The Winnipeg Grenadiers

Badge

Description

A grenade Sable enflamed Gules and Argent.

Symbolism

The grenade, named for its similarity to a pomegranate, was a small bomb composed simply of a hollow iron ball filled with explosive and detonated with a simple fuse. It gave rise to a type of infantryman called a Grenadier who was specially trained and equipped for throwing grenades. The red and white of the flames are the livery colours of the regiment and the official colours of Canada.

Motto

ADSUM (Present)

March

"British Grenadiers"

Regimental colour

Camp flag

No camp flag recorded.

Battle honours

The First World War

YPRES, 1915, '17; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916; Ancre Heights; Ancre, 1916; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; VALENCIENNES; SAMBRE; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915 18

The Second World War

Hong Kong; SOUTH-EAST ASIA, 1941.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 1 April 1908 and incorporates the following regiment and machine gun battalion.

The Winnipeg Grenadiers originated in Morden, Manitoba on 1 April 1908, when the '100th Regiment' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '100th "Winnipeg Grenadiers"' on 2 May 1910;^{Footnote 2} and 'The Winnipeg Grenadiers' on 12 March 1920.^{Footnote 3} On 16 November 1936, it was amalgamated with the '10th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC' (see below) and redesignated 'The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun)'.^{Footnote 5} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun)' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 6} '2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers' on 15 March 1941;^{Footnote 7} and 'The Winnipeg Grenadiers' on 28 January 1946.^{Footnote 8} It was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle on 28 February 1965.^{Footnote 9}

Perpetuations

'11th', '78th' and '100th "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Operational history

The First World War

Details from the 100th "Winnipeg Grenadiers" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 12}

The 11th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '11th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 13} embarked for Great Britain on 30 September 1914.^{Footnote 14} It was redesignated '11th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF' on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 15} On 4 January 1917, its personnel, along with the personnel of the '100th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF' (see below), were absorbed by a new '11th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 16} The battalion was disbanded on 12 October 1917.^{Footnote 17}

The 78th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 July 1915 as the '78th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 18} embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916.^{Footnote 19} It disembarked in France on 13 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 20} The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^{Footnote 21}

The 100th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the '100th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 22} embarked for Great Britain on 18 September 1916.^{Footnote 23} It provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 20 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '11th Reserve Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 24} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 25}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized 'The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF' for active service on 1 September 1939.^{Footnote 26} It was redesignated: '1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF' on 7 November 1940.^{Footnote 27} and '1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, CASF' on 15 March 1941.^{Footnote 28} It served in Jamaica and Bermuda on garrison duty from May 1940 to October 1941.^{Footnote 29} On 27 October 1941 it embarked for Hong Kong, where it was destroyed while fighting in defence of the colony.^{Footnote 30} The unit was reconstituted on 10 January 1942.^{Footnote 31} It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the Prince Rupert Defences, 8th Canadian Division^{Footnote 32} and took part in the expedition to Kiska, Alaska as a component of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, serving there from 16 August 1943 to 22 December 1943.^{Footnote 33} It embarked for Great Britain on 25 May 1944.^{Footnote 34} On 1 November 1944, it was absorbed by the '3rd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, CASF' and designated '3rd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, Type A (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CASF'.^{Footnote 35} On 5 July 1945, it was converted and redesignated 'No. 10 Canadian Repatriation Depot, Type "T"'.^{Footnote 36} The depot was disbanded on 28 January 1946.^{Footnote 37}

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