THE FORTYNINER - Alberta Genealogy Research "The Recents"

The Forty-Niner
Canadian Expeditionary Force were obtained from
Colt: one handgun adopted was that company’s
“state-of-the-art” Model 1911 semi-automatic
pistol. A total of 5000 were acquired, all coming
from Colt’s 1914 “Commercial” production and
thus having a beautiful high-polish “oven-blue”
finish, with finely checkered walnut grips.
Officers had the option to purchase one of
the accepted handguns as they were given an
allowance to do so. There were at least four of the
1911s purchased by members of the 49 th Battalion,
its first Commanding Officer, L Col William A.
Griesbach, Serial number C6806, WO1 Arthur
Robinson, later Captain, serial number, C10221,
Major B. D. Johnson serial number C12749 and
WO1 Nicolas M. Walsh serial number C10827.
Three of these pistols are in the collection of the
Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum the
fourth, Major Johnson’s, is at the Royal Alberta
Museum. All of the listed Colts were part of the
5000 purchased by the Canadian Government.
The 5,000 pistol procurement for the Canadian
Expeditionary Force serial number ranges:
Sep 11, 1914 1,000 C3000-8400
Sep 24, 1914 300 C5400-C8700
Sep 29, 1914 300 C8000-C9500
Sep 30, 1914 100 C8500- C9700
Oct 1, 1914 180 C8500-C9700
Oct 2, 1914 120 C5700-C9700
Shipped to Government of Canada, Department of
Militia & Defense, c/o J. Wesley, Waddington, NY.
3,000 more were shipped to HW Brown, Quebec,
Canada for a total of 5,000.
Oct 31, 1914 1,000 C7900-11400
Nov 7, 1914 1,000 C9800-C12700
Nov 14, 1914 1,000 C11100-C13500 2
The first 49er to possess a Colt was its first
L Col W. Greisbach with his Colt 1911. The photo on the left he
is wearing the Colt as the box type magazine pouch is clearly
seen. On the right post WW1 he is seen shooting his Colt on a
range. Photos from LER Museum Collection
Commanding Officer L Col William Artubus
Griesbach. I did find a WW1 photograph of
Griesbach wearing his Sam Browne and the distinct
box type leather magazine pouch of the 1911. Post
WW1, photos of Griesbach shooting his Colt on a
range with several other Officers. The museum
acquired the Colt from the Griesbach’s family along
with numerous other uniforms, notes, letters and
photographs.
The next Colt in the collection was from the second
Regimental Sergeant Major of the 49 th Battalion
Nicolas M. Walsh. Walsh joined the battalion
on 4 January 1915 and because of his previous
military experience in Britain was appointed as
the Company Sergeant Major of B Company. It is
not known for sure if he had to purchase the Colt,
as the Officers had to but he did have his name
engraved on the pistol. CSM Walsh was in the
Colour Party when the 49 th Battalion received its
colours at Victoria Park in Edmonton before their
departure overseas.
In 1916 CSM Walsh became the RSM of the 49 th
Battalion at the time of the Ypres battles. It was at
this time that the initials RSM were engraved on his
Colt as the style of lettering is slightly different.
This was taken from the Regimental history “A
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