1913 - General Efficiency Prize for Annual Competition by the Companies of the 1st Regiment The Grenadier Guards of Canada Presented by Lt. Colonel Erastus William (E.W.) Wilson

Object/Artifact

Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

Description

1913 - General Efficiency Prize for Annual Competition by the Companies of the 1st Regiment, the Grenadier Guards of Canada presented by Lieutenant-Colonel (Late Major-General) Eratus William Wilson, G.O.C. Montreal military District No 4. There are only two engraved winners: 1915 - 'A' Company 1916 - 'D' Company ABOUT THE OFFICER: Major-General Wilson came to Montreal as a young man from Bellevue Ontario in 1882 and enlisted as a private in the 3rd Battalion of Rifles (Victoria Rifles of Canada). He rose through the ranks and obtained an officer’s commission in January 1892. He assumed command of the regiment on 25 Sept. 1903, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and he relinquished it four years later. It was during this time that Lt-Col Wilson would have formally or informally participated in helping his friend, CGG Colonel John Wallace, in raising the 1st Regiment, Grenadier Guards of Canada. Wilson was promoted Colonel on 1 June 1914 with his appointment as acting commander of Military District No.4 (Montreal). When World War I broke out on 4 Aug. 1914, he joined the staff of the minister of militia and defence, Samuel Hughes, in Valcartier, and in October he accompanied him to England as his orderly officer. On 20 November he took command of Military District No.4. He was made a brigadier-general on 1 Sept. 1915. The following year he was given command of the camp at Valcartier, and in June he was promoted major-general. He resumed command of Military District No.4 in 1917. In the summer of 1918 he went to England and inspected Canadian troops on the front lines with Prime Minister Sir Robert Laird Borden* and the minister of the overseas military forces, Sir Albert Edward Kemp. He returned to Canada in August. When the war ended he asked to be relieved of his duties, but the military authorities persuaded him to remain at his post until the repatriation of the troops had been completed. He finally gave up command of Military District No.4 in October 1919. He died less than three years later, on 15 May 1922, at the age of 61.

Created By

Zarina Carlevaris

Create Date

August 18, 2022

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

May 21, 2025