Canadian Expeditionary Force (18) Canadian Army Chaplain Corps

Canadian Army Chaplain Corps

Canadian Army Chaplain Corps

In October 1914 33 chaplains accompanied the 1st Contingent when it sailed from Canada, at this time listed as “surplus to establishment”. The War Office in London thought that 11 was sufficient to accompany the 1st Division to France and 22 were left behind to administer to the 2nd Division on its arrival from Canada. In France the Canadian Chaplains Services was formed on 15 March 1917 and was organized under an Assistant Director of Chaplain Services, a Deputy Assistant Director of Chaplain Services, four Senior Chaplains, one Corps Chaplain and 90 Chaplains serving the needs of the Canadian Corps. By 1917 the number of Chaplains serving in France had risen to a total of 280. Church of England (102), Roman Catholic (53), Presbyterian (58), Methodist (33), Baptist (14), Congregational (2), Salvation Army (4), Russian Orthodox (1) with a further 13 undetermined (Jewish?), a further ten being added in 1918. In total 426 Chaplains served overseas. It was not until October 1918 that the Canadian Chaplain’s Services adopted the distinctively Canadian pattern cap and collar badges. (Chris Brooker)