Men of Montreal's 23rd Battalion Drpart for Europe,Feb.1915.
IMAGE - Part of the secret sailing of the Second Contingent, CEF. Officers of the Montreal-based 23rd Battalion,CEF in Halifax, as they ready to sail for Britain in Feb. 1915.The First Contingent's voyage in Oct.1914 was well-publicized. But they were lucky to have no losses.Afterwards,security was increased.
Source:Royal Montreal Regiment blog
On Feb.2, 1915 the 23rd Battalion, C.E.F. sailed from Halifax as part of the first detachment of the Second Canadian Contingent. This battalion was initially composed of men recruited in Montreal from The Canadian Grenadier Guards, and the 58th Westmount Rifles. The present day Royal Montreal Regiment proudly perpetuates both the 23rd Battalion and the 58th.
Formed as the 23rd Infantry Battalion on August 6, 1914, the battalion mobilized at Quebec City, and recruited in various cities across Canada, including Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal and Quebec City. The initial core of the battalion comprised trained recruits from The Canadian Grenadier Guards and the 58th Regiment Westmount Rifles.
The battalion sailed for England on the S.S. Missanabie on February 2, 1915, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F.W. Fisher, with a complement of 35 officers and 942 other ranks. On April 29, 1915, the unit was re-organized as the 23rd Reserve Battalion.
For the duration of the war, the 23rd Reserve Battalion, based in England, trained and provided reinforcements for Canadian infantry units fighting in France. The unit routinely received reinforcements from Canada, both directly and through the absorption of other infantry battalions. On May 11, 1917, the battalion was re-designated the 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion (199th Duchess of Connaught’s Own Irish Canadian Rangers
