The Royal Canadian Regiment

Colonel-in-Chief: Vacant

Badge

Description

On an eight-pointed diamond-cut star Argent a bezant inscribed VRI, the Cypher of Queen Victoria, in letters Argent and encircled by a rope Or surmounted in chief with the Royal Crown proper.

Symbolism

The star is a customary infantry badge shape from the 19th Century. King George V granted the regiment the right to wear in perpetuity Queen Victoria's cypher "VRI" in memory of the sovereign under whose reign the regiment was raised and in view of the services the regiment rendered in the Great War.^{Footnote 1}

Motto

PRO PATRIA (For my country)

Quick March

"The Royal Canadian Regiment" (also titled "St. Catharines")

Slow March

"Pro Patria"

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; and The Rifles

Jamaica Defence Force

The Jamaica Regiment

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA; DETROIT; NIAGARA

Honorary Distinction

The non-emblazonable honorary distinction DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA

North West Rebellion

SASKATCHEWAN; NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885.

South African War

PAARDEBERG; 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; Cambrai, 1918; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.

The Second World War

LANDING IN SICILY; Valguarnera; Agira; ADRANO; Regalbuto; SICILY, 1943; Landing at Reggio; Motta Montecorvino; Campobasso; Torella; San Leonardo; The Gully; Ortona; CASSINO II; Gustav Line; LIRI VALLEY; Hitler Line; GOTHIC LINE; LAMONE CROSSING; Misano Ridge; RIMINI LINE; San Martino-San Lorenzo; Pisciatello; Fosso Vecchio; ITALY, 1943-1945; Apeldoorn; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

United Nations Operations - Korea

KOREA, 1951-1953.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This regiment originates on 14 August 1863 and incorporates both Regular and Reserve Force components.

The Royal Canadian Regiment originated on 21 December 1883, when the 'Infantry School Corps' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 2} It was redesignated: 'Canadian Regiment of Infantry' on 14 May 1892;^{Footnote 3} 'The Royal Regiment of Canadian Infantry' 24 May 1893;^{Footnote 4} 'The Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry' on 1 April 1899;^{Footnote 5} and 'The Royal Canadian Regiment' on 1 November 1901.^{Footnote 6} On 25 April 1958, it was amalgamated with 'The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment) (see below), retaining its designation.^{Footnote 7}

Perpetuations

‘The Loyal London Volunteers’, ‘1st Regiment of Middlesex Militia (1812-15)’, ‘1st Regiment of Oxford Militia (1812-15)’, '1st', '33rd', '71s't, '142nd' and '168th "Overseas" Battalions, CEF'; and '2nd Battalion, CMGC, CEF'

Headquarters Location

1st Battalion: Petawawa, Ontario

2nd Battalion: Gagetown, New Brunswick

3rd Battalion: Petawawa, Ontario

4th Battalion: London, Ontario

Operational history

The Fenian Raids

The 7th Battalion Infantry was called out on active service on 1 June 1866. The battalion served on the St. Clair frontier and was removed from active service on 22 June 1866.^{Footnote 28}

The 22nd Battalion, "Oxford Rifles" was called out on active service on 1 June 1866. The battalion served on the St. Clair frontier and was removed from active service on 22 June 1866.^{Footnote 29}

Two companies of the 7th Battalion "London Light Infantry" were called out on active service on 12 April 1870. They served on the St. Clair frontier and were removed from active service on 21 April 1870.^{Footnote 30}

North West Rebellion

The Infantry School Corps mobilized "C" Company for active service on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 31} Half of the company served with Middleton's Column, the other half-company with the Battleford Column, of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 32}

The 7th Battalion "Fusiliers" was mobilized for active service on 10 April 1885.^{Footnote 33} It served as part of the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 34} The battalion was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^{Footnote 35}

South African War

On 14 October 1899, eight companies of infantry were authorized to be formed for active service in South Africa.^{Footnote 36} These companies were taken on strength of the 'Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry' on 20 October 1899,^{Footnote 37} and designated the '2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry' on 27 October 1899.^{Footnote 38} The battalion embarked for Africa on 30 October 1899,^{Footnote 39} where it fought as part of the '19th Brigade, IX Division'.^{Footnote 40} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 31 December 1900.^{Footnote 41}

On 5 March 1900, a 'Provisional Battalion of Infantry' was authorized to be formed for active service at Halifax, Nova Scotia.^{Footnote 42} It was redesignated the '3rd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry' on 31 March 1900.^{Footnote 43} The unit served in a garrison role at Halifax and Esquimalt, British Columbia.^{Footnote 44} The battalion was disbanded on 1 October 1902.^{Footnote 45}

The 7th Battalion "Fusiliers" contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the South African War.^{Footnote 46}

The First World War

The Royal Canadian Regiment, which was placed on active service on 6 August 1914,^{Footnote 47} embarked for Bermuda for garrison duty on 10 September 1914.^{Footnote 48} The regiment embarked for Great Britain, via Halifax, on 26 August 1915.^{Footnote 49} On 1 November 1915 it disembarked in France, where it fought as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 50} The overseas component of the regiment was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^{Footnote 51}

Details of the 7th Regiment "Fusiliers" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 52}

Details of the 22nd Regiment "The Oxford Rifles" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 53}

The 1st Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '1st Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 54} embarked for Great Britain on 26 September 1914.^{Footnote 55} It disembarked in France on 12 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 56} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^{Footnote 57}

The 33rd Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '33rd Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 58} embarked for Great Britain on 1 April 1916.^{Footnote 59} It was redesignated the '33rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 6 April 1916 and it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '36th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 60} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 61}

The 71st Battalion, which was authorized on 1 April 1916 as the '71st "Overseas" Infantry Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 62} embarked for Great Britain on 1 April 1916.^{Footnote 63} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 30 September 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the '44th', '54th' and '74th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'.^{Footnote 64} The battalion was disbanded on 11 April 1918.^{Footnote 65}

The 142nd Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '142nd "Overseas" Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 66} embarked for Great Britain on 31 October 1916.^{Footnote 67} On 12 November 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the '23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 68} The battalion was disbanded on 27 July 1917.^{Footnote 69}

The 168th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '168th "Overseas" Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 70} embarked for Great Britain on 30 October 1916.^{Footnote 71} On 4 January 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the '4th Reserve Battalion, CEF' and the '6th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 72} The battalion was disbanded on 4 April 1918.^{Footnote 73}

The '2nd Battalion, CMGC, CEF', which was organized in France, was authorized on 21 March 1918.^{Footnote 74} It provided machine gun support to the 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 75} The battalion was disbanded on 15 November 1920.^{Footnote 76}

The Second World War

The Royal Canadian Regiment was placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The Royal Canadian Regiment, CASF'.^{Footnote 77} It embarked for Great Britain on 18 December 1939, and on 14 June 1940 it went to France as part of the Second British Expeditionary Force, reaching a point beyond Laval before being ordered back.^{Footnote 78} It landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943 and in Italy on 3 September 1943 as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.^{Footnote 79} On 9 March 1945 the regiment moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North West Europe, where it fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 80} The overseas regiment was disbanded on 1 March 1946.^{Footnote 81}

On 1 June 1945, a second Active Force component of the regiment was mobilized for service in the Pacific theatre of operations, under the designation '1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Royal Canadian Regiment), CASF'.^{Footnote 82} It was redesignated: '2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment, CIC' on 2 September 1945;^{Footnote 83} and 'The Royal Canadian Regiment, CIC' on 1 March 1946.^{Footnote 84} On 27 June 1946, it was embodied in the Permanent Force as the 'The Royal Canadian Regiment'.^{Footnote 85}

The Canadian Fusiliers mobilized the '1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), CASF' for active service on 29 January 1942.^{Footnote 86} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Pacific Command;^{Footnote 87} and took part in the expedition to Kiska, Alaska as a component of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, serving there from 16 August 1943 to 22 December 1943.^{Footnote 88} It embarked for Britain on 28 May 1944.^{Footnote 89} On 1 November 1944, it was redesignated the '2nd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, Type A (Canadian Fusiliers), CASF'.^{Footnote 90} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 10 August 1945.^{Footnote 91}

The Oxford Rifles mobilized the '1st Battalion, The Oxford Rifles, CASF' for active service on 18 March 1942.^{Footnote 92} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 16th Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Division.^{Footnote 93} On 2 January 1945, it embarked for Britain where it was disbanded on 10 January 1945.^{Footnote 94}

United Nations Operations - Korea

Three battalions of The Royal Canadian Regiment served in Korea as part of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, 1st Commonwealth Division. The 2nd Battalion was the first to arrive in Korea (5 May 1951 to 25 April 1952), followed by the 1st Battalion (20 April 1952 to 25 March 1953) then the 3rd Battalion (23 March 1953 to the end of the conflict).^{Footnote 95}

The Gulf War

'C' Company of the 1st Battalion served in Al Jabail, Saudi Arabia providing security for '1 Canadian Field Hospital' and prisoner of war processing from 21 February to 20 March 1991. 12 Platoon, 'P' Company of the 3rd Battalion served in Bahrain as a security force from 16 January to the end of March 1991.^{Footnote 96}

South-West Asia

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions provided multiple Companies and Platoons to the Canadian Task Forces that served in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2014.^{Footnote 97}

From 2002 to 2014, the 4th Battalion reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 98}