The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)

Badge

Description

Azure the Roman numerals "XVII" conjoined above and below to two barrulets Or, issuant in chief a sprig of three autumn maple leaves, and in base on a grassy island an oak tree, to the dexter thereof three oak saplings all proper, the whole within an annulus Or edged and inscribed THE PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND REGIMENT in letters Sable, ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and set upon a scroll Or lined Azure, edged and inscribed PARVA SUB INGENTI in letters Sable.

Symbolism

The maple leaves represent service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The three small oak trees represent the three counties of Prince Edward Island, while the larger tree represents Canada. The three dots on the annulus represent A, B and C Squadrons of the regiment as it existed in 1946. The Roman numerals "XVII" represent the 17th Reconnaissance Regiment. "THE PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND REGIMENT" is a form of the regimental title and "PARVA SUB INGENTI" is the motto of the regiment and of the Province.

Motto

PARVA SUB INGENTI (The small under the protection of the great)

March

Old Solomon Levi

Alliance

British Army

The 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's); and The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

Guidon

Camp flag

Battle honours

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1900.

The First World War

ARRAS, 1917, '18; YPRES, 1917; AMIENS; HINDENBURG LINE; PURSUIT TO MONS.

The Second World War

NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 25 June 1875 and incorporates the following regiments and engineer company.

The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) originated in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on 25 June 1875, when the 'Queen's County Provisional Battalion of Infantry' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} On 30 June 1876, it was amalgamated with the 'Charlottetown Provisional Battalion of Infantry' (see below) and redesignated the 'Queen's County Battalion of Infantry'.^{Footnote 2} It was redesignated: '82nd Queen's County, Battalion of Infantry' on 4 October 1878;^{Footnote 3} '82nd Queen's County Regiment' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 4} '82nd "Abegweit Light Infantry" Regiment' on 5 June 1906;^{Footnote 5} 'The Prince Edward Island Regiment' on 29 March 1920;^{Footnote 6} 'The Prince Edward Island Highlanders' on 15 June 1927;^{Footnote 7} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Prince Edward Island Highlanders' on 1 January 1941;^{Footnote 8} and 'The Prince Edward Island Highlanders' on 1 June 1945.^{Footnote 9} On 1 April 1946, it was converted to armour, amalgamated with the '17th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (Prince Edward Island Light Horse), RCAC' (see below), and redesignated the '17th (Prince Edward Island) Reconnaissance Regiment'.^{Footnote 10} It was redesignated 'The Prince Edward Island Regiment (17th Reconnaissance Regiment)' on 4 February 1949.^{Footnote 11} On 28 February 1955, it was amalgamated with the '28th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA' (see below) retaining its designation.^{Footnote 12} It was redesignated 'The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)' on 19 May 1958.^{Footnote 13}

Perpetuations

'1st Brigade, CGA, CEF; 'No. 2', and 'No. 8 Canadian Siege Batteries, CEF'; and '105th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Operational history

South African War

The 82nd Queen's County Regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents in the field.^{Footnote 35}

The First World War

Details of the 82nd "Abegweit Light Infantry" Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 36}

The 1st Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery was mobilized in England on 1 January 1916 as the 'Canadian Brigade Siege Artillery, CEF'.^{Footnote 37} It was redesignated: '1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, CEF' on 24 November 1916;^{Footnote 38} and '1st Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery, CEF' on 12 January 1918.^{Footnote 39} From January to December 1917 it coordinated siege battery training, and on 31 December 1917 it disembarked in France,^{Footnote 40} where it provided siege artillery support as part of the Canadian Corps troops in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Note de bas de page 41} The brigade was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Note de bas de page 42}

No. 2 Siege Battery, which was authorized as 'No. 2 Heavy Battery Depot, CEF' on 20 April 1915,^{Footnote 43} was redesignated: '2nd "Overseas" Battery Canadian Siege Artillery, CEF' on 29 September 1915;^{Footnote 44} '98th (Canadian) Siege Battery, CEF' on 24 February 1916;^{Footnote 45} and 'No. 2 Canadian Siege Battery, CEF' on 24 January 1917.^{Footnote 46} It embarked for Britain on 27 November 1915.^{Footnote 47} The battery disembarked in France on 1 June 1916, where it provided siege artillery support as part of the 2nd Brigade, CGA, CEF, in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 48} The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 49}

No. 8 Siege Battery was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the 'No. 5 "Overseas" Battery Siege Artillery, CEF'.^{Footnote 50} It was redesignated: '272nd (Canadian) Siege Battery, CEF' on 15 October 1916;^{Footnote 51} and 'No. 8 Canadian Siege Battery, CEF' on 24 January 1917.^{Footnote 52} It embarked for Britain on 26 September 1916.^{Footnote 53} The battery disembarked in France on 1 April 1917, where it provided siege artillery support as part of the 3rd Brigade, CGA, CEF, in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 54} The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 55}

The 105th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '105th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 56} embarked for Britain on 16 July 1916.^{Footnote 57} The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 24 January 1917, when it was amalgamated with the '104th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF', under the latter designation.^{Footnote 58} The battalion was disbanded on 12 October 1917.^{Footnote 59}

The Second World War

Details of The Prince Edward Island Highlanders were placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The Prince Edward Island Highlanders, CASF (Details), for local protection duties.^{Footnote 60} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 61} The regiment subsequently mobilized the '1st Battalion, The Prince Edward Island Highlanders, CASF' for active service on 1 January 1941.^{Footnote 62} This unit served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Atlantic Command.^{Footnote 63} On 10 January 1945 it embarked for Britain,^{Footnote 64} where it was disbanded on 18 January 1945 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Army in the field.^{Footnote 65}

The Prince Edward Island Light Horse mobilized an armoured squadron designated the '1st Canadian Armoured Brigade Headquarters Squadron (The Prince Edward Island Light Horse), CASF' for active service on 27 February 1941.^{Footnote 66} The squadron embarked for Britain on 9 October 1941.^{Footnote 67} It was converted to infantry and redesignated the '2nd Corps Defence Company (The Prince Edward Island Light Horse), CIC, CASF' on 1 November 1943.^{Footnote 68} On 6 July 1944 it landed in France as part of the 2nd Canadian Corps, where it served in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 69} The overseas company was disbanded on 15 February 1946.^{Footnote 70}

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