The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)

Colonel-in-Chief: His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO GCL CD ADC

Badge

Description

On an autumnal maple leaf proper a bugle Argent stringed Vert enclosing the letters RHLI Or and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper, the base of the leaf surmounted by two scrolls Azure edged and inscribed WENTWORTH REGIMENT and SEMPER PARATUS in letters Or.

Symbolism

The maple leaf represents service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The regiment's light infantry heritage is symbolized by the bugle. Combined, "RHLI" and "WENTWORTH REGIMENT" are a form of the regimental title, and "SEMPER PARATUS" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

SEMPER PARATUS (Always ready)

March

"The Mountain Rose"

Alliance

British Army

The Rifles

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

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

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

Dieppe; Verrière Ridge-Tilly-la-Campagne; FALAISE; Falaise Road; Clair Tizon; Forêt de la Londe; THE SCHELDT; Woensdrecht; South Beveland; THE RHINELAND; Goch-Calcar Road; The Hochwald; Xanten; Twente Canal; Groningen; Oldenburg; NORTH WEST EUROPE, 1942, 1944 1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 11 December 1862 and incorporates the following regiments.

The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry originated in Hamilton, Ontario on 11 December 1862, when the '13th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry), Canada' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '13th Regiment' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 2} '13th "Royal Regiment"' on 3 January 1910;^{Footnote 3} 'The Royal Hamilton Regiment' on 1 May 1920;^{Footnote 4} and 'The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry' on 15 March 1927.^{Footnote 5} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with the headquarters and three companies of 'The Wentworth Regiment' (see below) and redesignated 'The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)'.^{Footnote 6} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 7} and 'The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)' on 31 December 1945.^{Footnote 8}

Perpetuations

‘2nd Regiment of York Militia (1812-15)’, '4th', '86th', '120th', '129th', and '205th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Hamilton, Ontario

Operational history

The Fenian Raids

The 13th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry), Canada' was called out on active service from 8 to 31 March and from 1 to 22 June 1866.^{Footnote 12} The battalion, which fought on the Niagara frontier, was removed from active service on 22 June 1866.^{Footnote 13}

South African War

The 13th Regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents, mainly the '2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry'.^{Footnote 14}

The First World War

Details of the 77th Wentworth Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 15}

The 4th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '4th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 16} embarked for Britain on 3 October 1914.^{Footnote 17} 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 18} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 19}

The 86th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '86th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 20} embarked for Britain on 19 May 1916.^{Footnote 21} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 22 June 1916, when it was reorganized in England as the 'Canadian Machine Gun Depot, CEF'.^{Footnote 22} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 23}

The 120th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '120th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 24} embarked for Britain on 14 August 1916.^{Footnote 25} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 20 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '2nd Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 26} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 27}

The 129th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '129th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 28} embarked for Britain on 24 August 1916.^{Footnote 29} Its personnel were absorbed by the '123rd ' and '124th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF' on 18 October 1916 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until.^{Footnote 30} The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.^{Footnote 31}

The 205th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '205th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 32} sent two reinforcing drafts overseas on 28 March and 29 April 1917.^{Footnote 33} On 20 December 1916, it was reorganized in Canada as a draft-giving depot machine gun battalion, and on 31 October 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 'Machine Gun Corps, CEF, Military District No. 2'.^{Footnote 34} The battalion was disbanded on 12 July 1918.^{Footnote 35}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939,^{Footnote 36} and it was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 37} It embarked for Britain on 22 July 1940.^{Footnote 38} The battalion took part in the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942.^{Footnote 39} It landed again in France on 5 July 1944, as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 40} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 31 December 1945.^{Footnote 41}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 42}