54th (Kootenay and British Columbia) Battalion, CEF Cap Badge. [Later designated the 54th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF]. The 54th Battalion (Kootenay), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 54th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 22 November 1915 and disembarked in France on 14 August 1916. It fought as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920. The 54th Battalion recruited in Southern British Columbia and was mobilized at Nelson, B.C. The 54th Battalion was awarded the following battle honours and is perpetuated by The 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.: SOMME, 1916 Ancre Heights Ancre, 1916 ARRAS, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 HILL 70 Ypres 1917 Passchendaele AMIENS Scarpe, 1918 Drocourt-Quéant HINDENBURG LINE Canal du Nord VALENCIENNES SAMBRE FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18 Background Notes: The records of the 54th Infantry Battalion are one case in many where caution has to be used when referring to the primary references. Stewart states that the battalion was broken up to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field, yet we know they went on to participate with the 11th Infantry Brigade in the 4th Division. In the CEFSG Forum discussions, the following was reported: We know that the 54th Bn served as a unit in France: but it was a close thing. There were two reinforcing drafts that were sent overseas ahead of the 54th and they were literally pounced upon, dismantled and sent in drafts to other Bns throughout the CEF. I have found some men in the 2nd Bn. Even when the 54th main body arrived in Britain more drafts were taken from it and it only survived through the efforts of their commanding officer and a transfusion of drafts from other Bns. including the 53rd, 65th, 62nd and 71st. Reference: the regimental history "Cinquante-quatre" Chapter 2 Second Period. Love reports the 54th Battalion was in the 11th Infantry Brigade. Meek notes that the 54th changed names from the "Kootenay Battalion" to the "Central Ontario Battalion" in August 1917. Military historians have stated emphatically that there was no official name change of the 54th Battalion and any such reference was for "administrative purposes only". Review of the War Diary of the 54th Battalion confirms that the name was not changed.