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The 9th Battalion, CEF, an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Britain on 1 October 1914, where it was redesignated as the 9th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF, on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was formally disbanded on 15 September 1917.
The battalion recruited in Edmonton, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario and was mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec.
The 9th Reserve Battalion formed part of the Canadian Training Depot at Tidworth Camp on the Salisbury Plain.
The 9th Battalion, CEF, had three Officers Commanding:
- Lt.-Col. S.M. Rogers, 22 September 1914-4 May 1915 (Lieutenant Ross Briscoe was killed during this time.)
- Lt.-Col. E.E.W Moore, 8 May 1915-25 April 1916
- Lt.-Col. E.B. Clegg, 25 April 1916-2 January 1917
The 9th Battalion was awarded the battle honour “THE GREAT WAR 1914-17.”
The 9th Battalion, CEF, was originally perpetuated by the 19th Alberta Dragoons and is now perpetuated by the South Alberta Light Horse.“
[Source: Wikipedia]
On 1 August 1914 – three days before Britain declared war – the Governor-General of Canada offered help should war break out. On 7 August Lord Kitchener responded, saying that the Canadians might form a Division. An Expeditionary Force soon began to assemble at Valcartier (Quebec). The Division sailed on 3 October 1914 and arrived in England eleven days later. Training re-commenced on Salisbury Plain and the Division embarked for St Nazaire in early February 1915. It arrived in the Hazebrouck-Strazeele area on 15 February and thereafter the 1st Canadian Division fought in many of the major actions of the war.
It was prior to the 1st Division (including the 9th Canadian Infantry Battalion) transfer from Salisbury Plain, to St. Nazaire that Lieutenant Ross Briscoe was killed in a training accident.