46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF

The distinguishing patch of the 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF.

The 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 46th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 23 October 1915. On 11 August 1916 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^[1]

The unit has come to be known as "The Suicide Battalion". The 46th Battalion lost 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded – a casualty rate of 91.5 percent in 27 months.

The 46th Battalion recruited throughout Saskatchewan and was mobilized at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.^[2]

The 46th Battalion had two Officers Commanding:

• Lt.-Col. H. Snell, 22 October 1915-29 August 1916
• Lt.-Col. H.J. Dawson, CMG, DSO, 29 August 1916-Demobilization^[3]

One member of the 46th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross. Sergeant Hugh Cairns was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Valenciennes on 1 November 1918. ^[4]

The 46th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:

• SOMME, 1916
• Ancre Heights
• Ancre, 1916
• ARRAS, 1917, '18
• Vimy, 1917
• HILL 70
• Ypres 1917
• Passchendaele
• AMIENS
• Scarpe 1918
• Drocourt-Quéant
• HINDENBURG LINE
• Canal du Nord
• VALENCIENNES
• FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18^[5]

The 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF, is perpetuated by The Saskatchewan Dragoons.^[6]

References

1. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
2. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
3. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
4. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
5. Meek, John F. Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War. Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971. ISBN 0906158109
6. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.

Sources

Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 by Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Queen's Printer, Ottawa, Ontario, 1962