A handsome Donald MacIntosh Lamont was born on December 23rd, 1888, in Saugeen Township to Alexander and Agnes Lamont.
At 28 years of age, he enlisted with the 160th Bruce Battalion on February 29, 1916, in Port Elgin.
L. Foster witnessed his attestation as follows:
Personal Details
Height 5’11”
Weight 165 lb.
Girth: 42”
Complexion: Sandy
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Fair
Religion: Presbyterian
Medical Exam by: Dr. Veitch- Certified as FIT.
Assigned Regimental Number 651862
Lamont was trained in 1916 in Port Elgin until early May, in Walkerton until mid-June and then in London until October when the Battalion left for Halifax. On October 17, 1916, they left Halifax aboard the S.S. Megama and arrived in Liverpool on October 28, 1916.
The 160th Battalion proceeded to the Canadian Expeditionary Force Camp and Headquarters in England at Bramshott on Salisbury Plain with most of their training taking place at Camp Whitley nearby.
Training continued there until early 1918. The 160th was then converted into a reserve battalion and the men were assigned to battalions that were at the wars front in France and Belgium. There, they would fill spots replacing killed and wounded members. This would bring the Canadian Expeditionary Force up to near full strength in preparation for the big push, planned to end the war in 1918.
On March 28, 1918, Donald became a member of the 47th Fort Gary Horse Battalion and joined them in France. The Battalion had left Canada in September of 1914 and trained in England as a Cavalry Battalion for all of 1915.
On February 28, 1916, they arrived in France, and for the next two years fought the Germans along the Hindenberg Line in France and in Belgium. As the war progressed, the use of Cavalry became diminished and the men of the 47th participated for part of their time in a variety of duties, including construction, transportation, and going into the trenches as artillery soldiers.
When Donald arrived in France, the 47th was involved in a major battle at Moreuil and Rifle Wood against a German offensive. They were tasked with providing cover for the withdrawal of a British Brigade. There was considerable loss of life but the ‘Brits’ survived and held the fallback position.
Then on March 30th, the 47th were ordered to attack Moreuil Wood, an important land feature near Amiens. They had success despite severe losses but this was important in that by early April they had stopped the German advances on the city of Amiens.
In the months that followed, they were involved in road construction and transportation of goods to the war front which made good use of their cavalry horses’ capabilities.
It was not until August that the 47th went back into battle in what is known as the 100 Days Offensive which led to the end of the war on November 11th.
On August 8th, the “BIG Push” began with all of the Allied forces advancing along the Western front. For the Fort Gary Battalion, it was advancing on Beaucourt and one of their Squadrons captured a German Brigade Headquarters complete with staff, maps, and papers. There were considerable casualties, along with success, but after completing their assignment they went on break (relief) and did not return to battle until October 9th.
This was to join what had been a slow slugging battle in Gattigny Wood. One of the squadrons rode around the left of the wood and charged, killing a large number of the enemy and capturing more than 200.
Their next assignment was Le Cateau where the objective was to capture the town and the high ground around it. This battle went on for days and they were relieved by the Royal Canadian Dragoons. The fighting was fierce, and a number of the men received battlefield awards and medals for their conspicuous and distinguished service.
The war finally ended on November 11, 1918.
Many of the men of the 47th proceeded back to England to return home, BUT for many of those who had just arrived at the front, they were needed for garrison duty and security patrols in France at the German border in 1918 and for months after the war.
This included Donald Lamont. It was not until April 18, 1919, that he returned to England and, then on May 21st, he boarded the S.S. Lapland in Liverpool and arrived back in Halifax on the 28th of 1919.
Lamont was discharged in Toronto on May 31, 1919 and returned to the family farm in Saugeen Township.
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM
Researched and written by G. William Streeter October 2024
