The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment

Colonel-in-Chief: His Royal Highness The Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex KG KCVO SOM ADC

Badge

Description

Azure a stag's head on a torse Or all within an annulus inscribed HASTINGS and PRINCE EDWARD REGIMENT and resting on a scroll inscribed PARATUS, all Gules edged and inscribed Or, the whole surmounting a cross pattee Or ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and environed by a wreath of maple leaves issuant from in base a beaver couchant on a log Or.

Symbolism

The nine maple leaves on each side, which was the number of Canadian provinces when the regiment was formed in 1920, and the beaver (from the badge of the former 16th Prince Edward Regiment) represent service to Canada, and the crown, service to the Sovereign. The cross commemorates the former 49th Regiment "Hastings Rifles", as does the stag's head, which is a symbol of the region in which the regiment is based. The royal blue is the official facing colour of the regiment, the gold represents both the brass origins of the equipment badge and the other regimental colour adopted in 1934 with the alliance with The Royal Sussex Regiment of the British Army - now, through amalgamation, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. The scarlet (or red) commemorates the regiment's service with the 1st Canadian Division in both world wars and is the traditional colour of the army and the infantry in particular. "HASTINGS and PRINCE EDWARD REGIMENT" is a form of the regimental title, and "PARATUS" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

PARATUS (Prepared)

March

"I'm Ninety-Five"

Alliance

British Army

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

Honorary Distinction

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

North West Rebellion

NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885.

The First World War

MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916; ARRAS, 1917, '18; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; AMIENS; HINDENBURG LINE; PURSUIT TO MONS.

The Second World War

LANDING IN SICILY; Grammichelle; Valguarnera; Assoro; Agira; ADRANO; Regalbuto; SICILY, 1943; Landing at Reggio; Motta Montecorvino; Campobasso; Torella; The Moro; San Leonardo; The Gully; Ortona; CASSINO II; Gustav Line; LIRI VALLEY; Hitler Line; GOTHIC LINE; LAMONE CROSSING; Misano Ridge; RIMINI LINE; San Fortunato; Bulgaria Village; Naviglio Canal; Fosso Vecchio; ITALY, 1943-1945; Apeldoorn; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 16 January 1863 and incorporates the following regiments and artillery battery.

The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment originated in Belleville, Ontario on 16 January 1863, when 'The 15th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Canada' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '15th Battalion or the Argyll Light Infantry' on 2 June 1871;^{Footnote 2} '15th Regiment "Argyll Light Infantry"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 3} 'The Argyll Light Infantry' on 12 March 1920;^{Footnote 4} 'The Argyll Light Infantry (Tank)' on 15 December 1936;^{Footnote 5} and 'The (Reserve) Argyll Light Infantry (Tank)' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 6} On 1 April 1946, it was amalgamated with the '44th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA' (see below), converted to artillery, and redesignated the '9th Anti- Tank Regiment (Self-Propelled) (Argyll Light Infantry), RCA'.^{Footnote 7} On 1 September 1954, it was amalgamated with the '34th Anti-Tank Battery (Self Propelled), RCA' (see below), 'The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment' (see below) and 'The Midland Regiment' (see below), converted to infantry, and redesignated 'The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment'.^{Footnote 8}

Perpetuations

‘1st Regiment of Durham Militia (1812-15)’, ‘1st Regiment of Hastings Militia (1812-15)’, ‘1st Regiment of Northumberland Militia (1812-15)’, ‘1st Regiment of Prince Edward Militia (1812-15)’, '9th Brigade, CFA, CEF; and '39th', '80th', '136th', '139th', '155th' and '254th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Belleville, Ontario

Operational history

The Fenian Raids

The 15th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry), Canada was called out on active service on 8 March 1866.^{Footnote 40} It was removed from active service on 27 March 1866.^{Footnote 41}

North West Rebellion

The 15th Battalion "Argyll Light Infantry" mobilized a company for active service with 'The "Midland" Battalion' on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 42} It served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 43} The company was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 44}

The 40th "Northumberland Battalion of Infantry" mobilized a company for active service with 'The "Midland" Battalion' on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 45} It served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 46} The company was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 47}

The 46th "East Durham" Battalion of Infantry mobilized two companies for active service with 'The "Midland" Battalion' on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 48} They served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 49} The battalion was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 50}

The 49th "Hastings" Battalion of Rifles mobilized a company for active service with 'The "Midland" Battalion' on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 51} It served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 52} The company was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 53}

The First World War

The 9th Brigade, which was authorized on 20 January 1916 as the '9th Brigade, CFA, CEF',^{Footnote 54} embarked for Great Britain on 15 February 1916.^{Footnote 55} It disembarked in France on 14 July 1916,^{Footnote 56} where it provided field artillery support as part of the 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 57} The brigade was disbanded on 1 November 1920.^{Footnote 58}

The 39th Battalion which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '39th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 59} embarked for Great Britain on 17 June 1915.^{Footnote 60} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '6th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 61} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 62}

The 80th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 July 1915 as the '80th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 63} embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916.^{Footnote 64} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 30 September 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by units of the 4th Canadian Division.^{Footnote 65} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 66}

The 136th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '136th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 67} embarked for Great Britain on 25 September 1916.^{Footnote 68} Its personnel were absorbed by the '39th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 6 October 1916 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 69} The battalion was disbanded on 22 May 1917.^{Footnote 70}

The 139th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '139th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 71} embarked for Great Britain on 27 September 1916.^{Footnote 72} Its personnel were absorbed by the '36th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 6 October 1916 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 73} The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.^{Footnote 74}

The 155th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '155th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 75} embarked for Great Britain on 17 October 1916.^{Footnote 76} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 8 December 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '154th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 77} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 78}

The 254th Battalion, which was authorized on 1 May 1917 as the '254th "Overseas" Infantry Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 79} embarked for Great Britain on 2 June 1917.^{Footnote 80} Its personnel were absorbed by the '6th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 10 June 1917 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 81} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.^{Footnote 82}

The Second World War

The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment mobilized the 'The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 83} It was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 84} The unit embarked for Great Britain on 22 December 1939,^{Footnote 85} and on 13 June 1940 it went to France as part of the Second British Expeditionary Force, reaching a point beyond Laval before being ordered back.^{Footnote 86} It landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943, and in Italy on 3 September 1943, as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.^{Footnote 87} On 10 March 1945, the battalion moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North West Europe, where it fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 88} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 October 1945.^{Footnote 89}

On 1 June 1945, a second Active Force component of the regiment was mobilized for service in the Pacific theatre of operations under the designation '2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment), CASF'.^{Footnote 90} The battalion was disbanded on 1 November 1945.^{Footnote 91}

Details from The Midland Regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham), CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 92} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 93} The regiment subsequently mobilized 'The Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham), CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 94} It was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham), CASF' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 95} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the Prince Rupert Defences, 8th Canadian Division.^{Footnote 96} It embarked for Great Britain on 10 January 1945,^{Footnote 97} where it was disbanded on 18 January 1945 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Army in the field.^{Footnote 98}

The 34th Field Battery, in conjunction with the '32nd (Kingston) Field Battery, RCA' mobilized the '32nd/34th Field Battery, RCA, CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 99} 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 100} On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France, in support of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and the battery provided artillery support as part of the '14th Field Regiment, RCA, CASF' in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 101} The overseas battery was disbanded on 2 November 1945.^{Footnote 102}

The battery subsequently mobilized the '2nd 34th Field Battery, RCA, CAOF' on 1 June 1945 for active service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany.^{Footnote 103} The overseas battery was disbanded on 28 March 1946.^{Footnote 104}

PDF version, 1.8 MB