The Mons Bugle

Written by: Captain Rick Dumas

When the First World War broke out in August 1914, the 101st Regiment (Edmonton Fusiliers) recruited and formed several battalions for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The 49th Battalion was the only battalion that was to remain as a fighting unit while the others were broken up as reinforcements. The 49th Battalion served as part of the 3rd Canadian Division and saw action at Ypres, the Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele and Amiens amongst other major battles. The 49th Battalion, throughout the war had earned 2 Victoria Crosses, 34 Military Crosses and 174 Military Medals and was awarded 16 Battle Honours. During The Great War, 4,050 men had served with the 49th Battalion in France and Belgium. The Battalion lost 977 all ranks with 2,282 sustaining one or more wounds.

For centuries, bugle calls were used on battlefields to issue tactical commands and in bivouacs and garrisons to post reveille and meal times, etcetera. It was at Mons, Belgium where this – the Mons Bugle was played, to mark the end of The Great War, ceremoniously amongst our Allies at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, 100 years ago. Its last war-time service command was the CEASEFIRE call. It was time to finally go home.

Following the war, the 49th Battalion was re-designated as The Edmonton Regiment and later during the Italian Campaign; Second World War was again re-designated as The Loyal Edmonton Regiment. It is at their Museum that the Mons Bugle is on display.

To learn more, please visit http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/loyal-edmonton-regiment/index.page or The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum, Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, 10440 – 108 Ave, Edmonton (website: www.lermuseum.org).