before sailing for England from Quebec City on board the SS Tunisian on 25 September 1914. They arrived in England on 16 October with a strength of 42 officers and 1123 men. The battalion became part of the 1st Canadian Division, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade where it saw action at Ypres, Vimy Ridge and along the Western Front. It was later reinforced by the 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion.

“In the attack on Vimy Ridge, the battalion had a relatively easy time due to very successful artillery barrages but still lost around 150 killed or wounded.

“286 soldiers of the 3rd Battalion were taken prisoner during the war – all but 21 during the 2nd Battle of Ypres during April and May 1915.

“The battalion returned to Canada from England on the SS Olympic arriving in Halifax on 21 April 1919, then in Toronto by train and demobilizing in the afternoon of 23 April 1919. Only 40 of the original contingent from 1914 arrived back at the end of the war although others had been demobilized or taken prisoners of war.”

About the picture: “This morning near Burlington,” writes Brian on this day. “The photo speaks for itself!”

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2024/11/11/lest-2/