Le Régiment de Maisonneuve

Badge

Description

Sable a shield of the arms of Paul Chomedy de Maisonneuve (Argent three torches enflamed Gules) all within an annulus Gules inscribed LE RÉGIMENT DE MAISONNEUVE in letters Argent and surmounting a fleur-de-lis Argent ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and environed by two branches of maple bound Or bearing at the base a scroll Azure inscribed with the Motto in letters Or.

Symbolism

The maple leaves represent service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The fleur-de-lis is a widely-known emblem of the Province of Quebec. Paul Chomedy de Maisonneuve was the founder of Montreal. The black background represents a canon ball. "LE RÉGIMENT DE MAISONNEUVE" is the regimental title and "BON COEUR ET BON BRAS" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

BON COEUR ET BON BRAS (Good heart and strong arm)

March

"Sambre et Meuse"

Alliance

British Army

The Rifles

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The First World War

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

The Second World War

BOURGUÉBUS RIDGE; Faubourg de Vaucelles; Maltot; Verrières Ridge-Tilly-la-Campagne; FALAISE; Falaise Road; Forêt de la Londe; Dunkirk, 1944; Antwerp-Turnhout Canal; THE SCHELDT; Woensdrecht; South Beveland; Walcheren Causeway; THE RHINELAND; The Reichswald; The Hochwald; Xanten; Groningen; Oldenburg; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Montreal, Quebec on 4 June 1880, when the '85th Battalion of Infantry' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '85th Regiment' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 2} 'Le Régiment de Maisonneuve' on 29 March 1920;^{Footnote 3} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 4} and 'Le Régiment de Maisonneuve' on 15 December 1945.^{Footnote 5}

Perpetuations

'41st' and '206th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Montreal, Quebec

Operational history

The First World War

Details of the 85th Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 6}

The 41st Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '41st Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 7} embarked for Great Britain on 18 October 1915.^{Footnote 8} It provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 13 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '69th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 9} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^{Footnote 10}

The 206th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '206th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 11} sent two reinforcing drafts to Bermuda.^{Footnote 12} On 17 August 1916, its personnel were absorbed, in Canada, by the '167th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 13} The battalion was disbanded on 1 August 1918.^{Footnote 14}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 15} It was redesignated '1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 16} It embarked for Great Britain on 24 August 1940.^{Footnote 17} On 7 July 1944, the battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 18} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 December 1945.^{Footnote 19}

The regiment subsequently mobilized the '3rd Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, CASF' for active service on 12 May 1942.^{Footnote 20} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 21st Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Division.^{Footnote 21} The battalion was disbanded on 15 October 1943.^{Footnote 22}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, Le Régiment de Maissonneuve reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 23}