The Algonquin Regiment

Badge

Description

Azure a bull moose's head and neck Or attired proper issuant from the sinister flank, in base the Motto in letters Or, all within an annulus Gules edged and inscribed THE ALGONQUIN REGIMENT in letters Or, ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and flanked on each side by maples leaves Or issuant from a scroll Gules edged and inscribed CANADA in letters Or.

Symbolism

The maple leaves and the word "CANADA" represent service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The bull moose is a symbol of the region in which the regiment was raised. "THE ALGONQUIN REGIMENT" is the regimental title and "NE-KAH-NE-TAH" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

NE-KAH-NE-TAH (Let us lead)

March

“We Lead, Others Follow”

Alliance

British Army

The Rifles

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The First World War

YPRES, 1915, '17; FESTUBERT, 1915; ARRAS, 1917; HILL 70; SOMME, 1918; St. Quentin; Bapaume, 1918; HINDENBURG LINE; Epéhy; St. Quentin Canal; Beaurevoir; Cambrai, 1918; FRANCE AND FLANDERS 1915, 1917-18.

The Second World War

FALAISE; Falaise Road; The Laison; Chambois; The Seine, 1944; Moerkerke; THE SCHELDT; Breskens Pocket; The Lower Maas; THE RHINELAND; The Hochwald; Veen; Küsten Canal; Bad Zwischenahn; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Forces regiment originated on 1 July 1900 and incorporates the following regiments.

The Algonquin Regiment originated in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on 1 July 1900, when the '97th Regiment of Rifles' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '97th Regiment "Algonquin Rifles"' on 1 June 1903;^{Footnote 2} 'The Algonquin Rifles' on 1 May 1920;^{Footnote 3} and 'The Algonquin Regiment' on 15 February 1929.^{Footnote 4} On 15 December 1936, "B", "C" and "D" Companies of the regiment were amalgamated with 'The Northern Pioneers' (see below), retaining the same regimental designation.^{Footnote 5} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Algonquin Regiment' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 6} and 'The Algonquin Regiment' on 15 February 1946.^{Footnote 7} The regiment was converted to armour and redesignated: 'The Algonquin Regiment (26th Armoured Regiment)' on 1 October 1954;^{Footnote 8} and 'The Algonquin Regiment (RCAC)' on 19 May 1958.^{Footnote 9} On 19 March 1965, it was converted to infantry and redesignated 'The Algonquin Regiment'.^{Footnote 10}

Perpetuations

'122nd', '159th', '162nd', '228th' and '256th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

North Bay, Ontario

Operational history

The First World War

Details of the 23rd Regiment "The Northern Pioneers" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 14}

The 122nd Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '122nd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 15} embarked for Britain on 2 June 1917.^{Footnote 16} Its personnel were absorbed by the 'Canadian Forestry Depot, CEF' on 10 June 1917 to provide reinforcements.^{Footnote 17} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 18}

The 159th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '159th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 19} embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916.^{Footnote 20} Its personnel were absorbed by the '8th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 20 January 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 21} The battalion was disbanded on 27 July 1917.^{Footnote 22}

The 162nd Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '162nd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 23} embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916.^{Footnote 24} Its personnel were absorbed by the '3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' and the '4th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 4 January 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 25} The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.^{Footnote 26}

The 228th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '228th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 27} embarked for Britain on 16 February 1917.^{Footnote 28} It was redesignated '6th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, CEF' on 8 March 1917.^{Footnote 29} The battalion landed in France on 3 April 1917,^{Footnote 30} where it provided railway construction support on the British Western Front until the end of the war.^{Footnote 31} The battalion was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 32}

The 256th Battalion, which was authorized on 1 May 1917 as the '256th "Overseas" Railway Construction Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 33} embarked for Britain on 28 March 1917.^{Footnote 34} It was redesignated '10th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, CEF' on 30 May 1917.^{Footnote 35} It disembarked in France 19 June 1917,^{Footnote 36} where it provided railway construction support on the British Western Front until the end of the war.^{Footnote 37} The battalion was disbanded on 23 October 1920.^{Footnote 38}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The Algonquin Regiment, CASF' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 39} It was redesignated '1st Battalion, The Algonquin Regiment, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 40} The regiment served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division and in Newfoundland from 7 February 1942 to 6 February 1943.^{Footnote 41} It embarked for Britain on 11 June 1943 and landed in France on 25 July 1944, as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 42} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 February 1946.^{Footnote 43}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the Algonquin Regiment reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 44}