Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)

Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment
Country	Canada
Allegiance	Ireland infantry regiment of the line in the British Army,
Branch	Canadian Forces
Nickname(s)	Royal Canadians
Patron	Prince of Wales

The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) was an Ireland infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 100th (Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot and the 109th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Infantry). The 100th Foot was first raised in 1763 and the 109th was first raised in 1761. Battle Honours borne on the colours prior to WW1 were "Niagara"; "Central India"; "South Africa 1900-02". Ir was one of eight Irish regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland. Militarily, the whole of Ireland was administered as a separate command within the United Kingdom with Command Headquarters at Parkgate (Phoenix Park) Dublin, directly under the War Office in London.

The regiment served the counties of Longford, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly (King's County) and Laois (Queen's County), with its garrison depot at Crinkill, near Birr. Prior to World War I (WW1) there were 5 Battalions, two regular battalions, the 1st and 2nd with 3 Militia battalions. The 3rd was The King's County Militia, the 4th was The Queen's County Militia and the 5th was The Royal Meath Militia. At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 two additional Service Battalions were formed, the 6th Battalion and the 7th Battalion.

During the war the 1st Battalion served with the 27th Division and the 10th (Irish) Division. The 2nd Battalion with the 6th Division, 24th Division, 16th (Irish) Division and the 29th Division. The 6th Battalion served with the 10th (Irish) Division, 14th (Light) Division, 34th Division and 66th Division. The 7th Battalion with the 16th (Irish) Division.

The Leinsters became one of the five Irish infantry regiments disbanded under the Anglo-Irish Treaty following the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922. The Regimental Colours are kept, in safety and in perpetuity, by the British Royal Family in Windsor Castle. Present day guardians of the Regimental History are The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) Association [1]

On disbandment the Regiment's collection of silver was presented to the Government of Canada, “as a token of the regard for the Great Dominion which gave birth to the Battalion to be held in trust until such time as the Battalion is again raised.” The silver, known as “The Leinster Plate”, was deposited for safe keeping at the Royal Military College of Canada in 1923 at the suggestion of then Minister of National Defence, the Hon. E.M. MacDonald, and of Maj-Gen. J.H. McBrien, the Canadian Chief of Staff.

The pieces of Leinster Plate in the Royal Military College of Canada collection include:

• Badge of the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment 100th Regiment, 1860
• Silver Cup Presented to the Officers of the Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian Regiment by Lieutenant C.P. Lowry on Promotion, 1864
• Silver Cup presented to the Officers Mess by Colonel the Honourable C.J. Addington on retirement September 1877
• Wine Jug, c. 1880
• Model Gun, 1891
• Inter-Company Boxing Trophy, 1910

References

• Mills, T.F. "The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)". regiments.org. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) Includes chronological index of titles.