3rd Toronto Battalion, CEF

3rd Toronto Battalion, CEF This page is dedicated to the families and soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, of the Canadian Expedition Force. between late 1918 and mid-1919.

Canada responded to the outbreak of the First World War by creating the Canadian Expeditionary Force in August 1914. At the outbreak of the War, The Honourable, Sam Hughes Minister of Militia and Defence declared that the Regiments and various Corps of the pre-Canadian Expeditionary Force would not serve overseas with their unique titles, but be formed as numbered infantry battalions, some with cl

ose affiliations to the Militia units they were formed from. By the end of the War Canada had sent battalions numbering from the 1st through 260th, each comprising of approximately 1000 men. The 259th and 260th Battalions were sent to Siberia to participate in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force (C.S.E.F.) The 3rd (Toronto) Bn, CEF, fought in Belgium and Northern France throughout the war. Twenty-four battle honours were awarded during four years of war. Two soldiers who served with the 3rd were awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry. Corporal Colin Barron VC at Vine Cottage during the advance towards Passchendaele in 1917 and Lieutenant George Kerr, VC, MC & Bar, MM near Bourlon Wood in 1918 during the Final 100 days. They are both buried in Toronto. The 3rd Bn is perpetuated by The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and The Royal Regiment of Canada. The Governor General's Horse Guards have a close affiliation with the 3rd.

The Two MajorsOn the eve of the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I thought I'd post a few pics from my collectio...
04/09/2026

The Two Majors
On the eve of the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I thought I'd post a few pics from my collection related to two 3rd Battalion officers who played a decisive leadership role with the Toronto Regiment.

Majors Walter Curry and William Crowther seem to have careers that ran identical to each other. Both came from prominent Toronto families before the war, sailed together at the RCYC, served with the QOR as junior officers prior to ww1, had similar careers. At the outbreak of ww1, Curry and Crowther volunteered their services and joined the 3rd Battalion seeing heavy action with the 1st Contingent near St. Julien. Lt. Curry was sent home in May of '15 after contracting typhus, and would serve as the 83rd Battalion's 2nd in command when it was sent to England. While Curry was home, Lt., later Captain Crowther remained with the 3rd, and also served as the 1st Brigade's transportation officer, and would see action at Mount Sorrel in June of '16. Sent home that summer, reports stated exhaustion, Crowther was back with the 3rd by late November, early December of that year. That same season, Major Curry requested to rejoin his old unit, and would serve the next 6 months with the 3rd.

On the morning of April 9th, 1917, Major Curry was tasked with taking A Coy over the top where they eventually reached their objectives, the gun pits at Farbus Wood. Near the Blue Line, Curry and his batman were killed instantly by shellfire, the only 3rd Battalion officer killed in action that day. Around the same time Curry was killed, Major Crowther succeeded in taking his company over the top and reaching their objectives at Farbus. Slightly wounded, but remaining at duty, Crowther would be awarded the Military Cross for his actions that day. Major Crowther died of wounds less than 3 weeks later after leading a successful raid near Fresnoy.

Both men are buried within a row of each other at Ecoivres Military Cemetery. I was able to visit them and pay my respects last summer, along with the gun pits they helped to capture. We will remember them.

110 years ago. Christmas 1915COOKERS FARM (N34 b 9.4.)December 24, 1915Location: (ditto) In TrenchesMoved to relieve 2nd...
12/25/2025

110 years ago. Christmas 1915

COOKERS FARM (N34 b 9.4.)
December 24, 1915
Location: (ditto) In Trenches
Moved to relieve 2nd Battalion.
6:30pm Relief complete, H.Q. at COOKERS FARM (N34 b 9.4.) B Coy on left, connecting with the 6th Brigade 2nd Canadian division. A Coy in the centre, C Coy on right connecting with 4th Battalion. D Coy in battalion reserve at R.E. FARM (N35 d 8.5).

December 25, 1915 –Christmas
Location: In Trenches
Germans attempted to makes friends but gave up after several of them were shot. CPL. NASH, B Coy. and PTE. KEOWN, A Coy both shot through head and killed. Quiet day. H.Q. moved to R.E. Farm (N35 d 8.5) at night. Weather fair.

Private Frank Joseph Keown 9096 attested at 20 years of age with the 3rd Bn CEF, on 22 September 1914 at Valcartier.

He resided in Coburg, Ontario and listed his next of kin was his father Frederick Keown of 177 Niagara St, Buffalo USA. He was born in Coburg, Canada, on 2 September 1892 and listed his calling as that of Bell Boy (Hallman).

Pte Keown was not married. He stood 5' 8 1/2", 150lbs with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. Dr. Haywood signed off his forms as the battalion medical officer and Captain Leonard Septimus Morrison witnessed his signing. He did not have any previous military service and was recruited through the Queen's Own Rifles. He was assigned to Number 1 Company under Captain William Donald Allan.

He endured the hardships of training on Salisbury Plain in the UK between October 1914 and early February 1915. On 14 November 1914 he was "deprived" of one day pay for being "absent" at Camp Bustard.

He went to France with the 1st Canadian Division, spending time training with the "Imperials" near the border between France and Belgium in February and March 1915. Pte Keown also managed to survive the gas attacks and enemy onslaught of April 1915 around Ypres and St Julien.

On 25 October 1915 he was granted 7 days leave. The notation in the battalion War Diary says "QM and 17 OR went on leave."

Soon after his return he was identified as a "grenadier" and was sent to "Bombing School" otherwise known as "Gr***de School." He rejoined the 3rd on 29 November 1915.

The next notation in Pte Keown service file is on 25 December 1915, "killed by a bullet in the head." He was 21 years old.

Private Frank Joseph Keown of Coburg, Ontario is buried at: Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery.

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Lance Corporal Richard John Kingsley Nash 404169 (A4169) attested at 21 years of age with the 35th Bn CEF, on 8 April 1915 at Toronto.

His next of kin was his sister Miss Liela E. Nash who resided 11943 Eighty-Second St in Edmonton Alberta. He was born on 15 July 1894 and listed his calling as that of a Clerk.

LCpl Nash was not married. He stood 5' 8 1/2", with a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair. Major Reginald Pellatt, son of Sir Henry Pellatt witnessed the signing of his attestation paper. Nash did not have any previous military service.

He set sail for England via Montreal aboard the SS Metagama on 4 June 1915 with the 35th Bn 1st Reinforcing Draft. Upon his arrival to the Canadian training areas in England on 14 June 1915 he was transferred to the 23rd Reserve Bn.

On 15 July 1915 he was promoted from Private to Lance-Corporal at Shorncliffe. The next day he left the UK and was headed for France, via Boulogne where he made his way to the 3rd Bn CEF as a reinforcement.

LCpl Nash was sent to the "Brigade Bombing School" on 12 December 1915 for one week. Six days later he was killed by an enemy sniper while looking over the parapet.

Over the past few months as the 3rd was in and out of the trenches in the front lines, it was a regular occurrence for a few or even several to be killed and wounded each week by snipers, grenades or shelling.

His platoon commander Lt Henry Errol Beauchamp Platt wrote a letter to his own mother who resided at 1574 King St West in Toronto confirming the death of LCpl Nash.

Tragically Lt Platt would himself be killed by a sniper on 5 May 1916 while on a patrol, forward of his trenches near Hill 60, and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He had training to be the machine-gun officer of the 3rd Bn, but was acting as the company bombing officer at the time of LCpl Nash death.

Lance Corporal Richard John Kingsley Nash is buried at: Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery.

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