248th Battalion - When the Great War began in 1914, some fellows left Grey County, Ontario with "The First Contingent". As the war ensued, the casualties increased and starting in 1915, the 147th Grey (Overseas) Battalion was raised. In the following year, there was need for another battalion, so the 248th Grey (Overseas) Battalion was raised. Both the 147th and the 248th travelled to England as intact units, but once in England, they were broken up and the men were used as reinforcements for other units. The numbered battalion system of the C.E.F. was discontinued at the end of the First World War.<br /><br />By the time the 248th was created, people were beginning to realize how dangerous and deadly the war was, and there were fewer volunteers enlisting. The 248th had 13 officers and 259 men. It was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion. (Source: Capt. Bill Moran).<br /><br />The men in the 8th Canadian Reserve Battalion in England were used as drafts for other units at the Front. Some were put onto the strength of the 4th C.M.R., some others joined the 58th Battalion.<br /><br />There is a listing of the 248th (Overseas) Battalion men in the back of Edith Marsh's book, A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY, 1931. The book THE 4TH CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES 1914-1918 has a listing at the back of it that shows which former members of the 248th were put onto their strength, and the date each man transferred there.<br /><br />An Owen Sound man, Corporal W. J. R. Thompson, attested with the 248th and later was drafted to the 4th C.M.R. He was awarded the Military Medal for his action at the Amiens Front in 1918. Prior to his enlistment, he worked at the North American Furniture Co. in Owen Sound.<br /><br />Insignia from the 248th is pictured in Murray Telford's book, FROM SCARLET TO GREEN (1987), page 44.