Irish Regiment of Canada

Badge

Description

An eight-pointed diamond-cut star Or charged with a harp Argent above a scroll Vert fimbriated and inscribed with the Motto in letters Argent, the star's topmost point surmounted by the Royal Crown proper.

Symbolism

The star is a customary infantry badge shape from the 19th century. The Crown represents service to the Sovereign. The harp styled as the Maid of Erin is an emblem of Ireland. "FÍOR GO BÁS" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

FÍOR GO BÁS (Faithful until death)

March

"Garry Owen"

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Irish Regiment

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The First World War

ARRAS, 1917, '18; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1917-18.

The Second World War

LIRI VALLEY; Melfa Crossing; GOTHIC LINE; Montecchio; CORIANO; LAMONE CROSSING; Fosso Munio; Conventello-Comacchio; ITALY, 1943-1945; Ijsselmeer; Delfzijl Pocket; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 15 October 1915 and incorporates the following regiments and battalion.

The Irish Regiment of Canada originated in Toronto, Ontario on 15 October 1915, when an "infantry regiment" was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was designated the '110th Irish Regiment' on 1 January 1916.^{Footnote 2} It was redesignated: 'The Irish Regiment' on 1 May 1920;^{Footnote 3} and 'The Irish Regiment of Canada' on 1 September 1932.^{Footnote 4} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with the 'Headquarters' and 'A Company' of the '1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC' (see below) and redesignated 'The Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun)'.^{Footnote 5} It was redesignated: 'The Irish Regiment of Canada' on 12 August 1940;^{Footnote 6} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 7} and 'The Irish Regiment of Canada' on 31 January 1946.^{Footnote 8} On 10 February 1965, it was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.^{Footnote 9} On 15 March 1965, it amalgamated with the '58th (Sudbury) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA' (see below) and the artillery unit was converted to infantry and redesignated the '2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada (Sudbury)', with the unit transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle being automatically redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada' (see notes below).^{Footnote 10} The regiment was redesignated the 'Irish Regiment of Canada' on 20 November 1975.^{Footnote 11}

Perpetuations

'180th' and '208th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'; '1st Battalion, CMGC, CEF'; '30th' and '53rd "Overseas" Field Battery(s), CFA, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Sudbury, Ontario

Operational history

The First World War

The 180th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '180th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 38} embarked for Britain on 14 November 1916.^{Footnote 39} Its personnel were absorbed by the '3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 6 January 1917 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 40} The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.^{Footnote 41}

The 208th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '208th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 42} embarked for Britain on 3 May 1917.^{Footnote 43} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until its personnel were absorbed by the '2nd' and '8th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 3 January 1918.^{Footnote 44} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 45}

The '1st Battalion, CMGC, CEF', which was organized in France, was authorized on 27 March 1918.^{Footnote 46} It provided machine gun support to the 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 47} The battalion was disbanded on 6 November 1920.^{Footnote 48}

The 30th Battery, which was authorized on 20 April 1915 as the '30th Field Battery, CEF',^{Footnote 49} embarked for Britain on 5 February 1916.^{Footnote 50} The battery disembarked in France on 14 July 1916, where it provided field artillery support as part of the '8th Army Brigade, CFA, CEF' in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 51} The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 52}

The 53rd Battery, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '53rd "Overseas" Depot Battery, CEF',^{Footnote 53} embarked for Britain on 19 September 1916.^{Footnote 54} The battery disembarked in France on 21 August 1917, where it provided field artillery support as part of the '13th Brigade, CFA, CEF' in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 55} The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 56}

The Second World War

Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun), CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 57} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 58}

The regiment subsequently mobilized 'The Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun), CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 59} It was redesignated: 'The Irish Regiment of Canada, CASF' on 12 August 1940;^{Footnote 60} and '1st Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 61} It embarked for Britain on 28 October 1942.^{Footnote 62} It landed in Italy on 10 November 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division.^{Footnote 63} Between 20 and 27 February 1945, the regiment moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North West Europe, where it fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 64} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 31 January 1946.^{Footnote 65}

The 53rd Field Battery mobilized the ‘53rd Field Battery, RCA, CASF’ on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 66} On 1 June 1940 it was amalgamated with the '26th Field Battery, RCA, CASF' and redesignated the ‘26th/53rd Field Battery, RCA, CASF’.^{Footnote 67} On 1 January 1941 this amalgamation ceased and it was again designated the ‘53rd Field Battery, RCA, CASF’.^{Footnote 68} It was redesignated the ‘53rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA, CASF’ the same day.^{Footnote 69} It provided light anti-aircraft artillery support as part of the 11th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, CASF, in Great Britain.^{Footnote 70} The overseas battery was disbanded on 1 March 1944.^{Footnote 71}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan. ^{Footnote 72}

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