56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA

The official lineage of the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA.

Badge

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 28 September 1866 and incorporates the following regiments and machine gun company.

The 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA originated in York, Ontario on 28 September 1866, when the '37th "Haldimand Battalion of Rifles"' were authorized to be formed.Footnote 1 It was redesignated: '37th Regiment "Haldimand Rifles"' on 8 May 1900;Footnote 2 and 'The Haldimand Rifles' on 1 May 1920.Footnote 3On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'The Dufferin Rifles of Canada' (see below) and 'C Company' of the '3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC' (now 'The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)') and redesignated 'The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada'.Footnote 4 It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada' on 7 November 1940;Footnote 5 and 'The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada' on 1 June 1945.Footnote 6 It was converted to artillery on 1 April 1946 and redesignated the '56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA'.Footnote 7 On 1 October 1954, it was amalgamated with the '25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA' (see below), and redesignated the '56th Field Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA'.Footnote 9 It was redesignated: '56th Field Artillery Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA' on 12 April 1960;Footnote 9 and '56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA' on 20 November 1975.Footnote 10

Notes:

Upon redesignation as The Haldimand Rifles on 1 May 1920 (see above) it was organized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (114th Battalion, CEF) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle and a 2nd Battalion (no CEF designation) on the Reserve order of battle. The reserve battalion was disbanded on 14 December 1936 (GO 3/37).

The Haldimand Rifles were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 1 April 1924 and reorganized the same day (GO 84/24). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The Haldimand Rifles were disbanded for the purpose of amalgamation on 14 December 1936 and reorganized the next day (GO 29/37). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The perpetuation of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (1919-1936) was assigned to The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (MG) (GO 76/37).

The Dufferin Rifles of Canada originated in Brantford, Ontario on 28 September 1866 when the '38th "Brant Battalion of Infantry"' was authorized to be formed.Footnote 14 It was redesignated: '38th "Brant" Battalion of Infantry' on 30 November 1866;Footnote 15 '38th "Brant" Battalion of Rifles' on 24 March 1871;Footnote 16 '38th "Brant" Battalion or "Dufferin Rifles"' on 3 July 1874;Footnote 17 '38th Battalion "Dufferin Rifles of Canada"' on 28 September 1883;Footnote 18 '38th Regiment "Dufferin Rifles of Canada"' on 8 May 1900;Footnote 19 and 'The Dufferin Rifles of Canada' on 1 May 1920.Footnote 20 On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'The Haldimand Rifles' and 'C Company' of the '3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC', as above.

Notes:

Upon redesignation as The Dufferin Rifles of Canada on 1 May 1920 (see above) it was organized as a four battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (4th Battalion, CEF) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle and the 2nd Battalion (36th Battalion, CEF), 3rd Battalion (125th Battalion, CEF), and 4th Battalion (215th Battalion, CEF) on the Reserve order of battle: The reserve battalions were disbanded on 14 December 1936 (GO 3/37).

The Dufferin Rifles of Canada were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 1 September 1920 and reorganized the same day (GO 204/20). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The Dufferin Rifles of Canada were disbanded for the purpose of amalgamation on 14 December 1936 and reorganized the next day (GO 29/37). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA originated in Simcoe, Ontario on 28 September 1866 when the '39th "Norfolk Battalion of Rifles"' were authorized.Footnote 21 It was redesignated: '39th Regiment "Norfolk Rifles"' on 8 May 1900;Footnote 22 'The Norfolk Rifles' on 1 May 1920;Footnote 23 and 'The Norfolk Regiment of Canada' on 15 November 1928.Footnote 24 It was converted to artillery on 15 December 1936 and designated '25th (Norfolk) Field Brigade, RCA'.Footnote 25 It was redesignated: '25th Reserve (Norfolk) Field Brigade, RCA' on 7 November 1940;Footnote 26 '45th Reserve (Norfolk) Field Regiment, RCA' on 5 September 1942;Footnote 27 '25th Field Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA' on 1 April 1946;Footnote 28 and '25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA' on 28 November 1946.Footnote 29 On 1 October 1954, it was amalgamated with the '56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA' as above.

Notes:

Upon redesignation as The Norfolk Rifles on 1 May 1920 (see above) it was organized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (133rd Battalion, CEF) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle and a 2nd Battalion (no CEF designation) on the Reserve order of battle. The reserve battalion was disbanded on 14 December 1936 (GO 3/37).

The Norfolk Rifles were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 1 March 1921 and reorganized the same day (GO 118/21). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The Norfolk Rifles were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 14 December 1921 and reorganized the next day (GO 189/36). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

Headquarters Location

Brantford, Ontario

Allocated Batteries

  • 10th Field Battery, RCA
  • 54th Field Battery, RCA
  • 69th Field battery, RCA

Perpetuations

'The Provincial Artillery Company', 'Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers (The Car Brigade)', '1st and 2nd Regiments of Norfolk Militia (1812-15)', '41st Battery, CFA, CEF', '4th', '36th', '114th', '125th', '133rd', and '215th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

OPERATIONAL HISTORY

First World War

The 4th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '4th Battalion, CEF',Footnote 30 embarked for Britain on 3 October 1914.Footnote 31 It disembarked in France on 12 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.Footnote 32 The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.Footnote 33

The 36th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '36th Battalion, CEF',Footnote 34 embarked for Britain on 19 June 1915.Footnote 35 The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF'.Footnote 36 The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.Footnote 37

The 114th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '114th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',Footnote 38 embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916.Footnote 39 Its personnel were absorbed by the '35th' and '36th Reserve Battalion(s), CEF' on 11 November 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.>Footnote 40 The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.Footnote 41

The 125th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '125th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',Footnote 42 embarked for Britain on 7 August 1916.Footnote 43 The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until February 1917, when it was allotted to the 14th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Division in England.Footnote 44 On 16 April 1918 its personnel were absorbed by the '8th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.Footnote 45 The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.Footnote 46

The 133rd Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '133rd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',Footnote 47 embarked for Britain on 30 October 1916.Footnote 48 Its personnel were absorbed by the '23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 12 November 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.Footnote 49 The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.Footnote 50

The 215th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '215th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',Footnote 51 embarked for Britain on 29 April 1917.Footnote 52 Its personnel were absorbed by the '2nd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 18 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.Footnote 53The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.Footnote 54

The 41st Battery, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '41st "Overseas" Field Battery, CEF',Footnote 55 was redesignated '41st Battery, CFA, CEF' on 25 September 1918.Footnote 56 It embarked for Britain on 18 August 1915.Footnote 57 The battery disembarked in France on 14 July 1916,Footnote 58 where it provided artillery support as part of the 11th Brigade, CFA, CEF in France and Flanders until 24 March 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '30th' and '40th Battery, CFA, CEF'.Footnote 59 The battery was disbanded on 1 November 1920.Footnote 60

Note:

When an artillery regiment and its allocated batteries are amalgamated with another regiment and its allocated batteries, perpetuation is assigned to the batteries which maintain the same numerical designation. When a numerical designation is not continued, the perpetuation goes to the regiment as a whole.

The Second World War

The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada mobilized 'The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada, CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.Footnote 61 It was redesignated '1st Battalion, The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada, CASF' on 7 November 1941.Footnote 62 It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 17th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division.Footnote 63 The battalion was disbanded on 8 March 1945.Footnote 64

PDF, version 29 KB

Page details

Date modified: