by Barry William Shandro
Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth

In 1916 he had transferred from the 128th Bn. to Moose Jaw's 210th Frontiersmen Battalion. This Frontiersmen battalion is reported to have been looking for the genuine cowboy, men skilled in the outdoors trades, sappers, engineers, veterans with at least 3 years army or navy service - men who were use to hardship and cold. Reports clearly indicate that the 210th Frontiersmen were getting large numbers these recruits quickly.

The man tasked with raising that Frontiersmen battalion was Lt. Col. W.E. Seaborn, also of the 128th Battalion. Obviously Lt. Col. Seaborn knew a good soldier when he saw one, and he must have made sure that Sturley was also transferred from the 128th Bn. Natural leadership, an exceptional aptitude for soldiering, and the intelligent organizational skills of an accountant, were probably the perfect combination of traits needed for the rapid formation of a new battalion. Sturley had the needed skills to co-ordinate the chain of command, and manage the veteran NCO's so that they could get on with the training of the Frontiersmen. Within a short time J.E. Sturley was the acting Sergeant Major of 'A' Company. By the time the Frontiersmen embarked overseas in April 1917, Sturley had become the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 210th (Frontiersmen) Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Upon arrival in England, these Frontiersmen from Canada's prairie were placed in a Holding Battalion. Unfortunately, the Frontiersmen of the 210th were then broken up and re-assigned to a variety of units including a Remount Depot, the Canadian Railway Troops, the Forestry Battalion and some officers to the Royal Flying Corps. All NCOs must now revert to the rank of private and all officers reverted to the rank of lieutenant when reassigned.

One hundred eighty of the 210th Frontiersmen, including the now Private J.E. Sturley, were assigned to the 46th "Suicide" Battalion (now perpetuated by the Saskatchewan Dragoons). It became nicknamed the "Suicide Battalion" because of the 91% casualty rate -- 4,917 soldiers of the total 5,374 who passed through this battalion were either killed or wounded. Of the 180 Frontiersmen assigned to the 46th Bn, 52 were killed in action or died of wounds, 127 were wounded, and 3 were taken prisoner of war.

J.E. Sturley once again, this time in combat, demonstrated his abilities as a soldier and was promoted in the field to the rank of sergeant. Displaying initiative and courage in battle, Sgt. Sturley single-handedly charged and overtook a machine gun position bayonetting all the enemy there. It was for this heroic action that Sgt. J.E. Sturley, 46th Bn was recommended for the British Empire's highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross...

This former Regimental Sergeant Major of the 210th Frontiersmen Overseas Battalion was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

References:

Aylott, F.G., "A Short History of the 210th Bn. (Frontiersmen)"... 1984.

Mack, Brigadier A., History of the Legion of Frontiersmen... circa 1970.

The Frontiersman, (regimental magazine) Vol.1, No.2, December 1916.

"Attestation Papers" (Canadian Soldiers of the First World War).

Regina Morning Leader, 1917.