Click image to read full article on britishcolonist.ca

I’ve updated my WW1 Canadian War Diaries page to include diaries for both the 9th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops (pdf, 99mb) and 1st Pioneer Battalion (pdf, 71mb).

The 1st Pioneer Battalion was formed in Victoria, BC in July 1915 and recruited “good husky chaps” from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba “who could do a good day’s work and make a good job of it“. The 1st Pioneer Battalion was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops three days prior to their arrival in France on March 9, 1916. They were officially redesignated the 9th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops on May 17, 1917.

The news clipping is from the Sept. 23rd 1915 issue of the Daily Colonist and reports that the 1st Pioneer Battalion will leave Victoria for Vancouver by way of the steamer “Prince George”. Click the image to view the entire clipping or if you prefer you can browse more than half a century of newspapers at The British Colonist Online Edition 1858 – 1920.