16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF

16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF
Distinguishing patch
Active	1914–1920
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Type	Infantry
Part of	3rd Brigade, CEF
Battle honours	Ypres, 1915, '17 Gravenstafel St Julien Festubert, 1915 Mount Sorrel Somme, 1916 Pozières Theipval Ancre Heights Arras, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917, '18 Hill 70 Passchendaele Amiens Drocourt–Quéant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Pursuit to Mons France and Flanders, 1915-18
Disbanded	1920
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lt-Col Cyrus Wesley Peck

The 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. It was organized at Valcartier on 2 September 1914 in response to the Great War and was composed of recruits from the 91st Canadian Highlanders (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), the 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, and the 50th Regiment (Gordon Highlanders).

The 16th Battalion served in the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. Since its early beginnings, the battalion had a high standard of conduct on the battlefield and was commanded by outstanding leaders. One such was Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, KCMG, who rose to command the Canadian Corps during the Great War. Currie was a master tactician whose skills led the Canadians to victory at Vimy Ridge and Amiens. Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Wesley Peck commanded the battalion for many months in the trenches.

Four members of the 16th Battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross: Piper James Cleland Richardson, Private William Johnstone Milne, Lance-Corporal William Henry Metcalf, and Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Peck. Piper James Richardson was just 18 years old when he enlisted, and was killed during the Battle of the Somme shortly after having played his company through No Man's Land. He disappeared in shellfire after going back to retrieve the bagpipes he laid aside to bring back a wounded comrade.