The Royal Westminster Regiment

Colonel-in-Chief: The Duke of Westminster KG OBE TD CD DL

Badge

Description

A demi-sun in splendour Or overall a maple leaf Gules charged with a beaver couchant on a log between the Royal crown proper and a scroll Or inscribed with the Motto, all above a scroll Sable fimbriated and inscribed THE ROYAL WESTMINSTER REGIMENT in letters Or.

Symbolism

The maple leaf and beaver represent service to Canada, and the crown, service to the Sovereign. The demi-sun is from the Arms of the Province of British Columbia where the regiment is based. "THE ROYAL WESTMINSTER REGIMENT" is the regimental title and "PRO REGE ET PATRIA" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

PRO REGE ET PATRIA (For king and country)

March

The Maple Leaf Forever

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The First World War

MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916; Ancre Heights; Ancre, 1916; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; VALENCIENNES; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1916-18.

The Second World War

LIRI VALLEY; Melfa Crossing; GOTHIC LINE; CORIANO; LAMONE CROSSING; Misano Ridge; Casale; Naviglio Canal; ITALY, 1944-1945; Ijsselmeer; Delfzijl Pocket; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in New Westminster, British Columbia on 1 April 1910, when the '104th Regiment' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated the '104th Regiment Westminster Fusiliers of Canada' on 15 December 1913.^{Footnote 2} On 12 March 1920, it was amalgamated with the '6th Regiment "The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles"' to form the '1st British Columbia Regiment'.^{Footnote 3} It was redesignated the '1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)' on 1 November 1920.^{Footnote 4} On 15 May 1924, it was reorganized into three separate regiments, designated: '1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)' (now the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own); 'The Vancouver Regiment' (now 'The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)'; and 'The Westminster Regiment'.^{Footnote 5} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'C Company' of the '11th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC' and redesignated 'The Westminster Regiment (Machine Gun)'.^{Footnote 6} It was redesignated: 'The Westminster Regiment (Motor)' on 1 April 1941;^{Footnote 7} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Westminster Regiment (Motor)' on 7 November 1941;^{Footnote 8} 'The Westminster Regiment (Motor)' on 31 January 1946;^{Footnote 9} 'The Westminster Regiment' on 6 October 1954;^{Footnote 10} and 'The Royal Westminster Regiment' on 9 December 1966.^{Footnote 11}

Perpetuations

'47th' and '131st "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'

Headquarters Location

New Westminster, British Columbia

Operational history

The First World War

The 104th Regiment Westminster Fusiliers of Canada was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 12}

The 47th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '47th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 13} embarked for Britain on 13 November 1915.^{Footnote 14} It disembarked in France on 11 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 15} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 16}

The 131st Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '131st "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 17} embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916.^{Footnote 18} Its personnel were absorbed by the '30th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF' on 14 November 1916, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 19} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 20}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The Westminster Regiment (Machine Gun), CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 21} It was redesignated: '1st Battalion, The Westminster Regiment (Machine Gun), CASF' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 22} and '1st Battalion, The Westminster Regiment (Motor), CASF' on 25 November 1940.^{Footnote 23} It embarked for Britain on 13 November 1941.^{Footnote 24} On 1 December 1943, the battalion landed in Italy as part of the 5th Armoured Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division.^{Footnote 25} It moved to North-West Europe on 28 February 1945, where it fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 26} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 31 January 1946.^{Footnote 27}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Royal Westminster Regiment reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 28}