The West Nova Scotia Regiment

Badge

Description

Argent on an escutcheon Argent fimbriated Or a saltire Azure between in chief a church on a mount, in base a schooner proper set on barry wavy Argent and Azure, and in the flanks two mayflowers leaved proper, all within an annulus Azure edged and inscribed WEST NOVA SCOTIA REGIMENT and SEMPER FIDELIS in letters Or, ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and resting upon a scroll Azure edged and inscribed CANADA, the whole surmounting a mullet of eight points Or.

Symbolism

The crown represents service to the Sovereign. The shield includes several symbols of Nova Scotia. The saltire or cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, refers to the province's Scottish heritage; the mayflower is the province's floral emblem; the schooner, inspired by the famous Bluenose, symbolizes the sea-faring communities of the South shore, and the church represents the memorial church at Grand-Pré and thus the Annapolis Valley in general and the province's Acadian heritage. "WEST NOVA SCOTIA REGIMENT" is a form of the regimental title and "SEMPER FIDELIS" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

SEMPER FIDELIS (Always faithful)

March

Quick March

"God Bless the Prince of Wales"

Slow March

"Garb of Old Gaul"

Alliance

British Army

Duke of Lancaster's Regiment

Regimental colour

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

Honorary Distinction

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

The First World War

ARRAS, 1917, '18; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; AMIENS; HINDENBURG LINE; PURSUIT TO MONS.

The Second World War

LANDING IN SICILY; Valguarnera; ADRANO; Catenanuovo; Centuripe; SICILY, 1943; Landing at Reggio; Potenza; Gambatesa; THE SANGRO; Castel di Sangro; The Gully; CASSINO II; Gustav Line; LIRI VALLEY; Hitler Line; Melfa Crossing; GOTHIC LINE; LAMONE CROSSING; RIMINI LINE; San Martino-San Lorenzo; San Fortunato; Savio Bridgehead; ITALY, 1943-1945; Apeldoorn; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 8 October 1869 and incorporates the following regiments.

The West Nova Scotia Regiment originated in Paradise, Nova Scotia on 8 October 1869, when 'The First Regiment of Annapolis County Volunteers' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated the '69th The 1st Regiment of Annapolis County' on 5 November 1869.^{Footnote 2} On 1 September 1898, it was amalgamated with 'The 72nd or Second Annapolis Battalion of Volunteer Militia' (see below) and redesignated the '69th "Annapolis" Battalion of Infantry'.^{Footnote 3} It was redesignated: '69th Annapolis Regiment' on 8 May 1900;^{Footnote 4} and 'The Annapolis Regiment' on 29 March 1920.^{Footnote 5} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with 'The Lunenburg Regiment' (see below) and redesignated 'The West Nova Scotia Regiment'.^{Footnote 6} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The West Nova Scotia Regiment' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 7} 'The West Nova Scotia Regiment' on 1 November 1945;^{Footnote 8} 'The West Nova Scotia Regiment (Machine Gun)' on 1 October 1954;^{Footnote 9} and 'The West Nova Scotia Regiment' on 11 April 1958.^{Footnote 10}

Perpetuations

‘1st and 2nd Battalions, East Annapolis Regiment (1812-15)’, ‘1st and 2nd Battalions, King’s County Regiment (1812-15)’, ‘1st and 2nd Battalions, West Annapolis Regiment (1812-15)’, '112th' and '219th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Aldershot, Nova Scotia

Operational history

The First World War

Details of the 69th Annapolis Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 15}

Details of the 75th Lunenburg Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 16}

The 112th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '112th "Overseas" Infantry Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 17} embarked for Great Britain on 23 July 1916.^{Footnote 18} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 7 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '26th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 19} The battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1918.^{Footnote 20}

The 219th Battalion, which was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the '219th "Overseas" Infantry Battalion', CEF,^{Footnote 21} embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916.^{Footnote 22} It provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 23 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '17th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 23} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.^{Footnote 24}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The West Nova Scotia Regiment, CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 25} The unit embarked for Great Britain on 21 December 1939.^{Footnote 26} It was redesignated the '1st Battalion, The West Nova Scotia Regiment, CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 27} It landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943, and in Italy on 3 September 1943, as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.^{Footnote 28} On 19 March 1945, the battalion moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North West Europe, where it fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 29} The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 October 1945.^{Footnote 30}

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 '3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The West Nova Scotia Regiment), CASF'.^{Footnote 31} The battalion was disbanded on 1 November 1945.^{Footnote 32}

South-West Asia

From 2002 to 2014, the West Nova Scotia Regiment reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 33}