No. 8 Canadian (Overseas) Siege Artillery Battery, CEF Canadian Expeditionary Force artillery from Prince Edward Island
on 1 march 1916, instructions issued militia headquarters @ ottawa authorizing organization of “depot” battery, siege artillery, mobilized in charlottetown, pei. establishment of 6 officers, 1 warrant officer , 152 other ranks, quartering in connolly building, on queen street, recruit drafts of reinforcement pei s no. 2 overseas battery siege artillery, overseas. unit re-designated no. 5 overseas battery (canadian) siege artillery, authority of militia hq ottawa, dated 12 april 1916, , on 15 july 1916, , placed on active service, first commanded major a.g. peake, had returned england.
it moved out of charlottetown @ full strength on 25 september 1916, embarked on board s.s. southland (ss vaderland (1900)), , sailed halifax on 27 september. arrived @ liverpool in england on 6 october 1916, , disembarked next day, strength of 6 officers, 132 other ranks. on 15 october 1916, war office ordered change of name (no. 272) – 272nd (canadian) siege battery, royal garrison artillery when assigned royal artillery formation, continued in training. on 29 january 1917, while @ lydd, in renumbering of canadian units, final designation, no.8 canadian siege battery, canadian garrison artillery authorized.
in england battery received initial training @ witley camp, , followed path through ewshot camp: artillery school in hampshire, in aldershot @ rga siege artillery school, @ lydd training camp: rga siege artillery school , ranges, , @ woolwich common: ra barracks. in february 1917, unit changed 4 6 bl 8-inch howitzer mk vi – viii battery. leaving woolwich common, folkestone, on 31 march 1917, crossed boulogne following day. first went action near festubert, in ne france, on april 15 xi corps (uk) heavy artillery, rga, first seeing action during battle of arras (1917) , subsequently engaged supporting designated bef corps in second battle of flanders.
it remained bef, in sector , subsequently moved seeing action @ vielle chapelle, fleurbaix , lepreol, , armentieres, june, until october 1917, suffering noted loss of 1 gun on 20 august. designated 272th canadian siege battery, in support of xi corps (uk) when arrived in france until october 1917 , did not see action canadian corps @ vimy ridge or hill 70 while bef did see fifty counter-battery german bombardments. in 1 bombardment battery commander, major a.g. peake wounded on 16 june 1917, , captain j.s. bagnall assumed temporary command of battery. captain r.a. ring took on battery in july 1917, confirmed in appointment on 25 august 1917, rank of major.
moving north flanders, having being designated canadian corps, joined 3rd brigade heavy artillery, second stage , third stages of second battle of passchendaele, @ ypres, on 1 november 1917. on 18 january 1918, moved vimy-lens front, , when canadian corps moved back, re-training, in may 1918, battery remained in action under xvii (uk) corps heavy artillery.
after short period of rest @ end of june, rejoined canadian corps, taking on gun positions east of arras, on 16 july 1918. moved amiens front, 3rd canadian division, coming engaged in battle of amiens (1918), commencing on 8 august 1918, operating establishment of 8 officers , 215 other ranks. moved forward during hundred days offensive, taking successive positions @ rosieres , cagnicourt (arras front), supporting battle of canal du nord, , continued north engagements during capture of cambria, october 1918. no.8 canadian (overseas) siege battery, 3rd brigade canadian garrison artillery , @ hérin near valenciennes, france, on 11 november when armistice declared. march west of mons germany took twenty-five days, leading canadians crossed germany on december 4, bef , cef command deciding rhine crossed on december 13.
the canadian garrison corps heavy artillery assigned task of supporting 2 cef divisions germany, , 8th siege battery crossed germany initial stages of occupation of rhineland, on 9 december, taking position on left bank of rhine near hohenzollern bridge, @ cologne. moved several times in germany until end of january 1919, beginning trip home mehlen in hesse. battery returned england on 28 january 1919, , based @ cef run witley camp, in surrey, deactivated on 2 april 1919.
it returned canada on board rms mauretania (1906) sailing southampton on 3 may, arriving @ halifax, ns, on 9th. demobilized @ charlottetown, pei (and halifax), major r.a. ring continuing in command until demobilization. in paper exercise, cef active service units, disbanded on 1 november 1920.accessed 13.10.2015</ref> no. 8 canadian (overseas) siege artillery battery, cef perpetuated prince edward island regiment (rcac).
the officer commanding: major a.g. peake
arthur george peake born in charlottetown on august 25, 1871, , after schooling worked in family owned peake brothers , company, until going overseas during world war 1. twenty-six years of charlottetown militia service, in canadian garrison artillery, @ age of 44, volunteered service newly stood-up no. 2 heavy battery depot. mobilizing in charlottetown, later designated no.2 siege battery, first officer commanding, taking england.
seeing unit through training, in may 1916, prior crossing france, required give command. returning charlottetown, following-up second charlottetown organized “depot” battery, being re-designated no. 5 overseas battery (canadian) siege artillery, appointed first officer commanding.
again, leading battery through training in england, on april 1, 1917, crossing boulogne, first saw action in france, on 15th april. engaged german counter-battery fire, @ armentieres, on 16 june 1917, wounded, first casualty in battery. after 3 months on active service, gave command, wound requiring him evacuated.
returning charlottetown, , when discharged, engaged in farming , fox ranching, until forced retire through illness. stricken paralysis in 1938, confined bed, 5 years, following stroke. in failing health, passed away, @ age 71, on august 11, 1943.
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