I have the WW1 service records for my grandmother’s cousin John O’Connor.

He enlisted in Manitoba, Canada in January 1916 and was assigned to the 108th Battalion. In England he was transferred to the 14th Reserve Battalion (Manitoba).

John arrived in France on 5 March 1917 and that same day was “transferred to 16th Batt., B.E.F., France.” One further reference to his unit says “16th Bn Can Sup.”

John died at Hill 70 on Aug.15-16, 1917 and I believe the 16th Battalion refers to the Canadian Scottish, which has Hill 70 listed as one of their battle honours. I’ve been reading their war diaries which are online and include a narrative of their attack on Hill 70.

My question is, why the reference to “B.E.F.” when he arrived in France? At first I thought he’d been transferred to the British Army but that seems unlikely now.