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Title

Sub-series consists of

69 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Sub-series part of

Infantry historical records [textual record] (R611-57-7-E)

Bilingual equivalent

31e bataillon d'infanterie canadienne [document textuel]

Date(s)

1914-1917

Place of creation

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent

Language of material

English

Scope and content

Sub-series consists of records created and/or maintained by the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, and document many aspects of the battalion's activities. Volume 4140 includes the following files: Aircraft, 2 Aug 1915 - 11 Aug 1917 (folder 1, file 1); Small arms, 2 Oct-15 Dec 1915 (folder 1, file 2); Artillery, 22 Sept 1915 - 12 Aug 1917 (folder 1, file 3); Billeting, 13 April 1915 - 3 June 1917 (folder 1, file 4); Bombs and grenades, 27 Sept 1915 - 21 Feb 1917 (folder 1, file 5); Boundaries between the Thelus and La Folie Sectors, 16-28 Feb 1916 (folder 1, file 6); Burials and cemeteries, 13 April 1915 - 3 June 1917 (file 1, folder 7); Camouflage, 12 Oct 1915 (file 1, folder 8); Circular letters re enemy morale, 17 Nov 1916 - 19 March 1917 (file 1, folder 9); Conferences and lectures, 17 Jan-2 Nov 1917 (folder 1, file 10); Defences, 13 Nov 1915 - 12 Feb 1917 (folder 1, file 11); Defence schemes, 29 Sept 1915 - 2 Dec 1916 (folder 1, file 12); Details, 5 Oct 1915 - 27 Nov 1916 (folder 1, file 13); Devices, 8 Oct 1915 - 26 Dec 1916 (folder 1, file 14); Dispositions, 11 Sept 1915 - 7 July 1917 (folder 1, file 15); Distribution, 2nd Cdn Div, 2 Sept 1915 (folder 1, file 16). Volume 4141 included the following files: Field messages, 8 June 1916 - 20 Aug 1917 (folder 2, file 1); Notes on gas, 28 Sept 1915 - 23 Oct 1917 (folder 3, file 1); Helmets, 11 Dec 1915 - 26 Jan 1917 (folder 3, file 2); Honours and awards, 20 April-29 Sept 1916 (folder 3, file 3); Intelligence summaries, 1916-1917 (folder 3, files 4-6); Intelligence summaries, 1915-1917 (folder 4, files 1-3); Notes on enemy trenches, 17 Nov 1915 - 29 June 1917 (folder 4, file 4); Machine and Lewis guns, 1 March 1915 - 21 July 1917 (folder 4, file 5); Maps, 20 Nov 1915 - 17 May 1916 (folder 4, file 6); Correspondence re trench feet, 28 Nov 1915 (folder 4, file 7); Mining, 9 Dec 1915 - 4 Aug 1917 (folder 4, file 8); Instructions for offensive, 3 April 1917 (folder 4, file 9); Operations. The Sheff, 10 March 1916 (folder 4, file 10); Operations. Thelus, 9 April 1917 (folder 4, file 11). Volume 4142 includes the following files: Operations. Vimy Ridge, 3-16 April 1917 (RG9-III, Vol. 4142, folder 5, files 1-2); Operations. Fresnoy, 2 May 1917 (folder 5, file 3); Operations. Lens, 15 Aug 1917 (folder 5, file 4); Operations. Passchendaele, 2 Nov 1917 (folder 5, file 5); Minor operations, 1916 (folder 5, files 6-7); Operation summaries. First Army 12 Jan - 31 March 1917 (folder 6, file 1); Lessons drawn from Verdun, 4 Feb-17Oct 1917 (folder 6, file 2); Success of French operations, 10 March 1916 - 16 April 1917 (folder 6, file 3); Operation orders, 1916-1917 (folder 6, files 4-6); Operation orders, 1915-1917 (folder 7, files 1-4); Routine orders, Cdn Corps, 3 Jan 1915 - 26 Dec 1916 (folder 7, file 5); Trench standing orders (folder 7, file 6); Town orders, Dirkiebush, 19 July 1916 (folder 7, file 7); Report on Ypres - Roulers railway, 29 Oct 1917 (folder 7, file 8); Reliefs and moves, 12 June 1916 - 27 July 1917 (folder 7, file 9). Volume 4143 includes the following files: Scouts, snipers and patrols, 10 Aug 1915 - 25 July 1917 (folder 8, file 1); SOS signals, 4 Feb-3 July 1917 (folder 8, file 2); Signal service, 16 Dec 1915 - 12 Aug 1917 (folder 8, file 3); Trench stores, 3 Oct 1915 - 12 Aug 1917 (folder 8, file 4); Stores, 28 Oct 1915 - 13 July 1917 (folder 8, file 5); Trench mortars, 15 Dec 1915 - 23 July 1917 (folder 8, file 6); Reports on enemy tanks, 19 April 1917 (folder 8, file 7); Schools of instruction, 4 Nov 1914 - 15 Sept 1917 (folder 9, file 1); Naming of Manitoba Road, 5 May 1917 (folder 9, file 2); Reports on trenches and dugouts, 4 Nov 1915 - 22 Aug 1917 (folder 9, file 3); Claims for trophies, 2-6 Nov 1915 (folder 9, file 4); Report on water supply, 9 Sept 1916 (folder 9, file 5).

Conditions of access

Terms of use

Copyright belongs to the Crown.

Finding aid

Textual records The finding aid's file level descriptions can be accessed through the consists of fields in the MIKAN record. A paper copy is also available in the Reference room. The finding aid is a typed list consisting of volume number, file number, title and outside dates. Note that this descriptive record is based on information found in finding aid 9-37 and in Barbara Wilson's unpublished Guide to the Sources of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. 9-37-26 90 (Electronic)

Creator / Provenance

Canada. Canadian Army. Battalion, 31st. Canadian Army. Battalion, 31st.

Biography / Administrative history

The 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion was organized in November 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A.H. Bell under authorization published in General Order 36 of 15 March 1915. The battalion was mobilized in Calgary and recruited in Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, Youngstown, Claresholm and Pincher Creek.

The battalion embarked at Quebec on 17 May 1915 aboard CARPATHIA, disembarking in England on 28 May 1915. Its strength was 37 officers and 1122 other ranks. The battalion arrived in France on 18 September 1915, becoming part of the 2nd Canadian Division., 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It was later reinforced by the 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion. The battalion returned to England on 12 April 1919, disembarked at Halifax on 27 May 1919, was demobilized in Calgary on 1 June 1919, and was disbanded by General Order 149 of 15 September 1920.

The battalion supported a brass band. The battalion colours were deposited in the Church of the Redeemer, Calgary in 1919.

The 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion was perpetuated by The North Alberta Regiment and The South Alberta Regiment.

Additional information

Source

Government

MIKAN no.

182403