73rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF

The 73rd Battalion was mobilized in Montreal, with recruiting beginning on 3 September 1915, in Montreal and in parts of Eastern Ontario and Quebec.{{Cite web|url=http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~guppyross/genealogy/hist.html|title=Histories, Family Bibles, etc.|website=freepages.rootsweb.com}} After initial training in Valcartier and wintering in Montreal, it was deemed ready for overseas in spring 1916. The Battalion embarked at Halifax, NS on 31 March 1916, aboard RMS ADRIATIC, disembarking in Liverpool on 9 April 1916, with a strength of 36 officers and 1033 other ranks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.022-e.pdf|title=Guide to CEF Infantry Battalions: LAC Page 315, Accessed 05.10.2015.}}{{Cite web|url=https://cefresearch.ca/matrix/Utilities/Troopships/infantry.htm|title=Infantry|website=cefresearch.ca}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/CEF_73rdBn_1916|title=73rd Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll 1916|date=March 31, 1916|publisher=Minister of Militia and Defence|via=Internet Archive}}

Facing initially an uncertain future, on 5 May 1916, it was advised of assignment to 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. After extended training in England, and losing a replacement draft of 250 men to the 13th Bn, the Battalion arrived at Le Havre, France on 13 August 1916, on HMTS Copenhagen, becoming part of the new 4th Canadian Division.{{Cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.022-e.pdf|title=Guide to CEF Infantry Battalions:LAC Page 315. Accessed 05.10.2015.}}Canada's Black Watch: The First Hundred Years 1862-1962,(Colonel)Paul P. Hutchison,Montreal: The Black Watch(RHR)of Canada 1962.

The Battalion's orientation to Belgium and Flanders began, doing rotating tours or brigade reserve duties, first in Ypres, in August 1916,{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119717.jpg|title=War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Bn, Royal Highlanders of Canada – Monthly Summary: August 1916 – Vol I, Page 4. Reviewed 09.10.2015}} and through September, to the south, in Kemmel.{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119722.jpg|title=War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Bn, Royal Highlanders of Canada – Monthly Summary: September 1916 – Vol II, Page 7. Accessed 05.10.2015}}

Then moving, in October, for training prior to operations during The Third Battle of The Somme in the Battle of Ancre Heights, and at the Battle of Ancre, into November 1916, it conducted four tours, at Regina Trench and into Desire, Sugar, and Switch Trenches.[http://www.ypres-salient.com/73rd-bn-canadian-infantry---royal-highlanders.html Johan Moors: Footsteps … 1914-1918. 73rd Bn. Canadian Infantry - Royal Highlanders.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084609/http://www.ypres-salient.com/73rd-bn-canadian-infantry---royal-highlanders.html |date=2016-03-04 }} Viewed 05.10.2015Canada's Black Watch: The First Hundred Years 1862-1962, (Colonel) Paul P. Hutchison, Montreal: The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada 1962.

In December 1916, it was to move to the Arras sector, finding itself at Vimy, first as 4th Division Reserve before engagements in January / February 1917, with tours in and out on four or five day rotations.{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119753.jpg|title=LAC ArchiviaNet War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, 4th Canadian Division – Monthly Summary: January 1917 –Volume 6 (21 Pages). Accessed 05.10.2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119796.jpg|title=LAC ArchiviaNet War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, 4th Canadian Division – Monthly Summary: February 1917 –Volume 7 (16 Pages). Accessed 05.10.2015}}

After time, also as 12th Bde Reserve, it participated in the March Raid on the 1st and followed up with two tours in The Zouave Valley.{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119840.jpg|title=LAC ArchiviaNet War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Battalion: In The Line – Monthly Details: March 1917 – Volume 8 (Pages: I to VI) Accessed 05.10.2015}}{{Cite journal|url=https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol8/iss2/2|title=“A Proper Slaughter”: The March 1917 Gas Raid at Vimy Ridge|first=Tim|last=Cook|date=January 20, 2012|journal=Canadian Military History|volume=8|issue=2}}

The Battalion's status as being sustainable first came into question in February 1917, as the England-based 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion noted fewer replacements coming through from their 1st Depot Battalion in Canada. In Montreal, through Militia District No. 4, the 1st Quebec Regiment,{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119953.jpg|title=Letter Ref 148-3-7 Shoreham: Dated 07 Feb 1917 CO 20th Cdn Res Bn (UK) to OC 5th RHC (Mtl) Reviewed 05.10.2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://cefresearch.ca/matrix/Nicholson/Appendicies/Appendix%20X.pdf|title=Composition of Territorial Regiments, CEF – November 1918. Accessed 05.10.2015.}} then having to sustain eight infantry CEF battalions was running out of volunteers, and The 73rd became the subject of discussion as a source of replacements, for two earlier recruited Montreal Highland service units: The 13th and The 42nd Battalions (RHC).{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/royalhighlanders00fethuoft|title=The 13th Battalion Royal Highlanders of Canada, 1914-1919|first=R. C. (Robert Collier)|last=Fetherstonhaugh|date=January 16, 1925|publisher=Toronto] The 13th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada|via=Internet Archive}}

Fully engaged, in the line, below Vimy Ridge, on April 4,{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119885.jpg|title=CEF Study Group: 2007 Vimy Project - War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Bn, Vol IX Page II. Accessed 05.10.2015}} it moved to a position on the 1st CA Corps Left Flank, just west of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, entering assigned tunnels and into the Lime Street trenches, on the April 7th.{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119891.jpg|title=CEF Study Group: 2007 Vimy Project - War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Bn, Vol IX Page VIII. Accessed 05.10.2015}} Following the mine explosions at Gunner and Kennedy Craters, it assaulted onto the lower left slope of Hill 145, on the 9th,{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119895.jpg|title=CEF Study Group: 2007 Vimy Project - War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Bn, Vol IX Page XII. Accessed 05.10.2015}} achieving its assigned objectives, moving forward, it fought off a counterattack, on April 11. After supporting 10th Brigade's assault north onto The Pimple, on the 12th and 13th,{{Cite web|url=http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001119904.jpg|title=War Diary: 73rd Canadian Infantry Bn, Vol IX Page XX and XXI Reviewed 08.10.2015}} it was relieved on 13 April 1917, by the 85th Battalion.

Being seen as a low priority for Highlander replacements, and having suffered noted casualties, previously in the gas blow-back of The March Raid (27 Killed, 161 Casualties), and the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the assault onto Hill 145 (31 Killed, 189 Wounded), it was withdrawn from battle and ordered to dissolve on 16 April 1917.War Diary/Journaux de guerre, 73rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, LAC/BAC, RG/GE 9, Series III-D-3, Vol. 4943, File/dossier 451. Now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel H.C. Sparling, DSO, the 73rd Battalion was disbanded, on 19 April 1917, broken up for reinforcements, they being absorbed largely by the 13th (RHC) Battalion and the 42nd (RHC) Battalion, as well as the affiliated units in the 12th Brigade, and the 85th (NSH) Battalion.War Diary/Journaux de guerre, 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade, LAC/BAC, RG/GE 9, Series III-D-3, Vol. 4907, File/dossier 326.

The 73rd Battalion was awarded the following battle honours, perpetuated by: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada: SOMME 1916. Ancre Heights. ANCRE 1916. ARRAS 1917. VIMY 1917. FRANCE and FLANDERS 1916-17.{{Cite web|url=http://cefresearch.ca/matrix/Army%20Corps/Divisions/4th%20Division/12th%20Infantry%20Brigade/73rd%20Battalion.htm|title=CEF Study Group – Matrix Project: September 2012 - Accessed 2015-02-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-3/par2/bwc-eng.asp|title=Volume 3, Part 2: Infantry Regiments - THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT) OF CANADA|first=National Defence|last=Government of Canada|date=November 9, 2004|website=www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca}}

• List of infantry battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary Force

{{Reflist}}

• The 73rd Battalion: Royal Highlanders of Canada, 1915-1917 - The Official History of the 73rd Battalion, CEF. Col Paul P. Hutchison c1962 ISBN Ref 978-0-9782507-2-0 Bloomfield, ON: Museum Restoration Service, 1987.
• Canada's Black Watch: The First Hundred Years 1862-1962, (Colonel) Paul P. Hutchison, Montreal: The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada, 1987; Don Mills, ON, 1962.

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Category:Military units and formations of Quebec

Category:Military units and formations of Ontario

Category:Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada