The Lochead Fonds contains W.M.O. Lochead’s personal papers as well as official documents relating to the 118th Overseas Battalion, a unit raised in north Waterloo County during the First World War.
The collection is available here in text-searchable PDFs.
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Full Archival Description
Title proper
Lochead Fonds
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Laurier Military History Archive
Reference code
CA ON00411 MG-0001
Dates
ca. 1914 – 1917
Physical description
7 boxes, 1.1 metres of textual records
Name of Creator
William Merton Overton Lochead (b. 1874, d. 1960)
Biographical history
W.M.O. Lochead was bornon 10 January 1874 in Camden Township, Ontario to parents of Scottish decent. When war broke out in 1914, Lochead was living and working in Waterloo County as the District Manager of the Mutual Life Assurance Company.
As a leading citizen in the community, Lochead was the president of the Berlin Board of Trade. When war began in Europe, Lochead became a supporter of the war effort and was involved in recruitment efforts for raising a battalion for overseas service in the County. He joined the 108th Regiment as a Major on 7 November 1914, a new unit formed at the request of a group of patriotic citizens that same month, despite a lack of any military experience. When 108th Regiment recruits were transferred to Woodstock’s 71st Overseas Battalion instead of deploying as a unit, officials in Waterloo decided to raise another overseas unit in its place.
The newly created 118th Overseas Battalion recruited from the northern half of Waterloo County, including the city of Berlin, and Lochead became the new commanding officer. Lochead’s promotion after only fourteen months of militia service was due entirely to Sam Hughes. This inexperience might partially explain fractured relations between unit and North Waterloo County’s large German and Mennonite populations.
When Lochead and his battalion were finally sent overseas in 1916, the battalion was quickly broken up and used for reinforcements to existing units in France and Belgium. As a result, in August 1916 Lochead withdrew from overseas service and returned to Waterloo where he finished the war as the commanding officer of a local militia unit.
Scope and content
The Lochead Fonds contains W.M.O. Lochead’s personal papers as well as official documents relating to the 118th Overseas Battalion, a unit raised in north Waterloo County during the First World War.
Series 1: Lieutenant Colonel W. Lochead – General Files
Series 1, File 1
Date(s): January 5, 1916 – January 4, 1917
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files regarding deserters from the 118th Battalion. Included are letters to and from various local police organizations, family relatives of deserters and, at least in one case, a deserter himself. Also included are court proceedings and several nominal roles of suspected deserters.
Date(s): December 1, 1915 – September 31, 1916
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars with regard to stationary and supplies acquired by the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 23, 1915 – January 18, 1917
Correspondence, memoranda and correspondence with regard to the establishment of the 118th Battalion under Lt-Col. Lochead in Berlin Ontario. This includes much correspondence on the matter of recruitment from the various towns surrounding Berlin, such as Waterloo and their placement of said recruits in proper accommodations and a general establishment of a proper armory and barracks.
Date(s): December 9, 1915 – October 18, 1916
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars with regard to the 118th Battalion’s use of musketry skill. Much is said about the Ross rifle and the use of said rifle at Camp Borden.
Date(s): January 5,1915 – December 5, 1916
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars with regard to the 118th Battalion’s officer examination process.
Date(s): December 5, 1915 – December 16, 1916
Memoranda and circulars with regard to financial claims put forward by members of the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 10, 1916 – December 29, 1916
Correspondence and circulars on discipline procedure in the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): December 2, 1915 – December 19, 1916
Memoranda, correspondence, circulars and personnel files pertaining to varying strength of the 118th Battalion. Specifically noted are Absentees, rejected recruits, and recruits on courses who do not show on Roll Call.
Date(s): December 3, 1915 – November 30, 1916
Memoranda and circulars on the procurement of clothing, supplies and equipment in regards to the 118th Battalion. This includes weaponry and the use the barrels filled with water as barrier protection for the recruits of the battalion.
Date(s): February 18, 1916 – December 18, 1916
Correspondence in regards to sick leave for members of the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 15, 1915 – August 26, 1916
Memoranda, correspondence and circulars pertaining to pay for the 118th Battalion.
1-12 – Marriage/Separation Allowance
Date(s): February 18, 1916 – September 15, 1916
Memoranda, correspondence and circulars on funds being allocated to wives, and widowed mothers of soldiers in the 118th Battalion. Correspondence between Lt-Col. Lochead and several former wives, and abandoned mothers illustrate the appeal of receiving allowance from serving members of the battalion.
Date(s): August 18, 1916 – December 2, 1916
Memoranda calling on officers of the 118th Battalion to complete their Equitation exams.
Date(s): November 18, 1915 – December 27, 1916
Applications and references for individuals applying towards special units within the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): February 5, 1916 – December 27, 1916
Memoranda, correspondence, circulars and manuals on the recruitment and training of the Machine Gun Section for the 118th Battalion. Primarily recruited from Toronto, this section underwent extreme scrutiny due their billeting to Berlin, where the 118th Battalion is based. Much of the file consists of correspondence between Lt-Col. Lochead and individuals from Toronto who either object or support his recruitment efforts in that city.
Date(s): January 20, 1915 – June 30, 1916 (Creation)
Memoranda, correspondence and circulars pertaining to the discharge of several members of the 118th Battalion. In the 118th’s case, discharge occurred do to lying about age or place of birth, medical reasons, and pressure of the family of said recruit. In some of the latter cases, Lt-Col. Lochead appeals to several recruit’s parents to give their blessing to their son for having joined the 118th.
Date(s): July 4, 1916 – January 19, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars pertaining to the discharge of several members of the 118th Battalion. In the 118th’s case, discharge occurred due to lying about age or place of birth, medical reasons, and pressure of the family of said recruit. In some of the latter cases, Lt–Col. Lochead appeals to several recruit’s parents to give their blessing to their son for having joined the 118th.
Series 1, File 2
Date(s): May 2, 1916 – December 27, 1916 (Creation)
Personal papers of Lt-Col. Lochead. These include correspondence between the colonel and his friends, prominent civilians, and his family. A good part of the file tends to focus on a corruption charge levied against Lochead and his staff of the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 16, 1915 – May 19, 1916 (Creation)
Memoranda, correspondence and circulars on the 118th Battalion’s attempt to find suitable housing for its troops and headquarters within Berlin and London, Ontario.
Date(s): December 23, 1915 –December 15, 1916 (Creation)
Memoranda, correspondence and circulars on Lt-Col. Lochead’s attempt to acquire fine china for his mess, and officer coats for his officers.
Date(s): May 8, 1916 – December 19, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars pertaining to the discharge of furlough for the numbers of the 118th Battalion. A large portion of the file has to deal with granting furlough to soldiers who can help with theplanting, seeding, and eventual harvest of the various crops of the region.
Date(s): December 1, 1915 – January 19, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars pertaining to the collection and distribution of regimental funds on recruiting, housing, utilities, vehicles, and camp life in general.
Date(s): May 19, 1916 – January 19, 1917 (Creation)
Nominal rolls on deserters, companies, officers, enlisted, and the entire 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 30, 1915 – December 22, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files on enlistments for the 118th Battalion. Many of the papers have to deal with recruits not showing up for duty after initially signing up. Furthermore,there are an ample amount of letters to and from family members pleading for their brothers, and sons to be let out of their contract.
2-24 – Officer Appointments and Transfers
Date(s): November 23, 1915 – January 18, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files to and from Lt-Col. Lochead in regards to officer appointments within the 118th Battalion.
Series 1, File 3
Date(s): January 24, 1916 – December 30, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars, medical charts and personnel files on the state of the 118th Battalion’s medical section, and the application of medical help for the soldiers of the Battalion.
Date(s): April 12, 1916 – December 7, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars on 118th Battalion members who deserted or were arrested based on a civil matter while in uniform.
3-27 – Transfer of Documents (Various)
Date(s): December 4, 1915 – January 22, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars, medical charts and personnel files pertaining to personnel and equipment of the 118th Battalion that were transferred to the main Documents and Records department.
Date(s): October 12, 1915 – January 22, 1917 (Creation)
Circulars and correspondence sent out from the various commands to the 118th Battalion regarding day-to-day matters of the Canadian Militia.
Date(s): November 25, 1915 – January 5, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and account billings regarding the 118th Battalion’s canteen paperwork, this includes the monetary charts of purchases made by the Battalion’s soldiers.
Date(s): December 28, 1915 – January 4, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files of 118th Battalion personnel attending various militia courses over the 1916 year.
Date(s): December 2, 1915 – September 2, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars on the acquisition of books for the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): December 30, 1915 – January 1, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars on awarding and revoking separation allowances to the wives and in some cases, mothers, of men in the Battalion.
Date(s): November 17, 1915 – January 3, 1917 (Creation)
Letters and recommendations of enlisted personnel to and from Lt-Col. Lochead in regards to the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): December 7, 1915 – July 10, 1916 (Creation)
Letters from Lt-Col. Lochead to Division Headquarters regarding the parade state of the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 30, 1915 – January 13, 1916 (Creation)
A letter from Lt-Col Lochead to several superiors requesting the declaration papers of several of the 118th Battalion’s officers.
Date(s): November 29, 1915 – July 29, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence and memoranda on the 118th Battalion’s strength prior to its mass recruitment effort.
Date(s): November 14, 1916 – December 18, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence to and from the Patriotic Fund and Lt-Col. Lochead regarding matters pertaining to the club.
Date(s): August 18, 1916 – September 30, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence and memoranda on 118th Battalion’s training with grenades.
Date(s): January 5, 1916 – September 16, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files on the establishment and training of the signals section for the 118th Battalion.
Series 1, File 4
Date(s): August 15, 1916 – October 24, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence and memoranda on supernumerary men in the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): January 14, 1916 – December 29, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files on the establishment of the 118th Battalion’s band and their purchase of instruments and recruitment of bandsmen.
Date(s): July 20, 1916 – December 12, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, circulars and memoranda on inspection of quarters and picquets.
4-43 – Guards, Picquets, Police
Date(s): November 16, 1916 – December 1, 1916 (Creation)
Documents on the establishment of picquets and the general rules of conduct for those soldiers partaking in this action.
4-44 – Qualifications of Officers and N.C.O.s
Date(s): August 22, 1916 – November 26, 1916 (Creation)
Lists of qualifications gained by officers and N.C.O.’s of the 118 Battalion.
Date(s): December 3, 1915 – October 26, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, circulars, lists and memoranda on the financial accounts for the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): November 18, 1916 – January 3, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence on the bombing team’s receipt of medals for their service.
Date(s): November 10, 1915 – July 10, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars, personnel files and lists on the transferring of soldiers primarily from the 118th Battalion. A signification number of transfers are due to personal reasons and Lt-Col. Lochead takes much paperwork in explaining to many of the members how to properly request a transfer.
Date(s): November 10, 1915 – July 10, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars, personnel files and lists on the transferring of soldiers primarily from the 118th Battalion. A signification number of transfers are due to personal reasons and Lt-Col. Lochead takes much paperwork in explaining to many of the members how to properly request a transfer.
Date(s): July 14, 1916 – December 29, 1916 (Creation)
A variety of paperwork on the transferring of soldiers primarily from the 118th Battalion. A signification number of transfers are due to personal reasons and Lt-Col. Lochead takes much paperwork in explaining to many of the members how to properly request a transfer.
4-48 – Enquiries re: Enlisted Men
Date(s): December 7, 1916 – December 30, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence between the 1st Division and the 118th Battalion regarding enlisted members.
Date(s): August 8, 1916 – November 17, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, personnel files and lists on the death of a Pvt. who was a member of 118th Battalion, due to alcohol poisoning.
Date(s): 1915-1916 (Creation)
Weekly lists/menus of food that the men of the 118th Battalion would consume.
Date(s): February 16, 1916 – January 6, 1917 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda, circulars and personnel files on several different boards of inquiry within the 118th Battalion. The majority of the inquiries seem to have been brought forward due to absenteeism, destruction of battalion-issued kit, and transportation.
4-52 – Officers’ Outfit Allowance Claims
Date(s): January 15, 1916 – December 20, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars on officer allowance claims towards clothing and other issues befitting an officer in the Canadian Militia.
Date(s): April 25, 1916 – December 20, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence on the dispatch of an accountant to review the account books of the 118th Battalion.
Date(s): April 27, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence, memoranda and circulars on 118th Battalion absentees. Although these absentees are primarily made up of men who found themselves in hospitals, there are a few legitimate deserters who are being sought by the Battalion.
Date(s): November 8, 1915 – December 26, 1916 (Creation)
Documents on the recruitment of officers for the 118th Battalion. This includes several dozen petitions by civilians to be appointed officers by Lt-Col. Lochead. Furthermore, there are several correspondences between Sam Hughes and Lochead over which territory the 118th Battalion can officially recruit from.
Date(s): December 21, 1915 – October 27, 1916 (Creation)
Correspondence on leave for officers of the 118th Battalion.
Series 2: Lieutenant Colonel W. Lochead – Books and Manuscripts
Series 2 consists of publications and manuscripts collected by Lochead. This series is not digitized.
Item descriptions are available on Archeion HERE.