Canadian Expeditionary Force (17) Labour Battaliohs and Infantry Works Companies

Labour

Four Canadian Labour Battalions for work in rear areas were organized in England in December 1916and January 1917 using men not fit for service in the trenches (B. Category). The intention was to have one battalion attached to each Canadian division in France but, in fact, all were employed in railway construction under the Director of Labour (British). In November 1917 two of the battalions finally went to the Canadian Corps and the other two became battalions of Canadian Railway troops. In November 1917, the 2nd and 3rd Labour Battalions were redesignated as the 12th and 11th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops, respectively. In March 1918, the 1st and 4th Labour Battalions were redesignated as the 1st and 2nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalions, respectively.

1st Canadian Labour Battalion

(Internet Archive Photo)

Organized at Shoreham in December 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. A. C. Machin. Arrived in France 11 January 1917. Strength: 13 officers, 1010 other ranks. Worked mainly on broad gauge railways, roads, light railways, water services, trench cables and salvage. Redesignated as 1st Canadian Infantry Works Battalion on 28 March 1918 .The 1st Canadian Infantry Works Battalion formed the 1st and 3rd Canadian Infantry Works Companies in September 1918.

2nd Canadian Labour Battalion

Organized at Seaford in January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A.C. Garner. Arrived in France 10 February 1917. Worked mainly on broad gauge railways. Redesignated as 12th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops on 21 November 1917. See also 12th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops

3rd Canadian Labour Battalion

Organized at Bramshott in January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.A. Munro. Majority of officers and other ranks from Manitoba. Arrived in France 10-11 February 1917. Redesignated as 11th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops on 29 November 1917.See also 11th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops.

4th Canadian Labour Battalion

(L.L. Will Photo)

Organized at Seaford in January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. W.H. Mckinery. Most of personnel from reserve battalions in England. Arrived in France 15 March 1917. Strength: 12 officers, 976 other ranks. Redesignated as 2nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalion on 28 March 1918. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalion formed the 2nd and 4th Canadian Infantry Works Companies in September 1918. See also 2nd and 4th Canadian Infantry Works Companies.

In March 1918, the 1st and 4th Canadian Labour Battalions were redesignated as the1st and 2nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalions. In September 1918, there two battalions were reorganized as four infantry works companies, each with anestablishment of five officers and approximately 500 other ranks. They were employed mainly in road and bridge construction, road maintenance and grading on light andstandards gauge railway

(Patrick LeBrun Photo)

1st Infantry Works Company. Organized in September 1918 from the 1st Canadian Infantry Works Battalion.Commanded by Captain A. J. Falconer.Employed mainly in road construction under the supervision of road construction companies of the Royal Engineers. Demobilized at Staples in May 1919. See also 1st Canadian Labour Battalion.

(Patrick LeBrun Photo)

2nd Infantry Works Company. Organized in September 1918 from the 2nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalion. Commanded by Captain F. R. George. Worked at ammunition dumps and on light railway maintenance under the supervision of 2nd Canadian Tramways Company. Amalgamated with the 1st Canadian Infantry Works Company in April 1919 under that designation. See also 4th Canadian Labour Battalion.

(Lovat Dawson Photo)

3rd Infantry Works Company. Organized in September 1918 from the 1st Canadian Infantry Works Battalion. Commanded by Captain W. J. Chandler. Employed mainly in road construction under the supervision of road construction companies of the Royal Engineers. Demobilized at Etaples in May 1919. See also 1st Canadian Labour Battalion.

4th Infantry Works Company. Organized in September 1918 from the 2nd Canadian Infantry Works Battalion. Commanded by Captain S. Jennings. Worked on road construction under the supervision of road construction companies of the Royal Engineers and on light railways under the supervision of the 1st and 2nd Canadian Tramways Companies. Demobilized at Aubin in Vaast in January 1919. See also 4th Canadian Labour Battalion. (Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force)

Employment Companies

The employment companies came under the direct command of Canadian Corps or Divisional Headquarters. Personnel were lent to other units (e.g. mobile veterinary, town majors, divisional trains and ammunition columns) for short periods or were employed at headquarters. Company personnel performed a wide variety of duties (traffic control, salvage operations, water police, road building), formed burial and salvage parties, worked in sanitary sections, divisional baths, Church Army and YMCAhuts, ammunition dumps and were employed at headquarters as orderlies, batmen, grooms, clerks,cooks, waiters, guards and picquets. One company had a concert party and a band.

5th Area Employment Company

6th Area Employment Company

7th Area Employment Company

8th Area Employment Company

9th Area Employment Company

1st Divisional Employment Company. Authorized in June 1917 under the command of Major J. R. Vicars. Arrived in France 10 June 1917. Company ceased to exist 6 February 1919; personnel returned to original units. The 1st Canadian Division’s concert party, the Volatiles, as well as a 30 piece band, were included in the company.

2nd Divisional Employment Company. Organized at Bruay, France in June 1917 under the command of Major D. Sharpe. Company ceased to exist 6 Feb. 1919.

3rd Divisional Employment Company. Organized at Boulogner in June 1917 under the command of Major E. R. Hall. Personnel from various depots in England.

4th Divisional Employment Company. Organized in Bramshott in June 1917 under the command of Captain J. H. A. Acers. Arrived in France 9 June 1917. Absorbed by 8th Canadian Area Employment Company on 27 January 1919.

5th Divisional Employment Company. Organized in England in June 1916 under the command of Captain A. L. Brick. Designated Canadian Corps Headquarters Employment Company. Arrived in France 29 June 1917. Redesignated as 5th Canadian Area Employment Company on 11 August 1917. Ceased to exist on 6 February 1919. Its personnel returned to their original units.

6th Divisional Employment Company. Formed at Canadian Corps Headquarters, France in August 1917 under the command of Major J. Agnew. Absorbed by 8th Canadian Area Employment Company on 13 January 1919

7th Divisional Employment Company. Organized in France in September 1917 under the command of Major J. R. Vicars. Absorbed by 8th Canadian Area Employment Company on 17 January 1919.

8th Divisional Employment Company. Organized in France in September 1917 under the command of Major D. H. McLean. Personnel from Composite Company, Canadian Corps. Served in V and XIII (British) Corps, October - November 1917. Returned to Canadian Corps in November 1917. Absorbed 4th, 6th and 7th Canadian Employment Companies in January 1919. Ceased to exist on 9 May 1919.

9th Divisional Employment Company. Organized at Hersin in July 1918 under the command of Captain R. Pearson. Ceased to exist on 4 February 1919.

Chinese labourers were also brought over to Europe, especially the Canadian Railway Troops. From 1917 to 1918 84,000 Chinese labourers were recruited for the Chinese Labour Corps from China (via Shandong Province) that were shipped to Canada and then some to the Western Front. Many of these labourers died in Belgium and France.