Photo of a nice Colt 1911 used by a LT Burns of the IRISH CANADIAN RANGERS from Montreal in WW1.Intresting Pistol with a lot of Canadian History. Checking on line found out all of LT Burns records and time served in WW1 with the DCO Irish Canadian Rangers 199th BN Canadian Expeditionary Force .
The 55th Regiment Irish Canadian Rangers formed an overseas battalion, which was organized on February 2nd 1916 under Lt. Col. H. J. Triley. The authority was published in General Order 69 of July 15th. The battalion was designated the 199th Overseas Battalion CEF (Irish Canadian Rangers) and was recruited in Montreal, with recruiting starting on March 15th. The Montreal St. Patrick’s Society, and the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society, united in a St. Patrick’s Day concert to benefit the 199th on March 17th. In August they received a Royal patron. H. R. H. The Duchess of Connaught. This caused the battalion to be re-designated, 199th (The Duchess of Connaught’s Own Irish Canadian Rangers). The battalion left Halifax onboard the Olympic on December 20th, with a strength of 33 officers and 860 other ranks. Arriving at Liverpool on the 26th. Training started at Witley where arrangements were made for a visit to Ireland. Starting in Dublin then to Armagh where members of the battalion attended services, at both the Church of Ireland Cathedral and Roman Catholic Cathedral (although formed in predominantly Catholic Montreal, 45% were non Catholic), Belfast, Cork and back to Dublin before returning to Witley. The battalion became part of the 15th Canadian Infantry Brigade 5th Canadian Division, on February 13th 1917. And amalgamated with the 22nd and 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalions, to form the 23rd (199th D.C.O. Irish Canadian Rangers), on May 11th. After amalgamation the 199th were broken up for reinforcing drafts. On hearing of this the commanding officer Lt. Col. Triley and the 2nd in Command Major O’Brien, resigned their commissions, Lt. Col. J. V. O’Donahoe becoming the new commanding officer. In November 1916 the 55th Regiment had requested authority to raise a reinforcing draft, this was granted and a platoon formed. The 199th were disbanded on September 15th 1919 by P.C. 2545.
Battle Honours
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