History - World War 1

With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the call for volunteers went out across Canada. By the thousands, men rushed to recruiting stations, signing up for service overseas. The men of Bruce County answered the call, enlisting in many branches of the Canadian armed services.

By late 1915, many of Bruce County soldiers had gone into battle in Europe - but it became obvious that many more would be required to bring victory. One hundred thousand men were needed to bring the Canadian Expeditionary Force to a quarter of a million soldiers.

The first notification of the formation of the 160th Bruce Battalion came in December 1915. Signed by the Adjutant General of the Canadian Army, the order instructed Lieutenant Colonel Adam Weir of Port Credit to be the commanding officer of a military unit to be recruited exclusively from Bruce County.

Mobilization of the 160th Bruce Battalion got under way at once as recruiting began immediately. By May 1916, the Battalion was 1,260 men strong. The 160th Bruce Battalion headquarters were established at Walkerton. The Battalion's four companies, including the Chesley Citizens Band, First Nations soldiers formed into the Indian Platoon and a large contingent of Men from the Bruce Peninsula , mustered at Walkerton Armouries. On June 3, 1916 they marched to Chesley, where Premier Hearst presented the Battalion's Colours.

In October 1916, the 160th Bruce Battalion sailed to England as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force where they trained as part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Canadian Division until February 13, 1918. The Battalion was then disbanded and absorbed into other units.

Casualties of the 160th Bruce Battalion included 99 killed in action or died of wounds and 255 wounded. Among the many notable Bruce County residents who served in the First World War were Samuel Lewis Honey, V.C., Sergeant Meredith Reany, Stan Rosevear, and a Bruce Peninsula bear named Teddy.

When the war was over, many Bruce County communities erected memorials to those who served in the Great War. The Bruce County Public Library today maintains Bruce Remembers, a Bruce County Virtual War Memorial (www.bruceremembers.org) of those who gave their lives in the conflict.