The 87th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force

Canadian Expeditionary Force

The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...

 during the First World War

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting in September 1915 in Montreal, the surrounding districts, and also in mining districts elsewhere in the province. After sailing to England in April 1916, the battalion was stationed there as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade (until June) and then 11th Infantry Brigade of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division until August of the same year. On August 11/12, the battalion crossed over to France and served the duration of the war as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Infantry Division. The battalion returned to Canada in June 1919.

Officers Commanding

• Lieut.-Col. J. P. Rexford (April 25, 1916, to July 22, 1916)
• Lieut.-Col. R. W. Frost, DSO
  Distinguished Service Order
  The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
  
   (July 27, 1917, to March 24, 1917)
• Major H. LeR. Shaw (March 24, 1917, to May 8, 1917)
• Lieut.-Col. J. V. P. O'Donahoe, DSO
  Distinguished Service Order
  The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
  
   (May 8, 1917, to April 4, 1918)
• Major J. S. Ralston, MC
  Military Cross
  The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
  
   (April 5, 1918, to May 5, 1918)
• Lieut.-Col. K. M. Perry, DSO
  Distinguished Service Order
  The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
  
   (May 5, 1918, to October 14, 1918)
• Lieut.-Col. F. S. Meighen, CMG
  Order of St Michael and St George
  The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
  
   (October 14, 1918, to May 7, 1919)
• Lieut.-Col. R. Bickerdike, DSO
  Distinguished Service Order
  The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
  
  (May 7, 1919, until demobilization)

Battle honours

• Somme, 1916
• Ancre Heights
• Ancre, 1916
• Arras, 1917 & 1918
• Vimy, 1917
• Hill 70
• Ypres, 1915
• Passchendaele, 1917
• Amiens, 1918
• Scarpe, 1918
• Drocourt-Queant
• Hindenburg Line
• Canal du Nord
• Valenciennes
• Sambre
• France and Flanders, 1916–18