Return of 231st Battalion, CEF from Sidney, BC. Photo # 4204. The troops are marching in four ranks from Pier D of the CPR Terminal back to their quarters at Hastings Park after four months of training at Sidney Camp. The distance is about 7 km. The battalion is in front of the David Spencer Store and the Bank of British North America Building (now the SFU Harbour Centre) marching east on West Hastings Street at Richards Street, which is just up the hill from West Cordova Street and the terminal. A Vancouver Police Department constable is blocking traffic. The troops are wearing CEF tunics, breeches and high puttees with forage caps. The soldiers are carrying bed rolls over their shoulders and their rifles are carried at slope arms. The caption on the bottom of the photo states: "RETURN OF 231ST FROM SIDNEY". From the 231st Battalion, CEF Souvenir Booklet: The 231st Battalion, CEF in training at Sidney on Vancouver Island, 1916. Late in June [1916] the order came for them [the 231st Battalion] to proceed to Sidney for training, and an advance party was at once sent over to prepare the camp for the reception of the regiment. On July 4th the battalion marched through the city streets to the C.P.R. wharf, 564 strong, less a small number to be left behind for recruiting and to form the nucleus of "C" Company. The steamer "Princess Mary" was in readiness and was attached to the battalion for training. On August 28th "C" Company now 150 strong, was welcomed to the camp. No more ideal site for a training camp could be found than Sidney, the nature of the ground occupied being such as to present the salient features of actual warfare to those in training. Besides the regular battalion and company manoeuvres, ample target accommodation was provided in addition to the long ranges at Heals and the battalion was given a thorough schooling in this important branch at work. On November 1st, the regiment embarked at 10 o'clock on the steamer "Princess Sophia" and arrived in Vancouver at 3 o'clock in the afternoon to again occupy their old quarters at Hastings Park. The Bank of British North America was founded by Royal Charter issued in 1836 in London, England with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, New Brunswick, Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland. It was the oldest bank in British Columbia. It also operated agencies in New York City and San Francisco. Like the other Canadian chartered banks, it issued its own paper money from 1852-1911. The Bank of Canada was established through the Bank of Canada Act of 1934 and the banks relinquished their right to issue their own currency. It merged with the Bank of Montreal in 1918.