The following presents a work-in-progress overview of the 4th CMR's history, with details being
taken from the Regimental History, by S. G. Bennett (1926) and cross-referenced with the War Diary.
4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - Formation and Movements
The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles became a unit of the Canadian Expeditionary
Force on 5th November, 1914. Under the command of Lt.-Col Vaux Chadwick,
former commanding officer of the 9th Mississauga Horse, its personnel,
established by twenty-eight officers and five hundred and seventy-seven
non-commissioned officers and men, were drawn from the Governor-General's
Body Guard, 2nd Dragoons, 9th Mississauga Horse and 25th Brant Dragoons.
Nov 1914
First known as the Ontario Mounted Rifles, the subsequently named
4th Canadian Mounted Rifles was brigaded with the 5th & 6th CMR
in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Brigade, and on Nov 16th, 1914 was billeted
at the Canadian Exhibition Centre. In addition to starting out with
around 200 horses, bought by the City of Toronto and Lt.-Col. H. C.
Cox - Hon. Col. of the Mississauga Horse - a further 500 horses were
received, but bridles and saddles were lacking and for the first three
months had to be borrowed from the Mississauga Horse. Early training
was therefore conducted bare back as a consequence. A hard winter
was endured with the help of additional winter clothing being bought
and donated by the good people of Toronto.
Spring 1915
The Governor-General, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught inspected the unit
and commented in glowing terms on the splendour of its appearance.
This visit was rumoured to be a precursor to deployment to Egypt.
This hope was not fulfilled and the Regiment's hopes for action further
shattered when called upon to hand over their horses as chargers for
the officers of the 2nd Canadian Division then heading overseas.
May 1915
The Regiment reservedly accepted an invitation to volunteer for service
overseas as a dismounted unit, and soon after were moved to Niagara-on-the
Lake for continued training.
June 1915
The Regiment is moved to Valcartier, joining with the 5th & 6th
CMR under Col. C. A. Smart to form the 2nd Canadian Mounted Brigade.
Lt. Col. Vaux Chadwick is transferred to HQ as Brigade Major of the
7th Overseas Infantry Brigade, putting Lt. Col. Sandford F. Smith
in command, and Lt. Col. H. D. Lockhart Gordon as Second-in-Command,
and training continues in earnest.
18th July 1915
The Regiment boarded the S.S. Hesperian at Quebec, which carried
the 4th and 5th CMR, and Brigade HQ Staff, to England.
29th Jul 1915
The Regiment arrives and disembarks at Plymouth and entrains for Shorncliffe,
arriving later to march into tent billets at Dibgate Hill, Kent. Training
commences quickly thereafter, with manoeuvres on the Downs, and musketry
practise at Hythe, over the following two months.
23rd Sept 1915
The Regiment moves to Caeser's Camp, where they receive Webb equipment,
ammunition, and identity discs.
24th Oct 1915
The Regiment marches to Folkestone and sails for Boulogne, France.
Disembarking at 10pm they march to St.Martin's camp on the hills overlooking
the town.
26th Oct 1915
Entraining at Boulogne the Regiment moves east to Bailleul, detrains
and moves on to billets three miles from the town, within ear-shot
of the guns.
2nd Nov 1915
Moved east of Bailleul, to Aldershot Huts, near Neuve-Eglise, Belgium,
and attached to First Canadian Division for final lessons in trench
warfare, with alternate squadrons going into the trenches south of
Messines near St. Yves for 48 hours at a time.
22nd Nov 1915
After returning to Bailleul for a few days' rest, bath-parades and
sports, the Regiment moves to Bulford Camp, with the Transport at
nearby English Farm.
23rd Nov 1915
Occupying trenches near Hill 63, Ploegsteert, the Regiment spends
four days in the front line and four days in Divisional Reserve, as
it takes up its first defensive responsibility for part of the British
Line.
1st Dec 1915
The first losses are experienced. Pte W. Fulford is killed and five
men wounded, with L/Cpl Hodge (acting Chaplain) dying of wounds, in
a shell burst over “A” squadron billets in the forward area.
Pte R. Craig is killed in a listening post in a forward sap the following
day.
3rd Dec 1915
Lt. Rutter, two officers and a ten men of “C” Company volunteer for
a raiding party on a barrier on the Wulverghem-Messines
road. Planning to get prisoners for identification purposes, the raid
was scattered by enemy fire drawn by allied screening fire and three
men were killed, with four further being wounded.
22nd Dec 1915
The Third Canadian Division is formed, commanded by Major-Gen. Mercer.
The then six CMR regiments were converted into four battalions of
infantry (having maintained a cavalry establishment up to that point),
making the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions into the 8th Brigade under
Brig.-Gen. V. A. .S. Williams. The 7th Brigade was made of up of the
P.P.C.L.I, the R.C.R., the 42nd and 49th Battalions. The 9th Brigade
was made up by the 43rd, 52nd, 58th and 60th Battalions.
Command of the 4th CMR was put under the hand
of Lt.-Col. Sandford F. Smith, who subsequently moved on to be replaced
Major J. F. H. Ussher, who became Lt.-Col a few weeks after.
Christmas 1915
In rest billets, Dec. 25th was passed with Christmas dinner, home
comforts and sports in the afternoon.
January 1916
In Corps Reserve, infantry drilling continued under the hand of the 7th Brigade, and
it is recorded that H.R.H. the Prince of Wales made a visit on Jan.
27th, although no note of any preparations or the actual event was
made in the 4th CMR War Diary.
1st Feb - 18th Mar 1916
8th Brigade relieves the 3rd Brigade, spending three weeks rebuilding,
revetting and draining trenches in trying conditions on the Wulverghem-Messines
road. They move out to rest billets and on Mar 18th are moved north
to “B” Camp, three miles east of Poperinghe.
19th Mar - Apr 6th 1916
Amidst cold and raw weather, the Regiment take over trenches in front
of Zillebeke, south-east of Ypres. After spending four days in the
line, during which time four men were killed and five wounded, the
Regiment is relieved by the 5th CMR and moves out to “Belgian
Chateau” in Brigade Reserve until Mar 28th, when they return
to the front line and then go back to Brigade Reserve again until
Apr 6th when the go back to “B” Camp for a week of rest.
13th - 29th Apr 1916
The 52nd Bn are relieved as the Regiment takes up trenches close to
Armagh Wood, near Zillebeke, where they split their time between the
front line, local support and Divisional Reserve. The Regiment is
relieved by the P.P.C.L.I. on the 29th, and they returnto “B”
Camp for rest.
May 1916
The Regiment returns to the front line, relieving the 58th Bn Canadian
Infantry in the Sanctuary Wood area on May 6th. Having undergone some
heavy shelling on May 11th, the Regiment was relieved by the 5th CMR
on the 16th and moved back to Camp “F” for two weeks rest,
drill and bath parades, and providing work parties at the front. The
Regiment is moved to “B” Camp on the 22nd and then is moved
back to the front line on the 31st, relieving the 52nd Bn, taking
trenches 47 to 53 in front of Armagh Wood. The 1st CMR are to the
Regiment's left, holding trenches 54 up to 60, and the 5th Bn Canadian
Infantry, are to the right, holding trenches 46 to 38.
1st June 1916
“A” Company suffered two casualties from trench mortars
sent into the right sector of the Regiment's line. In the early afternoon
a large group of enemy soldiers digging wide shelter trenches in front
of Trenches 51 & 52 were dispersed with Lewis & Stokes machine
guns. Enemy was reported as very quiet on the night of June 1st/2nd,
and so a large working party from the Regiment was out working on
a sap and new trench in front of Trench 51 during the night.
2nd June 1916
Divisional Commander, Maj-Gen. Mercer, with A.D.C. Capt. L. E. Gooderham,
Brig.-Gen. Williams and Brigade Orderly Officer, Capt. Fraser, were
making a visit to the front line, with Lt.-Col. Ussher. Around 8am
the enemy commenced a very heavy and unprecedented bombardment. A
shell landed opposite the visiting party, deafening General Mercer
and Lt. Gooderham, and slightly wounding Brig.-Gen. Williams.
The intense bombardment kept up for 5 hours
without cessation, with three mines being sprung about 1pm on the
Battalion front. Maj.-Gen. Mercer was further injured and died in
the subsequent evacuation, whilst Brig.-Gen. Williams and Lt.-Col.
Ussher were taken prisoner with over 100 men. The trenches were tilled
flat by the rain of steel and high losses meant there was little (albeit
ferocious) resistance against the advancing Wüttemberg troops.
The enemy had gained some 300 to 700 yards along a varied front, but
failed to consolidate their gains.
The wider picture on what turned into a much
longer engagement (some 14 days in all) can be accessed through the extensively detailed
'"Battle for Mount Sorrel"' page on Chris Baker's
excellent www.1914-1918.net website.
Official histories and reports infer that the
losses for the 4th CMR were 89% casualties. It is believed that whilst
this figure was genuinely held due to the chaos at the time, it was
never fully examined. Subsequent analysis of the figures indicates
that indeed whilst this was a black day for the 4th CMR (and the 1st
& 5th CMRs), losses for the 4th CMR were actually between 15%
and 33%, depending on which Regiment strength figures one uses.
For an exploration of this theme, see my article on the matter entitled:
'The Missing Lost. A 4CMR Myth?
3rd - 21st June 1916
The Second-in-Command and 64 survivors move back to Camp “B”
and the Regiment, such as it was, was ordered to move on to the rest
area at Steenvoorde on June 5th. A draft of twenty Other Ranks arrived
from the 12th Reserve Battalion on the 6th, and Major Lockhart Gordon
arrives to take command of the battalion on the 7th. A draft of 498
O.R. arrives from 33rd, 81st and 83rd Reserve Battalions on the 9th.
By degrees the Regiment reformed, trained and
drilled back to a fighting force.
22nd June 1916
Gen. Sir Julian Byng, Army Corps Commander visits in the morning,
and all officers are addressed in the afternoon by Gen. Sir Julian
Byng, Gen. Sir Herbert Plumer G.O.C. 2nd Army, Gen. Lipsett G.O.C.
3rd Canadian Division, and Col. Elinsley G.O.C. 8th Brigade.
25th June - 12th July 1915
Battalion moves to Cavalry Barracks, Ypres, and working parties are
provided for the front line over the next few days. They move back
to billets at Steenvoorde on the 28th and continued drill and training
into July.
13th - 22nd July 1916
Moved up to Camp St. Lawrence on the 13th, and joined by 100 O.R.
that night. Onto Ypres and Cavalry Barracks the following day. Supplied
working parties for duties at the front until the 18th. One man killed
and four wounded during this time. Moved to Zillebeke Bund on the
18th, and supplied working parties for five nights. 6 more casualties.
23rd - 31st July 1916
Relieved the 5th CMR near Sanctuary Wood on the 23rd, occupying trenches
that formed the old battle line of June 2nd. The enemy was quite active
throughout. Further losses during this time. Relieved by the 58th
Battalion on the 27th and moved to Erie Camp, then into billets at
Steenvoorde on the 31st.
1st Aug - 6th Sept 1916
Prior to moving to Camp Winnipeg on Aug 8th, the Regiment was occupied
by a great deal of training and supplied men to all manor of working
parties. Relieved the 14th Bn at Swan Chateaux on Aug 9th, and with
a few intervening casualties subsequently went into the front line
to relieve the 5th CMR on Aug 16th at “The Bluff”, a southerly
position near the Ypres-Comines canal. Relieved by the 2nd Essex Bn
on Aug 22nd, the Regiment moved back to “D” Camp, and then
transferred to billets in North Steenvoorde on the 23rd, where they
stayed until Sept 6th.
7th - 14th Sept 1916
Moved out from the Ypres sector and after overnight train journey,
arrived at billets in Franqueville, on the Somme on the 8th. After
a day and a half here they were moved on and after a circuitous couple
of days, arrived by busses at Albert on the 11th, where they moved
by platoons to the brick-fields north of the town. Surprisingly they
were moved into the front line at Mouquet Farm, Pozières, the
same evening, being bombarded with gas shells as they relieved the
5th Bn. Here for two days, they were relieved by the 5th CMR on the
night of 13th/14th.
The source for the above summary is S G Bennett's exstensive 4th CMR Regimental History
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