[Illustration: Cover] [Illustration: COLOURS OF SOME CANADIAN BATTALIONS ON WOLFE'S MONUMENT IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The 116th Batt. Colours are in the centre. These colours were worked and presented to the Battalion by the ladies of Ontario County] THE 116TH BATTALION IN FRANCE [Illustration: 116 CANADA OVERSEAS BATTALION] BY THE ADJUTANT 1921 _Copyright, Canada, 1921, by E. P. S. Allen, Toronto_ PRESS OF THE HUNTER-ROSE CO. LIMITED PREFACE With the assistance of the official "War Diary" and the proud memory of two years' service with the 116th Battalion C.E.F. in France, the writer has compiled this small book for all ex-members of the Battalion, with the hope that they may find somewhere within its pages the reminiscence of days spent together, battles fought, and friendships made; and for the parents, relatives, and friends whose loved ones fell whilst fighting in the ranks of the Battalion, as a token of remembrance and sympathy. THE ADJUTANT. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 7 CHAPTER I.--SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE 13 CHAPTER II.--VIMY RIDGE 19 CHAPTER III.--UMPTY UMPS 27 CHAPTER IV.--THE RAID 31 CHAPTER V.--HILL SEVENTY 40 CHAPTER VI.--PASSCHENDAELE 49 CHAPTER VII.--REST BILLETS 53 CHAPTER VIII.--AUGUST 8TH 62 CHAPTER IX.--THE BOIRY SHOW 72 CHAPTER X.--CAMBRAI 80 CHAPTER XI.--MONS 87 HONOR ROLL 94 INTRODUCTION There were very few, if any, Canadian Militia Regiments that succeeded in keeping their identity in France throughout the Great War. The reasons for this were--Firstly, the recruiting system, by means of which men were gathered into the Battalions of the Expeditionary Force, through the different Militia Regiments; the majority of the overseas Battalions being formed by drafts from three, four, five and sometimes more different Regiments. Secondly, the method of reinforcement, which distributed officers and men to Battalions in France disregarding any other principle except that these officers and men were from the same Province as the Battalion to which they were going. And even this did not hold good at all times.