1st Pioneer Canadian Battalion

[Guest]

I am not sure if this is the right forum to get information but I am drawing a blank on my own. I am trying to find out more about where the 1st Pioneer Battalion, CEF did in France. I have my g-uncle's military record: trained in Canada from 2 Feb-20 to Nov. 1915 when transferred to England and arrived on the 30 Nov 1915.  Transferred to France 28 Jun 1916. and was badly injured in Amiens, FR. 10 Aug 1918, but don't know where else he would have been between the dates of getting to France and being medically discharged. I live in England and don't know if I can get the fiche from the War Diaries from Canada or even if that would help. Do you know who perpetuates that Battalion? Do you know where I might find information?  Thanks for any help. Barbara

[travers61]

You can download the War Diaries for the !st Pioneer Battalion CEF on this link to the Canadian archives:

 

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/collectionsearch/Pages/collectionsearch.aspx?q=9-52 war diaries pioneers&DataSource=Archives&

 

I assume you have his full service record from the Canadian archives, they usually show what hospitals he was in etc.

 

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx

 

There are several sites with info about 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion & this seems a good basic one.

 

https://guysboroughgreatwarveterans.blogspot.com/2013/03/pioneer-battalions.html

 

 

[adk46canada]

Yardy,

 

Given what you have written, your Gr-Uncle would have served with at least two units at the front. The 1st Pioneer Battalion was disbanded in the May 1918 time period and its personnel transferred to either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Engineer Battalions. The Canadian Corps had a unique engineer organization starting in May 1918 with an engineer brigade of three engineer battalions for each division. Each division's three engineer field companies formed the basis of the three battalions and the pioneer battalion's personnel were distributed across them. Which one should show up in his service record. Given he was badly injured at Amiens it was likely he remained with the engineering units

 

Regards

Bill