_112th BATTALION, C.E.F._
Authority for the recruiting of the 112th Battalion, with headquarters
in the historic town of Windsor, N.S., was granted in November, 1915.
Its personnel was composed of officers and men drawn chiefly from the
western part of Nova Scotia, embracing the counties of Halifax, Hants,
Kings, Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg.
Recruiting progressed with unique rapidity and by the middle of April,
1916, the Battalion was at full strength. Over 1,500 men applied for
enlistment, and of these about 300 were found medically unfit. The
significance of this achievement will be seen when it is considered that
it was accomplished without the aid of any extensive recruiting
campaign, but by the united effort of each officer and man.
In the early days of the Unit each county was allowed to keep a
detachment, providing it numbered fifty men or more, who trained in
their own locality until finally mobilized in Windsor in May, 1916.
There the Battalion encamped on the hill of Fort Edward, where it was
subjected to a rigorous training, and the progress made elicited much
praise from Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, then Minister of Militia, who
inspected the Unit about the beginning of July, 1916. The period of
training at Windsor was one of keen enjoyment to all concerned. Its
discipline was stern, its experience was at times hard, but the life was
altogether wholesome and profitable, which was evidenced by the
improvement in the bearing and appearance of the Unit during its short
stay at Windsor.
The Battalion was commanded by Lieut.-Col. H. B. Tremaine. The other
officers were: Majors W. F. D. Brennan, second in command; T. M. Seely,
M. S. Parker, T. A. Mulock; Capts. R. W. Churchill, O. G. Dauphinee
(killed in action), R. T. Christie, J. Flemming (Adjutant), E. S. Spurr,
M.C. (killed in action), M. P. Titus (Quartermaster), H. A. MacDonald
(Paymaster), John St. C. McKay (Medical Officer), C. R. Cumming
(Chaplain), G. R. Martell (Chaplain), Lieuts. J. T. Probert, M.C.
(killed in action), R. S. Parsons, W. D. Comstock, J. W. Hughes, J. K.
Swanson (killed in action), W. G. Foster (killed in action), G. M. Hebb
(killed in action), A. M. Parsons, M.C., R. M. Morris, M.C., R. B.
Logan, A. H. Creighton, P. L. Wilcox, J. W. G. Lardner, W. P. Harmon, W.
H. Smith, J. C. Lithgow, R. W. Dill, E. W. Bell, C. C. Morash, M. L.
Tupper (killed in action), W. J. Sangster, L. E. Langley (killed in
action), R. Henshaw, R. M. McGregor (killed in action), O. H. Lunham, G.
W. Banks, A. T. E. Crosby, H. L. Gates.
[Illustration:
LIEUT. WM. GORE FOSTER.]
Capt. G. R. Martell, Rector of Christchurch, Windsor, N.S., and Chaplain
of the Battalion throughout its organization, did splendid work in
recruiting and was beloved by all ranks. Owing to his inability to
proceed Overseas, the Rev. Charles R. Cummings was appointed Chaplain
and held the position until transferred to hospital duty in England
preparatory to proceeding to the Chaplain Services in France in January,
1917. Captain Martell died in June, 1918.
Colors for the 112th Battalion were made by Mrs. Annie Pratt, of
Windsor, Nova Scotia, and were presented to the Battalion by Mrs.
Tremaine, wife of the Commanding Officer, on Friday afternoon, July 21,
1916. The Battalion was formed up in mass in front of the bandstand at
Victoria Park, Windsor, and addresses were delivered by the Chaplain,
Mayor Roach, and others. The next day the colors were deposited in
Christchurch, Windsor, where the officers and men attended divine
service.
The 112th Battalion embarked at Halifax, July 23, 1916, on _H.M.T.
Olympic_, and arrived at Liverpool on July 31st. Here it entrained and
proceeded to Oxney Farm near Bramshott. The Unit remained there for
about three weeks, after which it moved to Bramshott on the departure of
the 4th Division for France. In Bramshott the Battalion was put through
very intensive training, and on October 5th the first draft of 122 other
ranks left for France to reinforce the 25th Battalion. On October 10th,
212 other ranks and on October 29th, 40 other ranks were sent to the
25th Battalion, all of whom proved to be a very welcome acquisition to
that famous Unit. Other drafts found their way to the Royal Canadian
Regiment. Most of the officers were detailed to special schools in
various parts of England for a time, after which they were gradually
absorbed by the Battalions already at the Front. At one time it was
expected that the Battalion would become a Forestry Unit and be sent to
France, but for some reason this did not eventuate, and the Battalion
was gradually depleted until the remnant was finally merged into the
26th Canadian Reserve Battalion in February, 1917.