The Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)

The official lineage of The Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) armour regiment.

Her Honour, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, OC, DStJ, O.Ont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Badge

Description

On an escutcheon Argent the inscription QUEEN'S RANGERS 1ST AMER.NS Argent fimbriated Sable, the shield ensigned by the Royal Crown and within a wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks proper.

Symbolism

Crown represents service to the Sovereign. The shield and the words "QUEEN'S RANGERS 1ST AMER.^NS." are in memory of the Loyalist military unit formed during the American Revolutionary War. The roses, thistles and shamrocks represent the English, Scottish and Irish composition of the Queen's Rangers.

Motto

PRISTINAE VIRTUTIS MEMORES (Mindful of our ancient valour)

March

Braganza

Alliance

British Army

The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) The Yorkshire Regiment; and The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)

Affiliation

8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)

Guidon

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA; DETROIT; QUEENSTON; NIAGARA

North West Rebellion

NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885.

The First World War

YPRES, 1915, '17; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916, '18; Flers-Courcelette; Thiepval; Ancre Heights; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; Pilchkem; Langemarck, 1917; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde; Poelcappelle; Passchendaele; St. Quentin; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 14 September 1866 and incorporates the following regiments.

The Queen's York Rangers (RCAC) originated in Aurora, Ontario on 14 September 1866, when the '12th "York Battalion of Infantry"' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '12th Battalion of Infantry or "York Rangers"' on 10 May 1872;^{Footnote 2} '12th Regiment "York Rangers"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 3} and 'The York Rangers' on 1 May 1920.^{Footnote 4} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment' (see below) and redesignated 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (MG)'.^{Footnote 5} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment)' on 5 March 1942;^{Footnote 6} 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (Reserve)' on 15 September 1944;^{Footnote 7} 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment)' on 30 November 1945;^{Footnote 8} '25th Armoured Regiment (Queen's York Rangers), RCAC' on 19 June 1947;^{Footnote 9} 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (25th Armoured Regiment)' on 4 February 1949;^{Footnote 10} 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)' on 19 May 1958;^{Footnote 11} 'The Queen's York Rangers (RCAC)' on 3 September 1985;^{Footnote 12} and 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)' on 12 November 2004.^{Footnote 13}

Notes:

Upon redesignation as The York Rangers on 1 May 1920 (see above and GO 92/20), it was organized as a four battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (no CEF designation) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle, and the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF), 3rd Battalion (127th Battalion, CEF), and 4th Battalion (220th Battalion, CEF) on the Reserve order of battle.

The York Rangers were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 15 October 1920 and reorganized the same day (GO 232/20). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

On 1 January 1922, the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF) was moved from the Reserve to the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle (GO 13/22 and GO 120/22).

On 1 August 1925, the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF) was amalgamated with 'The West Toronto Regiment' (see below) and redesignated 'The Queen's Rangers' (GO 86/25).

On 1 August 1925 (see above), The York Rangers were reorganized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (127th Battalion, CEF) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle and the 2nd Battalion (220th Battalion, CEF) on the Reserve order of battle.

On 1 January 1927, the 2nd Battalion (220th Battalion, CEF) was redesignated the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF) (GO 3/27).

On 15 March 1929, the regiment was authorized an additional reserve unit, designated the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion (220th Battalion, CEF) (GO 33/29). The reserve units were disbanded on 14 December 1936 (GO 3/37).

The York Rangers were disbanded for the purpose of amalgamation on 14 December 1936 and reorganized the next day (GO 200/36). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment in Toronto, Ontario on 15 January 1921, when 'The West Toronto Regiment' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 14} On 1 August 1925, it was amalgamated with the '2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF), The York Rangers' and redesignated 'The Queen's Rangers', see note above. It was redesignated 'The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment' on 1 December 1927.^{Footnote 15} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'The York Rangers', as above.

Notes:

Upon organization as The West Toronto Regiment on 15 January 1921 (see above), it was organized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (20th Battalion, CEF) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle, and the 2nd Battalion (no CEF designation) on the Reserve order of battle.

Upon redesignation as The Queen's Rangers on 1 August 1925 (see above), it was organized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (20th Battalion, CEF) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle, and the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF) on the Reserve order of battle. The reserve units were disbanded on 14 December 1936 (GO 3/37).

Perpetuations

‘Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada’, ‘1st and 3rd Regiments of York Militia (1812-15)’, '20th', '35th', '127th', and '220th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Toronto, Ontario

Operational history

North West Rebellion

The 12th Battalion of Infantry (York Rangers) mobilized four companies for active service on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 16} The companies served with the 'York and Simcoe Provisional Battalion' in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 17} The companies were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 18}

The First World War

The 20th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '20th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 19} embarked for Britain on 15 May 1915.^{Footnote 20} It disembarked in France on 15 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 21} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 22}

The 35th Battalion which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '35th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 23} embarked for Britain on 16 October 1915.^{Footnote 24} The battalion was redesignated the '35th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 9 February 1915,^{Footnote 25} and it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917 when its personnel were absorbed by the '4th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 26} The battalion was disbanded on 8 December 1917.^{Footnote 27}

The 127th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '127th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 28} embarked for Britain on 21 August 1916.^{Footnote 29} It sent reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 20 November 1916 when it was reorganized as a railway battalion.^{Footnote 30} It disembarked in France on 13 January 1917, and was redesignated the '2nd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, CEF' on 3 February 1917,^{Footnote 31} where it provided special engineering services to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 32} The battalion was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 33}

The 220th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '220th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 34} embarked for Britain on 26 January 1917.^{Footnote 35} Its personnel were absorbed by the '3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 7 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 36} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 37}

The Second World War

Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (MG), CASF, (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 38} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 39} The regiment subsequently mobilized the '1st Battalion, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment), CASF' on 5 March 1942.^{Footnote 40} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Military District No. 2.^{Footnote 41} The battalion was disbanded on 15 October 1943.^{Footnote 42}

PDF version, 144.7 KB

Footnotes

Footnote 1

MGO 14 Sep 66. The headquarters of the battalion was changed to Newmarket on 5 Oct 1866 (GO of same date). Formed from five existing independent infantry and rifle companies authorized on the following dates: 'No. 1 Company' at Scarborough (Scarborough Rifle Company, 4 September 1862), 'No. 2 Company' at Aurora (Aurora Infantry Company,11 December 1862), 'No. 3 Company' at Lloydtown (Lloydtown Infantry Rifle Company, 19 December 1862), 'No. 4 Company' at King (King Infantry Company, 23 January 1863), and 'No. 5 Company' at Newmarket (Newmarket Infantry Company,15 June 1866).

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

MGO 12/72.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

MO 105/1900.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

GO 66/20

Return to footnote 4 referrer

Footnote 5

GO 200/36; and GO 75/37.

Return to footnote 5 referrer

Footnote 6

GO 42/41; GO 128/42 and GO 131/42.

Return to footnote 6 referrer

Footnote 7

GO 402/44.

Return to footnote 7 referrer

Footnote 8

O 400/45.

Return to footnote 8 referrer

Footnote 9

CAO 76-3, Supp Issue No. 43/47.

Return to footnote 9 referrer

Footnote 10

CAO 76-3, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No. 114/49.

Return to footnote 10 referrer

Footnote 11

CAO 76-3, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No. 602/58.

Return to footnote 11 referrer

Footnote 12

MOO 271/85, 3 September 1985.

Return to footnote 12 referrer

Footnote 13

MOO 2004058, 12 November 2004.

Return to footnote 13 referrer

Footnote 14

GO 18/21. Although authorized, the regiment was not organized until 15 September 1921 (GO 265/21).

Return to footnote 14 referrer

Footnote 15

GO 101/27.

Return to footnote 15 referrer

Footnote 16

MGO No. 3 of 10 April 1885.

Return to footnote 16 referrer

Footnote 17

General Sir Frederick Middleton, Suppression of the Rebellion in the North West Territories of Canada 1885, (Toronto, 1948), p. 42.

Return to footnote 17 referrer

Footnote 18

MGO No. 16 of 24 July 1885.

Return to footnote 18 referrer

Footnote 19

GO 36/15.

Return to footnote 19 referrer

Footnote 20

Colonel A.F. Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War, 1914-1919, vol. 1 - Appendices (Ottawa), 1938), pp. 448-449; Edwin Pye Papers, Summary of History of C.E.F. Units - 20th Battalion, Document Collection 74/672, Series IV, Box 11, Folder 20.

Return to footnote 20 referrer

Footnote 21

Ibid; and Major D.J. Corrigall, The History of the Twentieth Canadian Battalion (Central Ontario Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force, (Toronto, 1935), passim.

Return to footnote 21 referrer

Footnote 22

GO 149/20.

Return to footnote 22 referrer

Footnote 23

GO 86/15.

Return to footnote 23 referrer

Footnote 24

CEF Sailing List, vol. II. The unit also sent two reinforcing drafts overseas on 4 June and 17 August 1915].

Return to footnote 24 referrer

Footnote 25

Edwin Pye Papers, Summary of History of C.E.F. Units - 35th Battalion, Document Collection 74/672, Series IV, Box 11, Folder 35

Return to footnote 25 referrer

Footnote 26

CRO 198/17.

Return to footnote 26 referrer

Footnote 27

GO 82/18.

Return to footnote 27 referrer

Footnote 28

GO 151/15.

Return to footnote 28 referrer

Footnote 29

CEF Sailing List, vol. VII

Return to footnote 29 referrer

Footnote 30

Edwin Pye Papers, Summary of History of C.E.F. Units - 217th Battalion, Document Collection 74/672, Series IV, Box 13, Folder 217; and Lieutenant-Colonel H.M. Jackson, The 127th Battalion, CEF : 2nd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, (Montréal, n.d.), pp. 2-3.

Return to footnote 30 referrer

Footnote 31