Waterloo at War is a special exhibit of the Lieutenant Colonel W. Lochead Fonds. It contains Lochead’s personal papers and official documents ca. 1914-1917 relating to the 118th Overseas Battalion, one of two battalions raised for overseas service in modern-day Waterloo Region.

Headquartered in what was then Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario, the battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915. Recruiting took place mainly in northern Waterloo County, and the unit became known locally as the North Waterloo battalion. W.M.O. Lochead was a local insurance manager, and the 118th’s commanding officer.

The 118th had difficulty recruiting and was plagued by controversy. A South Waterloo unit authorised the same day—the 111th Overseas Battalion based in Galt—sailed for Europe a year earlier than the 118th, although both were broken up for reinforcements upon arrival in England.

The Lochead Fonds offers unique insight into Waterloo Region during the First World War, from aggressive recruiting tactics that alienated many in the community to the contentious decision to change the name of Berlin to Kitchener.

All digitized files are text-searchable, and the exhibit is accompanied by three lesson plans suitable for grades 10-12 (Quebec secondary 4-5).