123rd (Royal Grenadiers) Battalion, CEF

The 123rd Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, they began recruiting in November 1915. After arriving in England, they continued to train as an infantry battalion for several months, but just before mobilizing to France in January 1917, the battalion was redesignated the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF.

The official authorization to raise the 123rd Overseas Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF, was Militia General Order 151, dated December 6, 1915. However, Orders had previously been issued by Militia District No. 2 on November 12, and by the time the official order was published, the recruitment for the Battalion was virtually complete, although some members had signed up for service as early as September 1915. They were based in Toronto, Ontario. The Battalion recruited, trained and mobilized as an infantry battalion in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War. Many senior members of the 123rd Battalion had served with the 10th Royal Grenadiers prior to attesting in the 123rd Battalion. Of the total 1,100 soldiers on strength on December 28, 1915, only 110 had come from the Central Recruiting Depot; all others had come from the direct recruitment efforts of the Battalion itself. They had trained at home as infantry soldiers. The 10th Royal Grenadiers also contributed approximately 30% of the soldiers who attested in the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF starting in September 1914.

The Battalion was separated into two groups in Halifax for mobilization to England, the first group sailing on the SS Cameronia and the second group sailing on the SS Metagama, which departed Halifax harbour August 9, 1916, arriving in England August 17 and 18, 1916, respectively. Among other Battalions in the convoy was the 124th Battalion (Governor General's Body Guard), CEF, which was also redesignated as a pioneer battalion.

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