Eaton's MGB formation?

[Roy]

Hi Gents,

Can someone share any knowledge they may have on the Eaton Machine Gun Battery?

I have a reference to them arriving in France February of 1916 but I would be interested to hear of how and when this unit was raised.

Sorry if its a novice question buy hey 'I'm a novice'....

Cheers, Roy.

[Voltigeur]

Hi Roy....just to get you started.
Jo
go to page 54,
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/o...2.29.024-e.pdf

Their war diary,
http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/ne....html&r=27&f=G

[Roy]

Hi,

Many thanks indeed, a good place to start.

Cheers, Roy.

[Roy]

Hi Gents,

I was wondering if anyone else has some basic details on this unit they would be willing to share???

There seems to be only scant information out there, so anything would be of interest.

Cheers, Roy.

[Bill A]

Hi Roy, Not sure of the basic information you are looking for? The EMMGB was formed under the patronage of Sir John Craig Eaton in 1915 and arrived in the UK in June of 1915. It was changed to a Motor MG unit overseas, and served in the 3rd Canadian Division and later the 1st Cdn MMG Brigade. They had three cap badges, two leaf pattern with different size beavers and an oval shaped badge with an armoured car as the central motif.
More book recommendations. If you are getting into the CEF badges a copy of Harper's (the father of the current Canadian PM), A Sense of Pride and Love's A Nation in the Making. Both are available from Service Publications, and worth every penny.

[Roy]

Hi Bill,

Many thanks indeed - that was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I'm still waiting for a few books but will certainly make a note of the ones you mentioned and purchase them soon. Very much appreciated those recommendations.

So if I understand your comments correctly Bill:

A)Eaton's was formed in 1915 (in Canada) - with it's own cap badge - Maple leave/beaver/EMGB. As per this forum link below ?

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/can...oured_28_1.htm

B) After arriving in England is was changed to the Motor Machine Gun Unit with a similar cap badge?

C) Later the cap badge changed to a oval with armoured car.

Cap badge question (if I understand correctly); in regards the first two cap badges, they differed only in the size of the beaver? And large vs small which one is the earlier?

Sorry for the peppering Bill, just trying to get my facts right. As always very much appreciated you sharing your knowledge.

Cheers, Roy.

[Bill A]

Hi Roy. There two maple leaf badges are completely different strikings and differ in many details.
The supposition is that the maple leaf pattern is the first badge and the oval badge the second. I am not sure if the unit adopted the oval badge while they were in the 3rd Div. I am not sure exactly what role they were assigned in that div, but as an infantry div, I am not sure what would have been the need for Motor MG's.

[Roy]

Hi Bill,

Thank you for that. The supposition that the leave badge is earlier seems reasonable. As the say the concept of a motor machine gun unit in an infantry role is intriguing.

Always a pleasure chatting Bill,

Cheers, Roy.