The Brockville Rifles

Badge

Description

Gules a bugle stringed Argent all within an annulus Sable edged and inscribed THE BROCKVILLE RIFLES in letters Argent surmounting a Maltese cross Sable and Argent bearing in the upper limb a plaque Sable fimbriated and inscribed AMIENS in letters Argent and in the lower limb a like plaque inscribed PURSUIT TO MONS, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper.

Symbolism

The crown represents service to the Sovereign. The Maltese cross, which is based on the insignia of the Royal Guelphic Order and the bugle are common among badges of light infantry and rifle regiments. "THE BROCKVILLE RIFLES" is the regimental title and "AMIENS" and "PURSUIT TO MONS" are regimental battle honours from the First World War.

Motto

SEMPER PARATUS (Always prepared)

March

"Bonnie Dundee"

Alliance

British Army

The Rifles

Regimental colour

Rifle regiments do not carry Colours. They may emblazon their battle honours on unit appointments such as cap badges.

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

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

Honorary Distinction

The non-emblazonable honorary distinction DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA

The First World War

AMIENS; ARRAS, 1918; HINDENBURG LINE; PURSUIT TO MONS.

The Second World War

Honorary Distinction

The badge of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, with the year-dates 1944-1945, for jointly mobilizing the unit for service in Europe.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 5 October 1866 and incorporates the following regiment and artillery battery.

The Brockville Rifles originated in Brockville, Ontario on 5 October 1866, when the '41st "Brockville Battalion of Rifles"' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '41st Regiment "Brockville Rifles"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 2} 'The Brockville Rifles' on 12 March 1920;^{Footnote 3} and '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Brockville Rifles' on 18 March 1942.^{Footnote 4} The regiment was converted to artillery and redesignated the '60th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Brockville Rifles), RCA' on 1 April 1946.^{Footnote 5} On 1 September 1954, it was amalgamated with the '32nd Anti-Tank Battery (Self-Propelled), RCA' (see below) and redesignated the '32nd Locating Battery (Brockville Rifles) RCA'.^{Footnote 6} On 1 December 1959, it was converted to infantry and redesignated 'The Brockville Rifles'.^{Footnote 7}

Perpetuations

'Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada', '1st and 2nd Regiments of Leeds Militia (1812-15)', '156th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'; and '32nd "Overseas" Battery, CFA, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Brockville, Ontario

Operational history

Fenian Raids

The 41st "Brockville Battalion of Rifles" was called out on active service on 24 May 1870. The battalion, which served on the St. Lawrence Rivers frontier, was removed from active service on 1 June 1870.^{Footnote 20}

The First World War

The 156th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '156th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 21} embarked for Britain on 19 October 1916.^{Footnote 22} The battalion's personnel were absorbed by the '109th', '119th', '120th', '123rd', and '124th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF' on 1 November 1916.^{Footnote 23} On 27 December 1916, the battalion was reformed to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until absorbed by the '6th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 15 February 1918.^{Footnote 24} The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.^{Footnote 25}

The 32nd Battery, which was authorized on 15 August 1915 as the '32nd "Overseas" Battery, CFA, CEF',^{Footnote 26} embarked for Britain on 5 February 1916.^{Footnote 27} It disembarked in France on 14 July 1916,^{Footnote 28} where it provided field artillery support as part of the 9th Brigade, CFA, CEF from 15 July 1916 to 1 July 1917, and with the 8th Army Brigade, CFA from 5 July 1917, in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 29} The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 30}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized the '1st Battalion, The Brockville Rifles, CASF' for active service on 18 March 1942.^{Footnote 31} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Division,^{Footnote 32} and in Jamaica on garrison duty from 5 August 1944 to 27 March 1946.^{Footnote 33} The battalion was disbanded on 30 April 1946.^{Footnote 34}

The regiment provided 'No. 2 Company' of 'The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940 (see The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders chart for further details).^{Footnote 35}

The 32nd (Kingston) Field Battery, RCA in conjunction with the '34th Field Battery, RCA' mobilized the '32nd/34th Field Battery, RCA, CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 36} This unit was reorganized as two separate batteries on 1 January 1941, designated the '32nd (Kingston) Field Battery, RCA, CASF' and the '34th Field Battery, RCA, CASF'.^{Footnote 37} It was redesignated the '32nd (Kingston) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA, CASF' the same day.^{Footnote 38} It provided light anti-aircraft artillery support as part of the 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, CASF in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 39} The overseas battery was disbanded on 13 November 1945.^{Footnote 40}

The battery subsequently mobilized the '2nd 32nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA, CAOF' on 1 June 1945 for active service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany.^{Footnote 41} The battery was disbanded on 4 April 1946.^{Footnote 42}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Brockville Rifles reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 43}