The Princess Louise Fusiliers

Badge

Description

A grenade Sable issuant therefrom a flame of nineteen points proper charged with the coronet of a daughter of the Sovereign Or encircled by an annulus Gules edged, charged in base with two maple leaves and inscribed PRINCESS LOUISE FUSILIERS in letters Or.

Symbolism

The coronet of H.R.H. The Princess Louise refers to the regiment's name. The grenade alludes to the original role of fusiliers, who were soldiers specially equipped to escort artillery trains. The red and white of the flames are the livery colours of the regiment and the official colours of Canada. "PRINCESS LOUISE FUSILIERS" is a form of the regimental title, and the maple leaves represent service to Canada.

Motto

FIDELITER (Faithfully)

March

"British Grenadiers"

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Irish Regiment

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

North West Rebellion

NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885.

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900.

The First World War

SOMME, 1916; ARRAS, 1917; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; AMIENS.

The Second World War

LIRI VALLEY; Melfa Crossing; GOTHIC LINE; CORIANO; LAMONE CROSSING; Misano Ridge; ITALY, 1944-1945; Arnhem, 1945; Delfzijl Pocket; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 18 June 1869 and incorporates the following regiment and machine gun battalion.

The Princess Louise Fusiliers originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 18 June 1869, when 'The Halifax Volunteer Battalion of Infantry' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '66th The Halifax Volunteer Battalion of Infantry' on 5 November 1869;^{Footnote 2} '66th Battalion, "Princess Louise Fusiliers"' on 14 November 1879;^{Footnote 3} '66th Regiment "Princess Louise Fusiliers"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 4} and 'The Princess Louise Fusiliers' on 15 May 1920.^{Footnote 5} On 1 December 1936, it was amalgamated with the 'Headquarters' and 'A' Company' of the '6th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC' (see below) and redesignated 'The Princess Louise Fusiliers (Machine Gun)'.^{Footnote 6} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Princess Louise Fusiliers (Machine Gun)' on 1 January 1941;^{Footnote 7} 'The Princess Louise Fusiliers (Machine Gun)' on 15 February 1946;^{Footnote 8} 'The Princess Louise Fusiliers' on 11 April 1958;^{Footnote 9} 'The Princess Louise's Fusiliers' on 14 May 1985;^{Footnote 10} and 'The Princess Louise Fusiliers' on 5 January 2009.^{Footnote 11}

Perpetuations

'64th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Operational history

North West Rebellion

The 66th Battalion, "Princess Louise Fusiliers" mobilized three companies for active service on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 14} The companies served with the 'Halifax Provisional Battalion' in the Alberta Column of the North-West Field Force.^{Footnote 15} The companies were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 16}

South African War

The 66th Battalion, "Princess Louise Fusiliers" contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the South African War.^{Footnote 17}

The First World War

The 66th Regiment "Princess Louise Fusiliers" was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 18}

The 64th Battalion, which was authorized on 20 April 1915 as the '64th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 19} embarked for Great Britain on 31 March 1916.^{Footnote 20} The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 7 July 1916 when it ceased to function.^{Footnote 21} On 7 December 1916, it was reorganized,^{Footnote 22} and on 8 January 1917 it absorbed the '37th Overage Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 23} The battalion was disbanded on 27 July 1917.^{Footnote 24}

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 Princess Louise Fusiliers (Machine Gun), 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, The Princess Louise Fusiliers (Machine Gun), CASF' for active service on 1 January 1941.^{Footnote 27} It was redesignated: 'The Princess Louise Fusiliers (Motor), CASF' on 26 January 1942;^{Footnote 28} '1st Battalion, The Princess Louise Fusiliers, CIC, CASF' on 31 January 1943;^{Footnote 29} '11th Infantry Brigade Support Group (The Princess Louise Fusiliers), CIC, CASF' on 12 August 1943;^{Footnote 30} and '11th Independent Machine Gun Company (The Princess Louise Fusiliers), CASF' on 1 July 1944.^{Footnote 31} The battalion embarked for Great Britain on 26 October 1942.^{Footnote 32} The machine gun company landed in Italy on 10 November 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division.^{Footnote 33} On 13 July 1944, the '12th Independent Machine Gun Company (The Princess Louise Fusiliers), CIC, CASF' was organized in Italy to serve with the newly formed 12th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division.^{Footnote 34} In February 1945, both companies moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North-West Europe,^{Footnote 35} where the 12th Independent Machine Gun Company was disbanded on 15 March 1945, and the 11th Independent Machine Gun Company fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 36} The overseas company was disbanded on 15 February 1946.^{Footnote 37}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Princess Louise Fusiliers reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 38}