218th Battalion, CEF

The 218th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in that city. After sailing to England in February 1917, the battalion was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops. The 218th Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut.-Col. J. K. Cornwall.

On October 11, 1916, soldiers from the 218th Battalion led an effort to overcome the local police in Calgary. "The city virtually is in the hands of the soldier mob." Sergeant Morris "Two Gun" Cohen was implicated as a leader of the events during a series of trials held in the city; however, he was acquitted after successfully defending himself in court. [Levy, D.S. (2002) "Two-Gun Cohen." Macmillan. p 82-95.] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E07E0D6153AE633A25751C1A9669D946796D6CF&oref=login "Soldiers riot in Calgary"] , "The New York Times." October 12, 1916. Retrieved 4/22/08.] [Lackenbauer, P.W. (2007) "Soldiers Behaving Badly: CEF Soldier 'Rioting' in Canada during the First World War," in "The Apathetic and the Defiant: Case Studies of Canadian Mutiny and Disobedience, 1812 to 1919." ed. Craig Leslie Mantle. Kingston: CDA Press/Dundurn. p 195-260.] [Lackenbauer, P. W. (2005) "Partisan Politics, Civic Priorities, and the Urban Militia: Situating the Calgary Armoury, 1907-17." "Urban History Review 33"(2) p. 45-60.] [Lackenbauer, P.W. (2001) "The Government is in No Way Responsible for the Wrong-Doing of its Soldiers:’ Disciplinary and Legal Dimensions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Riots in Calgary." In "Perspectives on War: Essays on Security, Society and the State." C. Bullock and J. Dowding (eds) Society for Military and Strategic Studies. p 75-91.] [Drage, C. (1964) "The Life and Times of General Two-Gun Cohen." Funk and Wagnals. p 61.]

On February 8, 1917, after the unit was formally reformed, soldiers from the former battalion rioted in Calgary after being ordered to depart immediately for Europe. They attacked fourteen stores, restaurants and cafes throughout the city. [Levy, D.S. (2002) "Two-Gun Cohen." Macmillan. p 95.]

ee also

* List of riots and civil unrest in Calgary

References

* Meek, John F. "Over the Top! The Canadian Infantry in the First World War." Orangeville, Ont.: The Author, 1971.