Background Information:
Depot Battalions were created in central locations of the various Military Districts across Canada to handle the training of the final allotments of recruits and draftees, and were used as demobilization centres for the returning Canadian Corps after the signing of the armistice.
The Depot Battalions provided minimal training sufficient to develop discipline. The recruits then shipped to Canadian reserve battalions in England where they received the majority of their training.
The Canadian authorities in England were unhappy with the training received in Canada and wanted to reduce the time wasted there. In 1917, the Canadian training organization in England rated some battalions that were embodied for up to 18 months as having completed Week 3 of the standard 14 week training period. This indicates just one of the problems created by sending over complete battalions to England. The Depot Battalions was one of the steps to reduce the inefficiency in the system.
“The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion was a battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force that saw service in the First World War.
The battalion was created on 2 September 1914 with recruits from “Military District 1” which was Western Ontario. The battalion set off for England on board the Laurentic berthed in Quebec. They arrived in England on 14 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers and 1121 men. The battalion became part of the 1st Canadian Division, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade where it saw action at Ypres and along the Western Front.
The battalion returned to Canada on 21 April 1919, was demobilized on 24 April 1919, and disbanded soon after. The 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion was initially perpetuated by the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), and is currently perpetuated by The Royal Canadian Regiment.”
Two names engraved on the Strathroy cenotaph were enlisted in the 1st Depot Battalion: Private Thomas Edgar Norman (#3134500) was in the Western Ontario Regiment, and Acting Sergeant Joseph Harold Payne (#3209040) was in the Alberta Regiment.
The War Diaries of the Western Ontario Regiment are available on line from September 1918 to January 1919. Private Thomas Edgar Norman died of influenza pneumonia on October 29, 1918, while still in London. He did not live long enough to go overseas to fight. This was a not uncommon plight at this time in history.
The War Diaries of the Alberta Regiment are available on line from August 1918 to March 1919. Acting Sergeant Joseph Harold Payne survived the war and was discharged at war’s end. These diaries describe some of the experiences of this regiment.
The 1st Depot Battalion (Western Ontario Regiment) was authorized by General Order 89 of 1 September 1917 and by General Order 57 of 15 April 1918.
It was to provide reinforcements to the 1st and 18th Battalions through the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion and to the 160th, 161st and 2nd Pioneer Battalions through the 25th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E. S. Wigle.