Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent

Badge

Description

A grenade Or enflamed Gules charged with a tower proper within an annulus Azure edged, inscribed FUSILIERS DU ST-LAURENT and charged in base with a maple leaf Or.

Symbolism

The maple leaf represents service to Canada. The grenade alludes to the original role of fusiliers, who were soldiers specially trained to protect artillery gunners. The tower symbolizes the theme of the regimental motto. "FUSILIERS DU ST-LAURENT" is a form of the regimental title.

Motto

J'Y SUIS EN GARDE (I am on guard)

March

"Rêves canadiens"

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

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

Honorary Distinction

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

The First World War

ARRAS, 1917

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 9 April 1869 and incorporates the following regiments.

Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent originated in Rivière du Loup, Quebec on 9 April 1869, when 'The Provisional Battalion of "Temiscouata"' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} On 12 January 1883, it was amalgamated with 'The Provisional Battalion of "Rimouski"' (see below) and redesignated '89th "Témiscouata and Rimouski" Battalion of Infantry'.^{Footnote 2} It was redesignated: '89th Temiscouata and Rimouski Regiment' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 3} 'Le Régiment Témiscouata and Rimouski' on 29 March 1920;^{Footnote 4} 'Les Fusiliers du St. Laurent' on 1 October 1920,^{Footnote 5} 'Fusiliers du St. Laurent' on 1 May 1922;^{Footnote 6} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Fusiliers du St. Laurent' on 3 January 1942;^{Footnote 7} and 'Fusiliers du St. Laurent' on 1 June 1945;^{Footnote 8} On 1 September 1954, it was amalgamated with 'Le Régiment de Montmagny' (see below) and redesignated 'Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent (5th Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment)'.^{Footnote 9} It was redesignated: 'Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent (5e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment)' on 9 November 1963;^{Footnote 10} and 'Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent' on 1 April 1968.^{Footnote 11}

Perpetuations

‘4th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia’, ‘2nd Militia Light Infantry Battalion’, ‘Canadian Chasseurs’, and '189th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Rimouski, Quebec

Operational history

The First World War

Details of the 89th Temiscouata and Rimouski Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 20}

The 189th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '189th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 21} embarked for Britain on 27 September 1917.^{Footnote 22} Its personnel were absorbed by the '69th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF' on 6 October 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 23} The battalion was disbanded on 8 December 1917.^{Footnote 24}

The Second World War

Details of Les Fusiliers du St. Laurent were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'Fusiliers du St. Laurent, CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 25} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 26}

The regiment subsequently mobilized the '1st Battalion, Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent, CASF' for active service on 3 January 1942.^{Footnote 27} This unit served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Atlantic Command.^{Footnote 28} On 8 January 1945, it embarked for Britain,^{Footnote 29} where it was disbanded on 18 January 1945 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian army in the field.^{Footnote 30}

A '3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Fusiliers du St. Laurent' was authorized to be formed at Gaspé, Quebec, on 15 December 1942, to provide coast watching and local defence.^{Footnote 31} It was redesignated 'Le Régiment de Gaspé-Bonaventure' on 15 August 1944.^{Footnote 32} The battalion was disbanded on 31 March 1946.^{Footnote 33}

Le Régiment de Montmagny mobilized the '1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Montmagny, CASF' for active service on 15 March 1942.^{Footnote 34} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 15th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division,^{Footnote 35} and in Newfoundland from February 1944 to July 1944.^{Footnote 36} On 20 July 1944, it embarked for Britain.^{Footnote 37} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1944 to provide reinforcement to the Canadian Army in the field.^{Footnote 38}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Fusiliers du St-Laurent reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 39}