81st Battalion, CEF

The 81st Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in the late summer of 1915 in Toronto and the surrounding district. After sailing to England in May 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 35th Battalion, CEF on July 6, 1916. The 81st Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. B. H. Belson.

Photographs of thirty-one of the officers of the 81st Battalion were printed in the Toronto Star on 22 January 1916.

Of those officers, a number were to die during the first World War. Their stories and photograph collections can be found on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Veterans Affairs Canada, Canada Remembers).

Lieut. Harry Valmond Walker, who later served with the 58th Battalion, died 08 October 1916.

His friend, Lt. Gordon King MacKendrick, also formerly an 81st officer, died with the 58th Battalion on the same day as Lt. Harry Valmond Walker.

Lt. Arthur Beamer McCormick, Military Cross, 3rd Battalion, died 10 April 1917.

Lt. Herbert Edward Moore, 4th C.M.R., died 02 October 1916.

Lt. Frederick Gustavus Stupart, 75th Battalion, died 22 October 1916.