Battalion Park facts for kids
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| Established | 3 November 1991 |
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| Location | Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Signal Hill |
| Type | geoglyphs |
Battalion Park is a special outdoor site in southwest Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It's located on Signal Hill. From here, you can see the lands of the Tsuu T'ina Nation. This area was once a military training ground for the Canadian Forces before and during the First World War.
The park is dedicated to the brave soldiers from Alberta who fought in the First World War. It covers a large area of about 93 hectares (230 acres). The most important part of the park is four giant numbers made from large, white-painted stones. These numbers are 137, 113, 151, and 51. There are 16,000 stones in total! You can see these numbers from different parts of Calgary. They represent the different army groups, called battalions, that trained here.
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What is Battalion Park?
Battalion Park is a unique place on Signal Hill. It covers about 93 hectares (230 acres). The park looks over the Tsuutʼina Nation. It is located north of the Elbow River, near the Westhills shopping area. This is on the western edge of Calgary.
History of the Park
Training for War
In the summer of 1914, the Canadian Militia rented land from the Sarcee Indian Reserve. They wanted to create a training camp for soldiers. This camp was known as Sarcee Camp. It was the only place in Alberta that trained soldiers for the First World War. The Canadian Forces used this military area until the 1990s.
About 45,000 men trained at Sarcee Camp. This made it the largest military training camp in Canada during the war. Soldiers came from all over Alberta. It took a full day to ride from Calgary to the camp.
How the Stone Numbers Were Made
Army engineers mapped out the training area. Each army unit wanted to show where they were. So, soldiers collected stones from the river. They carried these stones in sacks by hand. This was part of their training, even during their free time! They carried the stones about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).
Many military units worked together to create the battalion numbers. The four battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained here. These included soldiers from Calgary, Lethbridge, Central Alberta, and Edmonton.
After their training, these battalions went to fight in the First World War. The 151st (Central Alberta) Battalion trained here from late 1915 to late 1916. The 137th (Calgary) Battalion, CEF trained from December 1915 to August 1916. They then went to Europe to fight. The soldiers who survived the war would return to the park until the 1960s. They would clean the area and repaint the stones of their battalion number.
The 113th Battalion (Lethbridge Highlanders), CEF also trained here in 1916. They used painted rocks to build their number on Signal Hill. The 51st Battalion (Edmonton), CEF also trained at Sarcee Army Camp in 1915.
Park's Later Years
After the battalions left, the stone numbers were almost forgotten. Shrubs and grass grew over them. A local historian found the stones before the area was developed. He wanted to protect the hill from erosion and allow new buildings.
It took many years of hard work to make the site a historical park. Cadets from units in Calgary, especially the 157th Battalion, helped a lot. The stones were kept safe until they could be put back. The park officially opened on November 3, 1991.
Today, some army units still remember these old battalions. For example, the Loyal Edmonton Regiment remembers the 51st Battalion. The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) remembers the 137th Battalion.
What You Can See at the Park
The main features of Battalion Park are the huge numbers made of 16,000 white-painted stones. These numbers are 137, 113, 151, and 51. The numbers 137, 151, and 51 are close together. The number "113" is a bit further away. It is still in its original spot from 1916. The other numbers had to be moved because of new roads and buildings.
The number "113" is on a high ridge. Each number of "113" is about 36.5 meters (120 feet) long. They are between 1.8 and 3.7 meters (6 to 12 feet) wide. The park has a walkway up the hill. There are paved and dirt paths. You can also find signs that explain the numbers and a "lookout landing" to enjoy the view.
Remembering the Soldiers
A special plaque was placed at Battalion Park. It honors the ancestors of 104 cadets who gathered there. These ancestors were part of the First World War in 1915 and 1916. The plaque lists the names of the battalions. On this day, the cadets also helped paint the stones of the battalion numbers.
Every Remembrance Day, members of the King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) visit the park. They remember the brave soldiers of the 137th (Calgary) Battalion CEF. They hold a ceremony to honor their sacrifices.
See also
- Hillside letters
- Military history of Canada
- Fovant Badges
Images for kids
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51st Battalion, Sarcee Army Camp in 1915
