The Calgary Highlanders

Colonel-in-Chief: Vacant

Badge

Description

A beaver couchant on a log environed by a wreath of maple leaves, in chief the Royal Crown proper flanked by two scrolls Argent each bearing a frieze of thistles proper, overall in base a like scroll above a scroll Gules inscribed CALGARY HIGHLANDERS in letters Argent, all surmounting a saltire Argent on a spray of thistles in base proper.

Symbolism

The maple leaves and beaver represent service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The beaver upon a log within two sprays of maple leaves surmounted by the Crown was adapted from the badge of the 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1920. The thistles (the national flower of Scotland) and the saltire or cross of St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) are common devices among badges of highland infantry regiments. "CALGARY HIGHLANDERS" is a form of the regimental title.

Motto

None

Marches

The Highland Laddie; and Blue Bonnets Over the Border

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The First World War

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

Honorary Distinction

Oak leaf shoulder badge for the actions of the 10th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF, at Kitchener's Wood on 22/23 April 1915.

The Second World War

BOURGUÉBUS RIDGE; Faubourg de Vaucelles; Verrières Ridge-Tilly-la-Campagne; FALAISE; Falaise Road; Clair Tizon; Forêt de la Londe; Dunkirk, 1944; Wyneghem; Antwerp-Turnhout Canal; THE SCHELDT; Woensdrecht; South Beveland; Walcheren Causeway; THE RHINELAND; The Reichswald; The Hochwald; Xanten; THE RHINE; Groningen; Oldenburg; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Canadian Forces Unit Commendation

Awarded for “outstanding dedication and sustained commitment towards the war in Afghanistan, from 2001 to 2011.” ^{Footnote 1}

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Calgary, Alberta on 1 April 1910, when the '103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles"' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 2} On 15 March 1920, it was reorganized as two separate regiments, designated 'The Alberta Regiment' (now 'The South Alberta Light Horse') and 'The Calgary Regiment'.^{Footnote 3} On 15 May 1924, it was again reorganized as two separate regiments, designated 'The Calgary Regiment' (now The King's Own Calgary Regiment) and 'The Calgary Highlanders'.^{Footnote 4} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 5} and 'The Calgary Highlanders' on 15 December 1945.^{Footnote 6}

Perpetuations

10th', '56th' and '82nd "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Calgary, Alberta

Operational history

The First World War

Details of the 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 7}

The 10th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '10th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 8} embarked for Britain on 29 September 1914.^{Footnote 9} It disembarked in France on 14 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 10} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 11}

The 56th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '56th Battalion, CEF,^{Footnote 12} embarked for Britain on 20 March 1916.^{Footnote 13} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '9th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 14} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.^{Footnote 15}

The 82nd Battalion, which was authorized on 10 July 1915 as the '82nd "Overseas" Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 16} embarked for Britain on 20 May 1916.^{Footnote 17} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 18 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '9th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 18} The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.^{Footnote 19}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The Calgary Highlanders, CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 20} It was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 21} On 27 August 1940, it embarked for Britain.^{Footnote 22} The battalion's mortar platoon took part in the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942, and on 6 July 1944, the battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 23} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 December 1945.^{Footnote 24}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Calgary Highlanders reinforced the various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 25}