Search Term Record

Metadata

Name

147th Grey Battalion

Details

There is an image of the 147th Grey Battalion CEF badges of 1915-1919 shown on page 44 of SCARLET TO GREEN: THE COLOURS UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE GREY AND SIMCOE FORESTERS, by Major Murray M. Telford, 1987. On page 43, Telford describes the design: "147th Grey (Overseas) - on a bronze maple leaf in an annulus bearing the words, Grey and Canada, surmounted by the King's Crown. In the centre was the numeral 147 and side ribbons inscribed "Over" and "Seas"."

The 147th Grey Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was authorized on November 26, 1915, and recruited into 1916. G. F. McFarland was put in command of the unit on ________, 19__. The unit trained at Camp Borden (arrived there on July 4, 1916) and left for England aboard the S. S. Olympic on November __, 1916 (it was a five-day crossing, and they arrived at Liverpool on November 20th). The unit was placed into the 8th Reserve Battalion with some other units on January 1, 1917, and the officers and men were drafted or transferred into other units (many joined the 4th C.M.R., a few joined the 58th Battalion, and others were drafted to other units). The postwar book, A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY, 1931, has a listing of the survivors, and shows which unit each man had served with.

The first casualty from the 147th at the front was that Lieutenant Stanley Campbell. His death was reported in THE OWEN SOUND SUN on Friday, March 2, 1917. There also was a George Day, who had previously died in England. The March 2, 1917 edition also mentioned that the 147th's youngest member, Fred Corkran, had been returned to Owen Sound from England in the article "Fred Corkan Arrived Home". He had enlisted as a bugle boy when he was 14 years old.

After the war, there was a 147th Battalion Association. Oscar Broadhead was the Secretary of the group, and in 1972 there was a gathering of the former 147th survivors. The softcover book AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREY & SIMCOE FORESTERS REGIMENT 1866 TO 1973, has images and information about the 147th, and there are also archival images and a 147th diary penned by Johnston Urquhart in the Grey County archives that document the men that belonged to it.

The following information is from THE PATHS THAT LED TO HOLLAND: A HISTORY OF HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, p. 260:
"THE GREY ROOMS
During the First World War the "Grey Rooms" were located on a quiet street in London, England and displayed a welcome sign, "The Canadian Greys' Rooms". Shortly after the 147th Grey County Battalion went overseas, Mrs. Christopher Eaton of Owen Sound, arrived in London and at her own expense opened the Grey Rooms. She was aided by two former Owen Sounders, Mrs. Boulter and Mrs. Ball, formerly Helen and Isabel Wilcox, who were living in London. These ladies were nieces of John Wilson of Concession 2, Holland Twp. They loaned furniture and other equipment to Mrs. Eaton. Shortly afterwards, they were joined by Mrs. Richard Howey, who had gone to England to be near her husband, Dr. Richard Howey, who was on the medical staff of a London hospital. Dr. Howey had grown up in the Massie area of Holland, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Howey. The Grey Rooms were a haven for Grey County men. Everyone who came was asked to register. The rooms were comfortable and cheery, almost like a family gathering place, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A light luncheon was provided at noon and at 4:30 p.m. an excellent tea was served. This food was a real treat. Families at home sent parcels of food when they learned of the work that these women were doing. The [Grey] Rooms also became an information centre. Casualty lists were scanned for the names of Grey men and inquiries directed to the Red Cross. This work was carried on until the end of the war. Mrs. Eaton and Mrs. Howey received a civic reception on returning to Owen Sound."

The names of the men who enlisted in the 147th are recorded in A HISTORY OF GREY COUNTY, by E. Marsh, 1931, see the back of the book. The men who transferred to the 4th C.M.R. are also listed in the back of the book THE 4TH CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES 1914-1918, and it provides the date each former 147th man was put onto the strength of the 4th C.M.R. George Scott Auer's book, SOLDIERS OF THE SOIL: GREY COUNTY GOES TO WAR, 2015, also lists the men of the 147th.

Tommy Holmes of Owen Sound was originally with the 147th before he was drafted to the 4th C.M.R. He won a Victoria Cross. Nelson Ross Crowe of Owen Sound (formerly of Markdale) was the recipient of a Military Medal in 1918.

THE COLOURS OF THE 147TH BATTALION (Information from George Scott Auer of Owen Sound, 2015)
Colours are more than just flags, they are the embodiment of the military unit they represent. They are sacred having been consecrated upon presentation and are treated with the upmost respect and care. When Colours become worn, they are laid-up in a sanctuary for safe keeping and another standard is presented.
During the Great War the onus fell on local governments to aid in the raising of local units. Grey County raised $96,000 through an increase in the mill rate of 1 ½ mills for this purpose. The County also purchased the Battalion's Colours, which were presented to the unit on August 22nd 1916 at Camp Borden by Mr. A.E. Cordingly, the County Warden. When the Battalion left Camp Borden for overseas they did so marching behind their "Colours".
When the 147th Battalion was disbanded in England, the unit laid up their Colours in Newcastle Cathedral, the home of the Earl of Grey, for whom the County was named. After the war, the Colours were reclaimed by the 147th and brought back to Owen Sound.
The original standard of Colours continued to be used by the 147th Battalion Association for functions including Remembrance Day Parades. Over the years, they became worn and the County purchased a new standard of Colours for the Association. A dedication and presentation ceremony to receive the new colours was held on April 13th, 1949. During the ceremony, the new Colours were presented to the 147th Battalion Association by the Warden, Mr. George Smith. The Association then returned them in kind, entrusting them to the County, once again demonstrating the bond between the men of the 147th (Grey) Battalion and the County that helped raise them.
With the opening of the new County administration building, the Associations for the 147th Battalion and the Grey & Simcoe Foresters held a joint parade at the relocated war memorial and their respective Colours were re-deposited in the new building.
The historical significance of the Colours cannot be understated for not only do they represent the bond between the County and its' early military roots, but they also represent the soldiers who died while in service to Canada during the Great War having rallied to the Colours. Sir Edward Hamley captured their essence best when he wrote:
"A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole
It does not look likely, to stir a mans soul
'Tis the deeds that were done neath the moth-eaten rag
When the pole was a staff, and the rag was a flag"

Other Sources:
Auer, George Scott, SOLDIERS OF THE SOIL: GREY COUNTY GOES TO WAR, 2015 (p. 57 mentions the authorization date of the 147th, and also provides some stories about individual soldiers and others connected to the unit's history (e.g. Mrs. Christopher Eaton).
Auer, George Scott, THE DAY THE RAVEBEEK RAN GREY, 2018 (Passchendaele, mentions some of the former 147th men involved in the battle of Oct. 26, 1917.