_THE COMPOSITE BATTALION._
The Composite Battalion was formed at Halifax from Companies drawn from
the Militia Regiments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward
Island to replace the Royal Canadian Regiment, which was transferred to
Bermuda shortly after the outbreak of hostilities.
[Illustration:
LIEUT.-COL. H. L. CHIPMAN.]
Companies consisting of three officers and fifty-six other ranks were
supplied by the 67th, 69th, 71st, 74th, 75th, 76th, 82nd and 93rd
Regiments, and arrived at Halifax on September 8th and 9th, 1914, taking
over at once garrison duties from the 66th Regiment, P.L.F., which
proceeded to York Redoubt for outpost duty.
The following guards were furnished: Quarter Guard, Wellington Barracks;
Gun Wharf; King’s Wharf; Lumber Yard; Station Hospital; Grain Elevator;
North Ordnance; Dry Dock; Richmond Pier and Rockhead Hospital. Weekly
Guards were also mounted at Fort Clarence, Fort Cambridge, Fort Ogilvie
and Point Pleasant Battery.
The Battalion was commanded by Lieut.-Col. A. E. Carpenter, R.C.R., with
Capt. M. E. Roscoe as Adjutant:
The Company officers were:—“A” Company (67th Regiment)—Capt. C. G.
McLaughlin, later transferred to 64th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. C.
Rideout, 145th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. C. E. Williams, 55th Battalion,
C.E.F. “B” Company (69th Regiment)—Major Whitman, resigned and replaced
by Capt. M. S. Parker, 112th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. S. McNeil; Lieut.
J. C. Willett, 165th Battalion, C.E.F. “C” Company (71st Regiment)—Capt.
H. Woodbridge, 55th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. C. A. Good, R.F.C.; Lieut.
B. Wade, resigned and replaced by Lieut. F. Fitzpatrick, 55th Battalion,
C.E.F. “D” Company (74th Regiment)—Capt. S. S. Wetmore, 55th Battalion,
C.E.F.; Lieut. J. A. Sproul, resigned; Lieut. M. P. Gillis, 112th
Battalion, C.E.F. “E” Company (75th Regiment)—Capt. W. L. Whitford, 25th
Battalion, C.E.F.; Capt. A. Berringer, resigned; Lieut. C. C. Morash,
112th Battalion, C.E.F. “F” Company (76th Regiment)—Capt. H. Dickie,
resigned and replaced by Capt. W. H. J. Moxsom, 106th Battalion, C.E.F.;
Lieut. O. G. Heard, 106th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. C. Major, 40th
Battalion, C.E.F. “G” Company (82nd Regiment)—Major F. Boulter, later
transferred to 105th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. A. McLeod, 105th
Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. G. E. Full, 40th Battalion, C.E.F. “H” Company
(93rd Regiment)—Major G. R. Oulton; Capt. J. N. McDonald, 106th
Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. D. Anderson.
In addition to the duties already enumerated, Guard was mounted over
prisoners of war at the Citadel and at the Detention Barracks, Melville
Island. The prisoners were German officers and men captured on the high
seas, with a sprinkling of civilians, some of whom were found on
captured ships; others were residents of Canada whom it was found
necessary to intern.
In March, 1915, the Interment Station at Amherst was opened, and two and
one-half Companies under command of Major G. R. Oulton, with Capt. J. N.
McDonald, Lieuts. Davidson and Sproul, were sent there, and were
replaced by one Company from each of the following Regiments:—78th
Regiment—Capt. J. A. McKenzie, later transferred to 85th Battalion,
C.E.F.; Capt. J. R. Maxwell, 106th Battalion, C.E.F. 81st Regiment—Capt.
E. S. Doering; Lieut. J. H. Wallace, 64th Battalion, C.E.F., killed in
action; Lieut. W. W. Slack, 40th Battalion, C.E.F. 93rd Regiment—Capt.
J. A. McPherson, 106th Battalion, C.E.F.; Lieut. P. Boucher, 165th
Battalion, C.E.F.
Lieut. E. W. Joy reported for duty to replace Lieut. C. S. Major,
transferred to 40th Battalion, and assumed the duties of Fortress
Intelligence Officer. Other officers on duty were Major F. S. Heffernan
(93rd), Quartermaster; Lieut. Keith Rogers (C.S.C.), Signalling Officer;
and Lieut. R. Innes (81st), Musketry Instructor, afterwards O.C. 106th
Battalion.
Previous to July, 1916, each Company Commander had his own account with
the District Paymaster and was responsible for all payments to his
officers and men. When the Battalion was recognized as a Unit it was
allowed a Paymaster. Capt. H. B. Verge received the appointment and
retained it until transferred to the Nova Scotia Forestry Battalion in
June, 1917, when Capt. W. S. Brignell took over his duties.
The Battalion suffered considerably in the explosion of December 6,
1917, losing six men killed and 87 per cent. of the N.C.O.’s and men
injured. One officer and two N.C.O.’s died in hospital from injuries
received. The more serious injuries were received by men on guard at
Richmond Pier, North Ordnance and Dry Dock. All the men killed,
excepting one, who was killed in the barrack room, were members of these
Guards. A snowstorm with high wind which raged for thirty-six hours
after the explosion made the barracks almost untenable, as windows and
doors were gone and no fires could be laid until the chimneys were
inspected. The morale of the men was good during this period. Many
N.C.O.’s and men had their families living near the barracks, a large
number of whom were killed and injured.
The first draft of one hundred men from the Composite Battalion was sent
Overseas in January, 1916, under command of Lieuts. W. S. Brown and O.
Thorne. A second draft of fifty-six men, under command of Lieut. W. R.
Clark, sailed on June 26, 1916. A number of men were transferred to the
R.C.R. Base Depot from time to time and were included in Overseas drafts
sent by that Unit.
When the Military Service Act came in force in 1918, 125 men in the
Composite Battalion, who came under its provisions, were sent Overseas.
The remainder were transferred to the 6th Battalion, Canadian Garrison
Regiment. All the senior officers were transferred to their Militia
Units, with the exception of Major J. E. Morse, who was transferred to
the 6th Battalion, C.G.R. The junior officers were transferred to the
Depot Battalion, 1st Nova Scotia Regiment, excepting Lieut. W. H.
Whidden and Lieut. I. C. Banks, who were taken on the strength of No. 6
District Depot and appointed respectively O.C. Casualty Company and
Discharge Section.
The following officers were on duty when the Unit was
disbanded:—Lieut.-Col. H. L. Chipman, Officer Commanding; Major G. R.
Oulton, Second in Command; Major E. K. Eaton, R.C.R., Adjutant; Lieut.
W. B. Arthur, Assistant Adjutant; Capt. W. W. Brignell, Paymaster; Major
F. S. Heffernan, Quartermaster; Major D. G. Mossmain, O.C. “A” Company;
Major F. Boulter, O.C. “B” Company; Major J. E. Morse, O.C. “C” Company;
Capt. G. L. Whidden, O.C. “D” Company; Capt. S. L. McNiel, Lieut. W. L.
Coleman, Lieut. R. J. Colwell, Lieut. H. C. Crosby, Lieut. C. McLellan,
Lieut. J. R. Campbell, Lieut. W. E. Mitchell, Lieut. W. H. Whidden,
Lieut. I. C. Banks.
Other officers who had served with the Battalion in 1916 and 1917 were
as follows:—Lieut. C. A. Vaughan, later transferred to 106th and
resigned; Capt. A. Stirling, 145th; Lieut. W. Ross, 38th Battalion;
Lieut. S. Rogers, R.C.R.; Lieut. St. C. Stayner, unattached; Lieut. S.
Bradford, R.F.C.; Lieut. H. F. Arthur, R.N.A.S.; Lieut. R. Asher, R.F.C.
The following officers of the R.C.R. also served: As Adjutant, Lieut. G.
L. P. Grant Suttie, who replaced Capt. M. E. Roscoe, transferred to the
219th Battalion, being later relieved by Capt. V. W. S. Heron, who in
turn was relieved by Major Eaton.