Lieutenant Colonel Claude H. Hill, D.S.O.
Royal Canadian Regiment

For conspicuous gallantry when in command of his battalion. He repelled several attacks and displayed great coolness and courage in directing bodies of men under heavy fire.

(Hill, D.S.O. citation, 19 Aug 1916, 8226)

Born in Halifax on 30 August 1881 in Claude Hardinge Hill joined the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1901. He volunteered to fight in the Boer War but arrived to South Africa just one day before the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed to end the war. In November 1914, he joined to the 24th Victoria Rifles Battalion as second-in-command.

Following an appointment to brigade major with the 2nd Division in January to April 1916, Hill was promoted to succeed Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Macdonell in command of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery at the battle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916.

He remained in command of the R.C.R. until November 1917 when transferred to be as instructor at the Senior Officers’ Course School in Aldershot. Hill resumed command of the Regiment on 7 April 1918. Two months later he was back in England to become Commandant of the Canadian Corps School. During Hill’s two extended absences from the front, Major C. R. E. Willets assumed command.

After the armistice, Hill served as commanding officer of the R.C.R. from January 1919 to 1924. He retired in 1934 and became honorary colonel of the Regiment during the Second World War. He moved to England and died there in April 1960.

Digitized Service File (LAC):
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B4345-S046