The 118th (North Waterloo) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. In the early months of the war, Canadians rushed to enlist for various reasons - patriotism, adventure, and to oppose German hostility. Battalions were quickly filled and local communities were proud of their enlisted men. But as the war progressed Canadian recruitment numbers declined. By 1916, all Canadian battalions, not just the local 118th and 111th, were faced with enlistment challenges. Overseas casualties increased and Canadians began to realize the war would not end soon. As the war progressed and Waterloo County came under more scrutiny, Waterloo North Member of Parliament William Weichel proposed to Sir Sam Hughes, the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence, that Waterloo County could raise two overseas battalions. Colonel A.J. Oliver, commander of the 34th Battalion in nearby Guelph, was one of the few who opposed this idea, realizing that it would be a very difficult undertaking. Hughes agreed and in December 1915 the creation of two infantry battalions was authorized - one based in Berlin and one in Galt.
Based in Kitchener, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in the northern portion of Waterloo County. After sailing to England in January 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 25th Reserve Battalion on February 6, 1917.
The 118th (North Waterloo) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieutenant Colonel William Merton Overton Lochead.
The battalion is perpetuated by The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada.
History
Waterloo County's first militia unit, the 29th Waterloo Battalion of Infantry, was formed in 1866. The battalion's headquarters was in Berlin, with six companies located throughout the County. In 1900 the battalion was reorganized as the 29th Waterloo Regiment of Infantry and its headquarters were moved to nearby Galt. Not to be outdone, Berlin's citizens campaigned for a city regiment of their own. It was not until the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 that Berlin was finally allowed to form a city militia regiment: the 108th. Neither the 29th nor the 108th were authorized to go overseas to fight in Europe. Instead, they encouraged recruits to join the newly created Canadian Expeditionary Force battalions, in particular the 34th being raised in Guelph, and the 71st in Woodstock. In March 1915, Galt's Colonel Andrew Oliver of the 29th Regiment was made the commander of the 34th Battalion in Guelph. Oliver had 19 years of military experience and took more than 140 men from Galt with him to join the 34th. He was the most experienced military leader in Waterloo County at the time.
The First World War created conflict among the citizens of Waterloo County. Not only were residents divided by ethnicity - German and British - but longstanding civic rivalries between Berlin (now Kitchener) and Galt (now Cambridge) increased the tension. This friction resulted in Waterloo Country attempting to raise two overseas battalions - the 118th in North Waterloo based in Berlin, and the 111th South Waterloo stationed in Galt.
Recruitment tactics
Both the 118th and 111th Battalions and local citizens' recruiting committees used various methods to attract new recruits: speeches and recruitment rallies were frequently held at local movie theatres; military parades and drills were held in public areas in the hope that civilians would be inspired to enlist; posters were hung throughout each recruitment area; ads and articles were run in local newspapers, and recruiters visited homes, work places and local businesses to encourage individuals to enlist. When none of that proved successful, aggressive tactics were used. Members of the 118th were known for harassing civilians on the street and for dragging men unwillingly to the local recruiting office, ultimately harming recruitment. Members of the Twin Cities Trade and Labour Council were so outraged by the actions of the 118th that in early 1916 they passed a resolution requesting that Berlin City Council stop payments to the recruitment fund. They also demanded that if the tax-payers are insulted, molested and interfered with in future, that Major General Sir Sam Hughes be requested to remove the 118th Battalion from Waterloo County.