The 164th Battalion (Halton and Dufferin), CEF, was a unit in the

Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...

during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Based in

Orangeville, Ontario Orangeville (Canada 2021 Census population of 30,167) is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County. History The first patent of land was issued to Ezekiel Benson, a land surveyor, on August 7, 1820. That was fol ...

, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Halton and Dufferin Counties. Prior to sailing for England in April 1917, the

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

was reinforced by a draft from the

205th (Tiger) Battalion, CEF The 205th (Tiger) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Established in late 1915, it was stationed in Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories o ...

from

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...

. In June 1917, the battalion was further reinforced by drafts from the 2nd, 5th, and 12th Reserve Battalions totalling over 400 men. The 164th (Halton and Dufferin) Battalion, CEF was assigned to the 13th Brigade of the

5th Canadian Division The 5th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of most army units in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador; as well as some un ...

, and was based at

Witley Camp Witley Military Camp, often simplified to Camp Witley, was a temporary army camp set up on Witley Common, Surrey, England during both the First and Second World Wars. The camp was about southwest of London. Camp Witley was one of three facilit ...

. On February 12, 1918, it was learned that the 5th Canadian Division would cease to exist. Over the course of the next two months, the battalion was slowly broken up through a series of drafts for frontline units, in particular the 102nd and 116th Battalions, CEF. Sizeable drafts were also sent to the

21st Battalion, CEF The 21st Battalion (Eastern Ontario), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the World War I, Great War. History The battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 6 May 1915. It disembark ...

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricias) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...

, and the

Canadian Machine Gun Depot Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

at Seaford. On April 16, 1918, the remaining members of the battalion—six officers and 92

other ranks Other ranks (ORs) in the Royal Marines (RM), the British Army, and the Royal Air Force (RAF), along with the navies, armies, and air forces of many other Commonwealth countries and Ireland, are those personnel who are not commissioned officers, bu ...

—were absorbed into the

8th Reserve Battalion Eighth is ordinal form of the number eight. Eighth may refer to: * One eighth, , a fraction, one of eight equal parts of a whole * Eighth note (quaver), a musical note played for half the value of a quarter note (crotchet) * Octave, an interval b ...

. The 164th Battalion, CEF, had two Commanding Officers: Lieutenant Colone
Percy Domville
(April 22, 1917 – June 19, 1917) and Lieutenant Colonel B. M. Green (June 19, 1917 – April 16, 1918). A listing of 164th soldiers from Dufferin County can be found in the Dufferin County Museum and Archives. It includes where they enlisted, enlisted number, next of kin, date of birth, plus, if known, if they earned a medal, if they were wounded, or killed in battle. A copy of the enlistment papers is also included in the binders holding The 164th Battalion Project. These binders are available for the public to view in the archives. The 164 Battalion (Halton and Dufferin), CEF, is perpetuated by

The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. Organization The sub-units of the Lorne Scots are in the foll ...

.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.

References

* Meek, John F. ''Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War.'' Orangeville, Ontario: The Author, 1971.

External links

164th Canadian Infantry Battalion War Diary

Nominal Roll
{{DEFAULTSORT:164th (Halton And Dufferin) Battalion, Cef Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Military units and formations established in 1915 Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 1915 establishments in Ontario Orangeville, Ontario Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)