The Victoria Rifles of Canada

Badge

Description

On a compass rose Sable a plate charged with the letters VRC Gules and encircled by an annulus Sable edged and inscribed PRO ARIS ET FOCIS in letters Argent and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper.

Symbolism

The use of a star shape and the Royal Crown was common among regimental badges at the time of formation of the Victoria Rifles of Canada.

Motto

PRO ARIS ET FOCIS (For the altars and for the hearths)

Marches

"Huntsmen's Chorus" and "Lutzow's Wild Hunt"

Battle honours

Fenian Raids

ECCLES HILL.

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1900.

The First World War

YPRES, 1915, '17; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916, '18; Flers-Courcelette; Thiepval; Ancre Heights; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; ARLEUX; Scarpe, 1917, '18; HILL 70; Passchendaele; AMIENS; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915 18.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Montréal, Quebec on 22 January 1862, when 'The 3rd Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles Canada' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '3rd Battalion "The Victoria Volunteer Rifles of Montreal"' on 18 July 1862;^{Footnote 2} '3rd Battalion "Victoria Rifles of Canada"' on 5 December 1879;^{Footnote 3} '3rd Regiment "Victoria Rifles of Canada"' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 4} 'The Victoria Rifles of Canada' on 29 March 1920;^{Footnote 5} 'Victoria Rifles of Canada' on 15 November 1934;^{Footnote 6} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada' on 7 November 1941;^{Footnote 7} and 'Victoria Rifles of Canada' on 1 June 1945.^{Footnote 8} It was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle on 5 March 1965.^{Footnote 9}

Perpetuations

'24th', '60th' and '244th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Montreal, Quebec

Operational history

Fenian Raids

The battalion was called out on active service on 8 March 1866. It served on the South-eastern frontier and was removed from active service on 31 March 1866.^{Footnote 10}

The battalion was called out on active service on 24 May 1870. It fought on the South-eastern frontier and was removed from active service on 24 June 1870.^{Footnote 11}

South African War

The regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents in the field, mainly the « 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry ».^{Footnote 12}

The First World War

Details of the regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 13}

The 24th Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '24th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 14} embarked for Great Britain on 11 May 1915.^{Footnote 15} It disembarked in France on 16 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 16} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^{Footnote 17}

The 60th Battalion, which was authorized on 20 April 1915 as the '60th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 18} embarked for Great Britain on 4 November 1915.^{Footnote 19} It disembarked in France on 21 February 1916, where it fought as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until 30 April 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF' and the '87th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 20} The battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1918.^{Footnote 21}

The 244th Battalion, which was authorized on 17 July 1917 as the '244th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 22} embarked for Great Britain on 28 March 1917.^{Footnote 23} Its personnel were absorbed by the '23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 21 April 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 24} The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.^{Footnote 25}

The Second World War

The regiment was called out on service for local protection duties on 26 August 1939.^{Footnote 26} Details of the regiment were also mobilized for active service under the designation 'Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF (Details)' on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 27} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940^{Footnote 28} and the regiment mobilized an active service unit designated 'The Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF' on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 29} It was redesignated '1st Battalion, The Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 30} It served in Canada, and in Newfoundland from November 1940 to September 1941 on garrison duty as part of the 17th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division.^{Footnote 31} It embarked for Great Britain on 20 November 1944.^{Footnote 32} The battalion was disbanded on 21 November 1944, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Army in the field .^{Footnote 33}

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