The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own)

Colonel-in-Chief: Vacant

Badge

Description

The figure of St. Andrew proper holding his cross Argent and standing on a mount Vert set with a plaque Or inscribed ADVANCE in letters Sable, all within a wreath of thistles and autumn maple leaves proper issuant from two scrolls Azure edged and inscribed THE CAMERON HIGHLANDERS and OF OTTAWA (M.G.) in letters Or.

Symbolism

The maple leaves represent service to Canada. The thistles (the national flower of Scotland) and the cross held by St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) are common devices in badges of highland infantry. “THE CAMERON HIGHLANDERS OF OTTAWA (M.G.)” is the 1936-1959 regimental title, and “ADVANCE” is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

ADVANCE

Marches

“The Piobaireachd of Donald Dhu” and “March of the Cameron Men”

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900.

The First World War

MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916; Ancre Heights; Ancre, 1916; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; YPRES, 1917; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; VALENCIENNES; SAMBRE; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18.

The Second World War

NORMANDY LANDING; CAEN; Carpiquet; The Orne; BOURGUÉBUS RIDGE; Faubourg de Vaucelles; FALAISE; Quesnay Wood; The Laison; Boulogne, 1944; THE SCHELDT; Breskens Pocket; THE RHINELAND; Waal Flats; The Hochwald; THE RHINE; Zutphen; Deventer; Leer; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Ottawa, Ontario on 5 August 1881, when the '43rd Battalion of Infantry' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '43rd "Ottawa and Carleton" Battalion of Rifles' on 19 August 1881;^{Footnote 2} '43rd Regiment "Ottawa and Carleton Rifles"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 3} '43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles' on 1 March 1902;^{Footnote 4} 'The Ottawa Regiment (The Duke of Cornwall's Own)' on 12 March 1920;^{Footnote 5} 'The Ottawa Highlanders' on 15 September 1922;^{Footnote 6} and 'The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa' on 10 August 1933.^{Footnote 7} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'B Company' of the '4th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC', and redesignated 'The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)'.^{Footnote 8} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 9} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa' on 1 April 1942;^{Footnote 10} 'The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa' on 18 May 1946;^{Footnote 11} 'The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)' on 1 September 1954;^{Footnote 12} and 'The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa' on 1 August 1959.^{Footnote 13}

Perpetuations

'38th' and '207th “Overseas” Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Ottawa, Ontario

Operational history

South African War

The regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the South African War.^{Footnote 14}

The First World War

Details of the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 15}

The 38th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '38th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 16} embarked for Bermuda for garrison duty on 8 August 1915.^{Footnote 17} On 30 May 1916, the battalion embarked for Britain.^{Footnote 18} It disembarked in France on 14 August 1916,^{Footnote 19} where it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 20} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 21}

The 207th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '207th “Overseas” Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 22} embarked for Britain on 2 June 1917.^{Footnote 23} On 10 June 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the '7th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps.^{Footnote 24} The battalion was disbanded on 11 April 1918.^{Footnote 25}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized the 'The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun), CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 26} It was redesignated: '1st Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun), CASF' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 27} '3rd Infantry Division Support Battalion (The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa), CIC, CASF' on 1 May 1943;^{Footnote 28} and '1st Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun), CIC, CASF' on 24 February 1944.^{Footnote 29} The unit embarked for garrison duty in Iceland with “Z” Force on 1 July 1940,^{Footnote 30} and on 28 April 1941 it was transferred to Britain.^{Footnote 31} On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France as a part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 32} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 31 December 1945.^{Footnote 33}

The regiment subsequently mobilized the '3rd Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun), CIC, CAOF' on 1 June 1945 for active service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany.^{Footnote 34} The battalion was disbanded on 18 May 1946.^{Footnote 35}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) augmented various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 36}