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LSSR-105 Years of Service-June 2005
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TRANSCRIPT

Recruiting for Overseas

In the mean time the 96th LSR acted as a recruiting and training depot. Early in August 1914 the first drafts from the LSR were on their way to Valcartier, Quebec, where the First Canadian Overseas Contingent was in the process of being concentrated. The 1st Provisional Battalion, later reorganized into the 8th Provisional Battalion had 5 officers and 314 other ranks from the LSR on strength. Because the majority of the recruits for the 8th Battalion came from Winnipeg, the new unit adopted the designation 8th (90th Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion with the nick name the "Little Black Devils."
Other drafts would follow and by the end of November 1915 the LSR had transferred 52 officers and 926 men from the strength of the Guard to Overseas Battalions and units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. These included 5 officers and 234 men to the 28th "North West" OS Battalion CEF, 8 officers and a large number of other ranks to the 44th OS Battalion CEF and 15 men to the Machine Gun Section.
David Ratz

 

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