14th Canadian Infantry WW1

[Eddie Parks]

Hi Guys

Doing some research on a family member who served in WW1.

We have a WW1 pair + 1939 45 War Medal to 26679 L/Cpl G G Caldwell 14 - Can Inf.

Christian names we think are Gault Gaston. He was apparently an Ulsterman so we have no idea how he finished up in Canada or the Canadian Army in WW1.

Can anyone show me the cap badge and perhaps a little potted history? Is there a unit history?

Eddie

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Eddie Parks

Hi Guys

Doing some research on a family member who served in WW1.

We have a WW1 pair + 1939 45 War Medal to 25679 L/Cpl G H Caldwell 14 - Can Inf.

Christian names we think are Gaston Hugh. He was apparently an Ulsterman so we have no idea how he finished up in Canada or the Canadian Army in WW1.

Can anyone show me the cap badge and perhaps a little potted history? Is there a unit history?

Eddie

I assume that you have looked him up in the online Canadian records?

http://www.cefresearch.com/Links.html

You might also want to look more generally:

http://www.cefresearch.com/phpBB2/

[Eddie Parks]

I was directed to the attestation records on a different forum so I now have his proper number and names.

Anybody know anything about the 14th Can Inf?

[Bill A]

Hi Eddie, To start, the 14th Battalion CEF was formed from militia units in Montreal shortly after the declaration of war in 1914. It was a composite unit, made up from the Canadian Grenadier Guards, 3rd Victoria Rifles of Canada, and 65th Fusiliers Mont Royal. The Battalion went overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914, and served with 1 Canadian Division throughout the war. It was present at virtually all the major actions of the Canadian Corps.
Here is a link to the 14th Bn badge on the B&CMBF gallery. http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/can...ce/cef_e14.htm
There is a history of the unit, plus if you search the Royal Montreal Regiment on the net, you will find lots more information.
It was not uncommon to find an Ulsterman enlisted in the CEF. There was a much closer connection between Canada and the mother country in 1914. Much of the CEF enlistment was made up of recent immigrants or first generation immigrants from the UK. IIRC, the CEF pay was significantly more than the BEF.
This covers some of your questions... What else do you need?

[Eddie Parks]

Thank you, that's fantastic. Now I need to put a bit of thought in and see where to go next.

Eddie

[Staffsyeoman]

Friend of mine is a former 2iC of the RMR and a keen historian. He was instrumental in trying to buy that Canadian padre's medals for the regiment (he was the RMR's chaplain) - but is glad they went to the CWM. He's abroad at present, but remind me and I'll ask

[edstorey]

The Medals recently purchased by the CWM were Canon Frederick George Scott's medals (1st Canadian Division) from the Great War.