Somme, 1916

First World War

Date

1 July - 18 November 1916

Geographical parameters

No geographical parameters defined.

Context

A group honour incorporating the “Battle of Albert, 1916”, the “Battle of Bazentin Ridge”, the “Battle of Delville Wood”, the “Battle of Pozières Ridge”, the “Battle of Guillemont”, the “Battle of Ginchy”, the “Battle of Flers-Courcelette”, the “Battle of Thiepval Ridge”, the “Battle of the Transloy Ridges”, the “Battle of the Ancre Heights”, and the “Battle of the Ancre, 1916”, formally entitled “The Battles of The Somme, 1916”, and itself being part of the “Operations on the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916)”^{Footnote 1}.

Description

This Honour “Somme, 1916” was awarded to all units that participated in the whole series of battles that were part of the British offensives on the Somme between the 1st July and the 18th of November 1916. Planned as a large offensive to break German lines astride the Somme River it was a joint French and British attack begun on the 1st July 1916. The breakthrough hoped for on that day never materialised so a series of subsequent attacks continued to be planned on various scales in order to break the German lines. Ground was gradually won at a high cost but the hoped-for breakthrough never materialised in almost six months of fighting. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was the first unit of the present day Canadian Armed Forces to be engaged in the Somme offensive on 1 July. It fought there again later in October 1916. Units of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier-General J.E.B. Seely) participated in the fighting in July 1916. The Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Sir J.H.G. Byng) joined the fighting on the Somme at the end of August, the newly formed 4th Canadian Division (Major-General Sir D. Watson), not yet part of the Canadian Corps, arriving there in October.

Awarded to:

Currently Serving Units

• 1st Hussars
  Award to the 1st Hussars (GO 71/30)
• 26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Manitoba Rangers (GO 71/30)
• 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)
  Award to The Elgin Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 42nd Field Artillery Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA
  Award to The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 48th Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The 48th Regiment (Highlanders) (GO 110/29)
• 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Dufferin Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• 87th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to the King's Canadian Hussars (GO 71/30)
• 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Kenora Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
  Awards to the 19th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (GO 110/29)
• The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
  Awards to the 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 73rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), and The Royal Highlanders of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Dragoons
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The British Columbia Dragoons (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
  Awards to the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 71/30), the 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (GO 110/29), The North British Columbia Regiment (GO 123/29), The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (GO 71/30), and The Vancouver Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Calgary Highlanders
  Awards to the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Calgary Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
  Awards to the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Ottawa Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Canadian Grenadier Guards
  Awards to the 87th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Canadian Grenadier Guards (GO 110/29)
• The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
  Awards to the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 3rd Pioneer Battalion (48th Canadians), CEF (GO 110/29), the 67th Canadian (Pioneer) Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Essex and Kent Scottish
  Awards to the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Essex Scottish (GO 110/29)
• The Fort Garry Horse
  Award to The Fort Garry Horse (GO 5/31)
• Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
  Award to Les Carabiniers Mont-Royal (GO 71/30)
• Governor General's Foot Guards
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Governor General's Foot Guards (GO 71/30 and GO 32/32)
• The Governor General's Horse Guards
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Governor General's Body Guard (GO 71/30 and GO 112/35), and The Mississauga Horse (GO 110/29)
• The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)
  Award to The Halifax Rifles (GO 71/30)
• The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
  Awards to The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Northumberland Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 50th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Calgary Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
  Awards to the 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Lake Superior Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
  Awards to The Lincoln Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (GO 71/30)
• Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
  Award to Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (GO 88/31)
• The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
  Awards to The Halton Rifles (GO 71/30) and The Peel and Dufferin Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
  Awards to the 49th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Edmonton Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The North Saskatchewan Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 16th Canadian Light Horse (GO 110/29), The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29), The Saskatoon Light Infantry (GO 110/29) and The Prince Albert Volunteers (GO 71/30)
• The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  Awards to the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), The Colchester and Hants Regiment (GO 110/29) and The Pictou Highlanders (GO 71/30)
• The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
  Award to The Ontario Regiment (GO 123/29)
• The Princess Louise Fusiliers
  Award to The Princess Louise Fusiliers (GO 71/30)
• The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment
  Awards to the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
  Award to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (GO 123/29)
• The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)
  Awards to the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment (GO 110/29) and The York Rangers (GO 71/30)
• Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
  Awarded through perpetuation of the 41st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (CAO Part “A” 33-1 and 229-1 10 July 1961)
• Royal 22e Régiment
  Award to the Royal 22e Régiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Dragoons
  Award to The Royal Canadian Dragoons (GO 5/31)
• The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF (GO 110/29) and the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Royal Canadian Regiment (GO 110/29), The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (GO 110/29), and The Oxford Rifles (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
  Award to The Highland Light Infantry of Canada (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Montreal Regiment
  Awards to the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Royal Montreal Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  Awards to the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Carleton Light Infantry (GO 110/29), The Saint John Fusiliers (GO 110/29), The York Regiment (GO 71/30) and The New Brunswick Rangers (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Newfoundland Regiment
  Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (1914-1919) (Adjutant General, War Office, to Official Secretary, Office of the High Commissioner for Canada, 14 Dec 1951)
• The Royal Regiment of Canada
  Awards to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Royal Grenadiers (GO 110/29), and The Toronto Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Regina Rifles
  Awards to the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Regina Rifle Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Westminster Regiment
  Awards to the 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Westminster Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
  Awards to the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 27th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Winnipeg Rifles (GO 110/29) and The Winnipeg Light Infantry (GO 110/29)
• The Saskatchewan Dragoons
  Awards to the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), and The King's Own Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 72nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 5/31) and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (GO 5/31)
• The Sherbrooke Hussars
  Awards to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and the 7th/11th Hussars (GO 10/39)
• The South Alberta Light Horse
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The South Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29), the 15th Canadian Light Horse (GO 71/30), the 19th Alberta Dragoons (GO 71/30), The Edmonton Fusiliers (GO 71/30), and The South Alberta Horse (GO 88/31)
• The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
  Awards to the 75th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Toronto Scottish Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Les Voltigeurs de Québec
  Award to Les Voltigeurs de Québec (GO 71/30)

Units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

• 11th Field Squadron, RCE
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 12th Manitoba Dragoons
  Awards to the 12th Manitoba Dragoons (GO 71/30) and The Border Horse (GO 59/32)
• 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Kootenay Regiment (GO 110/29)
• 26th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• 38th Field Battery, RCA
  Awards to the Machine Gun Squadron, Canadian Cavalry Brigade, CEF (GO 5/31) and the 1st Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron (GO 5/31)
• 48th Field Squadron, RCE
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Rangers), RCA
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Peterborough Rangers (GO 110/29)
• 88th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to the King's Canadian Hussars (GO 71/30)
• 118th Medium Battery, RCA
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Manitoba Mounted Rifles (GO 5/31)
• Royal Rifles of Canada
  Award to the Royal Rifles of Canada (GO 71/30)
• The Victoria Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 24th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 60th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), and The Victoria Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Winnipeg Grenadiers
  Awards to the 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Winnipeg Grenadiers (GO 110/29)

Disbanded units

• 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 88/31)
• 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29)
• 16th/17th (Reserve) Medium Battery, RCA
  Award to The Kenora Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• The Manitoba Regiment
  Award to The Manitoba Regiment (GO 123/29)
• The North Alberta Regiment
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The North Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29)