The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada

Colonel-in-Chief: Her Majesty The Queen Consort

Badge

Description

Gules the numeral "2" Or all within an annulus Sable edged and inscribed QUEEN'S OWN RIFLES OF CANADA in letters Or conjoined at the base by a buckle Or to a scroll Vert edged and inscribed IN PACE PARATUS in letters Or, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and surmounting a maple leaf Argent.

Symbolism

The maple leaf represents service to Canada, and the crown, service to the Sovereign. The numeral "2" is the original battalion and regimental designation of the unit, and red and green are customary colours for rifle regiments. "QUEEN'S OWN RIFLES OF CANADA" is a form of the regimental title, and "IN PACE PARATUS" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

IN PACE PARATUS (In peace prepared)

Marches

Quick Marches

"The Buffs" and "The Maple Leaf Forever"

Double Past

"Money Musk"

Alliance

British Army

The Brigade of Gurkhas; The Rifles; and The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Regimental colour

Rifle regiments do not carry Colours. They may emblazon their battle honours on unit appointments such as cap badges or shoulder pouch belt plates.

Camp flag

Battle honours

North West Rebellion

NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885.

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900.

The First World War

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

The Second World War

NORMANDY LANDING; Le Mesnil-Patry; CAEN; Carpiquet; BOURGUÉBUS RIDGE; Faubourg de Vaucelles; FALAISE; Quesnay Wood; The Laison; Boulogne, 1944; Calais, 1944; THE SCHELDT; Breskens Pocket; THE RHINELAND; Waal Flats; The Hochwald; THE RHINE; Emmerich-Hoch Elten; Deventer; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 26 April 1860 and incorporates the following regiment and battalions.

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada originated in Toronto, Ontario on 26 April 1860, when the 'Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: 'Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada' or 'Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto' on 18 March 1863;^{Footnote 2} '2nd Battalion, "Queen's Own Rifles of Canada"' on 13 January 1882;^{Footnote 3} '2nd Regiment "Queen's Own Rifles of Canada"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 4} 'The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada' on 1 May 1920;^{Footnote 5} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada' on 7 November 1941;^{Footnote 6} and 'The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada' on 14 May 1946;^{Footnote 7} On 16 October 1953, it was amalgamated with the '1st Canadian Rifle Battalion' and the '2nd Canadian Rifle Battalion' (see below), retaining the same designation.^{Footnote 8}

Perpetuations

'3rd', '83rd', '95th', '166th', '198th' and '255th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Toronto, Ontario

Operational history

The Fenian Raids

The 'Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto' were called out on active service from 8 to 31 March and from 1 to 22 June 1866. The battalion fought on the Niagara frontier.^{Footnote 11}

North West Rebellion

The '2nd Battalion, "Queen's Own Rifles of Canada"' mobilized detachments for active service on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 12} The detachments served with the Battleford Column of the North West Field Force,^{Footnote 13} and were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 14}

South African War

The regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents, mainly the '2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry'.^{Footnote 15}

The First World War

Details of the regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 16}

The 3rd Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '3rd Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 17} embarked for Britain on 26 September 1914.^{Footnote 18} It disembarked in France on 11 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 19} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 20}

The 83rd Battalion, which was authorized on 10 July 1915 as the '83rd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 21} embarked for Britain on 28 April 1916.^{Footnote 22} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 7 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '12th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 23} The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.^{Footnote 24}

The 95th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '95th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 25} embarked for Britain on 31 May 1916.^{Footnote 26} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 24 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '5th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 27} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 28}

The 166th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '166th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 29} embarked for Britain on 12 and 17 October 1916.^{Footnote 30} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 8 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '12th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 31} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.^{Footnote 32}

The 198th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '198th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 33} embarked for Britain on 28 March 1917.^{Footnote 34} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 9 March 1918, when its personnel were absorbed by the '3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 35} The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.^{Footnote 36}

The 255th Battalion, which was authorized on 1 May 1917 as the '255th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 37} embarked for Britain on 6 June 1917.^{Footnote 38} On 12 June 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the '12th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 39} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 40}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 41} It was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 42} The unit, which served in Newfoundland from 10 August to 15 December 1940, embarked for Britain on 19 July 1941.^{Footnote 43} On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the regiment landed in Normandy, France as part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 44} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 30 November 1945.^{Footnote 45}

The regiment subsequently mobilized the '3rd Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, CASF' for active service on 12 May 1942.^{Footnote 46} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division.^{Footnote 47} The battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1943.^{Footnote 48}

On 1 June 1945, a third Active Force component of the regiment, designated '4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, CIC, CAOF', was mobilized for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany.^{Footnote 49} The battalion was disbanded on 14 May 1946.^{Footnote 50}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 51}