Name/Title
1916 - Canadian Grenadier Guards WW1 Recruiting Poster - TYPE 6 Black font "The Call for Men of Courage" - 245th Battalion CEFDescription
Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection *** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION ***
There are 8 different rare or unique examples of original recruiting posters used by CGG during the First World War. Many with less than 20 original copies known to exist.
This Type 6 is Titled ‘Fall in The Guards’ – 245th Bn Recruiting Poster published in 1916 by Montreal Publishing Co. Featuring Sgt William Hawkins, Bugle-Major of the 245th Bn and former Coldstream Guards Imperial Veteran.
The poster is a portrait layout with no bordered. The Text "245th Bn" is Red Headings and bold text font. It lists CGG's 2 Recruiting Depots - Less than 20 Copies known to exist.
The 245th. Bn. (CGG) CEF was recruited to be a second overseas Bn. for the CGG in WW1 just 5 weeks after the 87th. (CGG) Bn. 1,062 was raised.. However, by the time it was created in June 1916, the volunteer recruiting system of recruiting by separate CEF Bns. had started to peter out. One of the reasons was that when recruited, men were led to believe that they would fight together as a unit, with a full slate of officers and NCOs.
However, at this stage of the war. most CEF bns. were broken up on arrival in England to provide badly needed individual reinforcements the Canadian Corps in the field. All told the 245th. recruited a total of 520 all ranks, of whom 290 were still in the unit that went oversea. 152 other ranks were eventually absorbed into the 87th. in August, 1917. The rest were disbursed to other CEF units. 42 were KIA. 50 were still on strength with the 87th. by the armistice in November 1918. Presumably. most of the rest had become non-fatal casualties in the interim.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
May 24, 2022Updated By
R. John Dolbec C/Sgt. (ret.)Update Date
February 16, 2026
