The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own)

Badge

Description

On a maple leaf Vert resting upon a scroll Argent inscribed FRANCE FLANDERS 1915-18, two scrolls conjoined in pale Or inscribed BRITISH COLUMBIA, all above a bugle horn Argent and within a wreath of laurel Vert ensigned by the coronet of a younger son of the Sovereign proper, environed with a battle honour scroll Argent inscribed dexter VIMY 1917, SOMME 1916, FESTUBERT 1915, HINDENBURG LINE and sinister AMIENS, CANAL DU NORD, PASSCHENDAELE, DROCOURT-QUÉANT, the wreath surmounted below the coronet by two battle scrolls conjoined in pale Argent and inscribed SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900 and YPRES 1915-17 and in base by a scroll Argent inscribed DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S OWN RIFLES, all inscriptions in letters Sable.

Symbolism

The coronet of His Royal Highness Prince Arthur represents the tie between the Duke of Connaught and the original regiment. The maple leaf and scrolls represent the perpetuation of the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF. The bugle, laurel wreath and the inscription "DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S OWN RIFLES" reflect the unit's role as a rifle regiment from 1900 to 1920 and from 1930 to 1946. The battle honours represent the honours awarded to the regiment and its perpetuated units.

Motto

FAUGH A BALLAGH (Clear the way)

March

I'm Ninety Five

Alliance

The Royal Green Jackets

Affiliation

HMCS Vancouver

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900.

The First World War

YPRES, 1915, '17; Gravenstafel; St. Julien; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916, '18; Flers-Courcelette; Thiepval; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; Arleux; HILL 70; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1917, '18; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai 1918; VALENCIENNES; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.

The Second World War

FALAISE; Falaise Road; The Laison; Chambois; THE SCHELDT; The Lower Maas; THE RHINELAND; The Hochwald; Veen; Twente Canal; Küsten Canal; Bad Zwischenahn; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 12 October 1883 and incorporates the following regiments and artillery battery.

The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) originated in Victoria, British Columbia on 12 October 1883, when the 'British Columbia Provisional Regiment of Garrison Artillery' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: 'British Columbia Brigade of Garrison Artillery' on 7 May 1886;^{Footnote 2} 'British Columbia Battalion of Garrison Artillery' on 1 January 1893;^{Footnote 3} '5th British Columbia Battalion of Garrison Artillery' on 1 January 1895;^{Footnote 4} and '5th "British Columbia" Regiment, CA' on 28 December 1895.^{Footnote 5} The regiment was reorganized into two battalions on 1 July 1896, designated the '1st' (now the '5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA') and '2nd' battalions.^{Footnote 6} The '2nd Battalion' was detached and converted to infantry and redesignated the '6th Battalion Rifles' on 1 August 1899, with headquarters in Vancouver.^{Footnote 7} It was redesignated the '6th Regiment "The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles"' on 1 May 1900.^{Footnote 8} On 12 March 1920, it was amalgamated with the '104th Regiment (Westminster Fusiliers of Canada)' (now 'The Royal Westminster Regiment') and redesignated the '1st British Columbia Regiment'.^{Footnote 9} It was redesignated the '1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)' on 1 November 1920.^{Footnote 10} On 15 May 1924 it was reorganized into three separate regiments, designated: 'The Vancouver Regiment' (see below); 'The Westminster Regiment'; and the '1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)'.^{Footnote 11} The last named was redesignated: 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles)' on 15 January 1930;^{Footnote 12} and '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The British Columbia Regiment, (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles)' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 13} The regiment was converted to armour and redesignated: '13th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Regiment), RCAC' on 1 April 1946;^{Footnote 14} 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (13th Armoured Regiment)' on 4 February 1949;^{Footnote 15} 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC)' on 19 May 1958;^{Footnote 16} and 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)' on 7 October 1985.^{Footnote 17} On 13 June 2002, it was amalgamated with 'The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment) (see below), retaining the same designation.^{Footnote 18}

Perpetuations

'7th', '29th', '30th', '62nd', '102nd', '121st', and '158th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF »

Headquarters Location

Vancouver, British Columbia

Operational history

South African War

The 6th Battalion Rifles contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the South African War.^{Footnote 37}

The First World War

The 6th Regiment "The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles" was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 38}

The 11th Regiment Irish Fusiliers of Canada was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 39}

The 7th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '7th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 40} embarked for Britain on 28 September 1914.^{Footnote 41} It disembarked in France on 15 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 42} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 43}

The 29th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '29th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 44} embarked for Britain on 20 May 1915.^{Footnote 45} It disembarked in France on 17 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 46} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 47}

The 30th Battalion, which was authorized on 27 October 1914 as the '30th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 48} embarked for Britain on 23 February 1915.^{Footnote 49} It was redesignated the '30th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 18 April 1915 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 50} On 4 January 1917 its personnel were absorbed by the '1st Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 51} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 52}

The 62nd Battalion, which was authorized on 20 April 1915 as the '62nd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 53} embarked for Britain on 20 March 1916.^{Footnote 54} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916 when its personnel were absorbed by the '30th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 55} The battalion was disbanded on 8 December 1917.^{Footnote 56}

The 102nd Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '102nd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 57} embarked for Britain on 18 June 1916.^{Footnote 58} It disembarked in France on 12 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 59} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 60}

The 121st Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '121st "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 61} embarked for Britain on 14 November 1916.^{Footnote 62} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 10 January 1917 when its personnel were absorbed by the '16th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 63} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 64}

The 158th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '158th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 65} embarked for Britain on 14 November 1916.^{Footnote 66} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917 when its personnel were absorbed by the '1st Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 67} The battalion was disbanded on 27 July 1917.^{Footnote 68}

The Second World War

The British Columbia Regiment was called out on service on 26 August 1939.^{Footnote 69} Details of the regiment were placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles), CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 70} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 71} The regiment subsequently mobilized 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles), CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 72} It was redesignated: '1st Battalion, The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles), CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 73} It was converted to armour and redesignated: '28th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Regiment), CAC, CASF' on 26 January 1942;^{Footnote 74} and '28th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Regiment), RCAC, CASF' on 2 August 1945.^{Footnote 75} On 21 August 1942 it embarked for Britain.^{Footnote 76} The regiment landed in France on 28 July 1944 as part of the 4th Armoured Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division and continued to serve in North West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 77} The overseas regiment was disbanded on 15 February 1946.^{Footnote 78}

Details from the Irish Fusiliers were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment), CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 79} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 80} The regiment subsequently mobilized the '1st Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment), CASF' on 1 January 1941.^{Footnote 81} This unit served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 18th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Division;^{Footnote 82} and in Jamaica on garrison duty from 18 May 1943 to 6 August 1944.^{Footnote 83} On 10 January 1945 it embarked for Britain,^{Footnote 84} where it was disbanded on 19 January 1945 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Army in the field.^{Footnote 85} The regiment also mobilized the '3rd Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment), CASF' for active service on 12 May 1942.^{Footnote 86} This unit served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 19th Infantry Brigade of Pacific Command.^{Footnote 87} The 3rd Battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1943.^{Footnote 88}

The 102nd Battery was called out on service on 26 August 1939.^{Footnote 89} Details of the battery were placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation '102nd (North British Columbia) Heavy Battery, RCA, CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 90} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 91} The battery subsequently mobilized the '102nd (North British Columbia) Heavy Battery, RCA, CASF' for active service on 1 January 1941.^{Footnote 92} It was redesignated the '102nd Coast Battery, RCA, CASF' on 1 May 1942.^{Footnote 93} This unit served in Canada in a home defence role with the '17th (North British Columbia) Coast Regiment, RCA, CASF' as part of Pacific Command.^{Footnote 94} The battery was disbanded on 31 October 1945.^{Footnote 95}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 96}