The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

Colonel-in-Chief: Vacant

Badge

Description

The figure of St. Andrew proper holding his cross Argent and standing on a mount Vert, all within a wreath of thistles proper issuant from four scrolls Or inscribed QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA in letters Vert.

Symbolism

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. "QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA" is a form of the regimental title.

Motto

ULLAMH (Ready)

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

The First World War

YPRES, 1915, '17; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916; Flers-Courcelette; Ancre Heights; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.

The Second World War

Dieppe; BOURGUÉBUS RIDGE; St. André-sur-Orne; Verrières Ridge - Tilly-la-Campagne; FALAISE; Falaise Road; The Laison; Forêt de la Londe; Dunkirk, 1944; THE SCHELDT; Woensdrecht; South Beveland; THE RHINELAND; The Hochwald; Xanten; THE RHINE; Groningen; Oldenburg; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1942, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 1 February 1910, when 'The 79th Highlanders of Canada' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: 'The 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada' on 1 April 1910;^{Footnote 2} 'The Cameron Highlanders of Canada' on 12 March 1920;^{Footnote 3} 'The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada' on 1 November 1923;^{Footnote 4} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 5} 'The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada' on 30 November 1945;^{Footnote 6} 'The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (Motor)' on 1 October 1954;^{Footnote 7} and 'The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada' on 11 April 1958.^{Footnote 8}

Perpetuations

'43rd', '174th' and '179th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Operational history

The First World War

Details of the regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 9}

The 43rd Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '43rd "Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 10} embarked for Britain on 1 June 1915.^{Footnote 11} It disembarked in France on 22 February 1916, where it fought as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 12} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 13}

The 174th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '174th "Overseas" Infantry Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 14} embarked for Britain on 29 April 1917.^{Footnote 15} On 7 May 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the '14th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 16} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 17}

The 179th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '179th "Overseas" Infantry Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 18} embarked for Britain on 3 October 1916.^{Footnote 19} On 21 October 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the '17th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 20} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 21}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized the 'The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 22} It was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 23} It embarked for Britain on 12 December 1940.^{Footnote 24} The battalion took part in the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942.^{Footnote 25} It landed again in France on 7 July 1944, as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 26} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 30 November 1945.^{Footnote 27}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 28}