211th Battalion (American Legion), CEF

The 211th Battalion (American Legion), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War. The battalion was unusual in that it was primarily recruited from American citizens residing in Canada who wished to volunteer for service.

Authorized on July 15, 1916, the 211th Battalion was raised in Toronto, Ontario. It was mobilized at the Exhibition Camp in Toronto, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. Thompson. The battalion recruited heavily from American expatriates living and working in Canada, many of whom were drawn to the war effort but were not eligible for conscription in the United States. The designation "(American Legion)" was added to the battalion's name to reflect this composition.

The battalion sailed for Great Britain on April 19, 1917, aboard the SS Olympic. Upon arrival, the 211th Battalion was absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion, CEF, on April 29, 1917, and did not serve as an independent unit in France. Consequently, the 211th Battalion was disbanded on November 11, 1917.

The "American Legion" designation, while present in the battalion's official title, should not be confused with the later, well-known American veterans' organization, The American Legion, which was founded in 1919. The "American Legion" in the battalion's name simply signified its composition of American volunteers.