WORLD WAR I, 1914-1919

The Regiment's service in World War I is divided into three distinct categories. First, the Welland Canal Protective Force; second, contributions to the First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force; and third, the formation of three Overseas Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

The Welland Canal Protective Force (sometimes called the Welland Canal Field Force) was formed to provide guards for the canal, hydro electric installations and the international bridges at Niagara Falls. Most of the men who formed the Force were from the 19th and 44thRegiments.


Welland Canal Field Force

When war was declared, instead of mobilizing the militia by units, the Canadian Expeditionary Force was formed. Volunteers, both from the militia and off the streets, were formed into newly created units, and in less than two months some 32,000 men sailed for the United Kingdom. Most of the volunteers from the 19th and 44th were allocated to the 4th Battalion, CEF, although many were assigned to other units.


As the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions of the CEF were raised, a number of CEF units were raised in Niagara, three of them infantry battalions which had special connections to the Regiment. The Lincoln and Welland Regiment perpetuates the 81st, 98th and 176th Battalions due to the large number of men sent to the three units. These battalions were broken up in England and never reached France. The men, however, were dispersed throughout the Canadian Corps.


It is difficult to trace the military careers of the men who served in the three CEF battalions, but it is known that their gallantry won at least:

1	Victoria Cross
1	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
1	Companion of the Order of the Bath
1	Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
1	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
2	Officers of the Order of the British Empire
6	Distinguished Service Orders
14	Military Crosses
1	Distinguished Flying Cross
5	Distinguished Conduct Medals
1	Meritorious Service Medal
60	Military Medals
2	French Croix de Guerre
2	Belgian Croix de Guerre

To check the terms of reference for the Canadian medals see Canadian medals

The Lincoln and Welland Regiment proudly carries 10 Battle Honours awarded to the Lincoln Regiment and The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (post-war militia units) as recognition of the role played in these battles by men from the 4th Battalion, CEF, and the three battalions it perpetuates:

YPRES, 1915, '17
Festubert, 1915
SOMME, 1916
ARRAS, 1917, 18
Hill 70
AMIENS
Hindenburg Line
PURSUIT TO MONS

The World War I Display

The display has a number of photographs of men of the Force, and the uniform and accoutrements of Major John Edward Laur, of the 44th, who served most of the war.

There are photographs of Frederick William Hill, the Commanding Officer of the 44th Regiment who was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, CEF. His skill and bravery earned his promotion to Brigadier General and the awards of the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George , and the Distinguished Service Order.

Graham Thomson Lyall joined the 19th "Lincoln" Regiment in 1914 and served a year on Active Service with the Welland Canal Field Force before transferring to the 81st Battalion. He won the Victoria Cross at Bourlon Wood in September 1918. The photograph of Lyall in the display is of a painting held by The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.


Graham Thomson Lyall

The display shows a man in a trench. The uniforms and equipment are authentic World War I items. Also on display is a Maxim Machine-Gun, which first came into use in the British Army in South Africa prior to 1900, and used extensively in World War I.

Note the sleigh; of unknown origin and date, it was discovered a number of years ago in basement storage in Lake Street Armoury, St Catharines.


Maxim