Royal Canadian Regiment

Not to be confused with The Royal Regiment of Canada.

The Royal Canadian Regiment
Cap badge of The Royal Canadian Regiment.
Active	21 December 1883 – Present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Mechanized infantry (two battalions) light role/paratroop (one battalion) light role/primary reserve (one battalion)
Size	Four battalions
Part of	Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	RHQ – Petawawa 1st Battalion – Petawawa 2nd Battalion – Gagetown 3rd Battalion – Petawawa 4th Battalion – London
Nickname(s)	Royals
Motto(s)	Pro Patria (For Country)
March	Quick – "The Royal Canadian Regiment" (aka "St. Catharines") Slow – "Pro Patria"
Anniversaries	Regimental birthday – 21 December Paardeberg Day – 27 February Pachino Day – 10 July Mons Day – 10 November Kowang-San Day – 23 October
Decorations	Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation – 1st Battalion: Afghanistan, Operation ARCHER, 2006.
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	HRH the Duke of Edinburgh
Colonel of the regiment	Major-General -Retired- J. Ivan Fenton, OMM, CD
Patrons	Judith Irving, Mike Holmes
Insignia
Tartan	Maple Leaf (2nd Bn pipes and drums)
Abbreviation	The RCR

Regimental cypher of The Royal Canadian Regiment.

The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked 9th in the order of precedence amongst Canadian Army regiments, but is the most senior infantry regiment that has regular force battalions.

The RCR was originally authorized as the Infantry School Corps on 21 December 1883, and established its first three company stations at Fredericton, New Brunswick; St Jean, Quebec; and Toronto, Ontario. In 1887 a fourth company was authorized and the next year was established at London, Ontario. Now consisting of three Regular Force battalions and one Reserve Force battalion, the regiment's four battalions are now stationed in Ontario and New Brunswick. With many of its soldiers drawn from Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces in recent decades, the regiment maintains a general connection as the "local" infantry regiment for anglophone eastern Canada.

The RCR maintains a Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) in Petawawa, Ontario, which has no operational command role but handles regimental affairs outside the responsibility of the individual battalions. The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum is located within historic Wolseley Hall in London, Ontario. Wolseley Barracks in London has been continuously occupied by some element of the regiment since construction of Wolseley Hall was completed in 1888. At various times Wolseley Barracks has been the home of the Regimental Headquarters, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, and remains the home of the 4th Battalion today.

Battalions

Battalion	Home	Brigade	Notes
1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment	CFB Petawawa (Ontario)	2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group	Mechanized infantry
2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment	CFB Gagetown (New Brunswick)	2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group	Mechanized infantry
3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment	CFB Petawawa (Ontario)	2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group	Light infantry. Includes a parachute company.
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment	Wolseley Barracks and Stratford Garrison (Ontario)	31 Canadian Brigade Group	Light infantry; Reserve

Lineage

The Royal Canadian Regiment

• Originated 21 December 1883 as the Infantry School Corps
• Redesignated 14 May 1892 as the Canadian Regiment of Infantry
• Redesignated 24 May 1893 as the Royal Regiment of Canadian Infantry
• Redesignated 1 April 1899 as the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry
• Redesignated 1 November 1901 as The Royal Canadian Regiment
• Amalgamated 25 April 1958 with The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment)' retaining its designation.
• The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers) redesignated in 1970 as the 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers)
• 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers) designated as the 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment on 22 May 1990.

The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment)

• Originated 27 April 1866 in London, Ontario as the 7th Battalion Infantry, "Prince Arthur's Own"
• Redesignated 1 May 1866 as the 7th Battalion Infantry
• Redesignated 15 February 1867 as the 7th Battalion "London Light Infantry"
• Redesignated 16 January 1880 as the 7th Battalion "Fusiliers"
• Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 7th Regiment "Fusiliers"
• Redesignated 29 March 1920 The Western Ontario Regiment
• Redesignated 1 August 1924 as The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
• Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with the Headquarters and A Company of the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and redesignated as The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun)
• Redesignated 29 January 1942 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
• Redesignated 24 March 1942 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun)
• Redesignated 1 April 1946 as The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun)
• Amalgamated 1 October 1954 with The Oxford Rifles and redesignated as the London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment)
• Amalgamated 25 April 1958 with The Royal Canadian Regiment and redesignated as the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers).

The Oxford Rifles

• Originated 14 August 1863 in Woodstock, Ontario as the Twenty-second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada or The Oxford Rifles
• Redesignated 13 April 1866 as the 22nd Battalion The Oxford Rifles
• Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 22nd Regiment The Oxford Rifles
• Redesignated 29 March 1920 as the Oxford Rifles
• Redesignated 18 March 1942 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Oxford Rifles
• Redesignated 1 June 1945 as The Oxford Rifles
• Amalgamated 1 October 1954 with The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun) and redesignated as the London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment).

The 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC

• Originated 1 June 1919 in London, Ontario as the 2nd Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC
• Redesignated 15 September 1924 as the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC
• Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Lineage chart

Lineage of the Royal Canadian Regiment:

Lineage chart

1812 The Loyal London Volunteers 1st Regt of Middlesex Militia 1st Regt of Oxford Militia 1815 Disbanded Disbanded Disbanded 1856 Independent rifle and infy coys 1862 Independent arty, rifle and infy coys 1863 "Twenty-second Bn Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada" or "The Oxford Rifles" 1866 22nd Bn "The Oxford Rifles" 7th Bn Infy, "Prince Arthur's Own" 1866 7th Bn Infy 1867 7th Bn "London Light Infy" 1880 7th Bn "Fusiliers" 1883 Infy School Corps 1892 Canadian Regt of Infy 1893 The Royal Regt of Canadian Infy 1899 The Royal Canadian Regt of Infy 2nd (Special Service) Bn, Royal Canadian Regt of Infy 1900 Disbanded 3rd (Special Service) Bn, Royal Canadian Regt of Infy 22nd Regt "The Oxford Rifles" 7th Regt "Fusiliers" 1901 The Royal Canadian Regt 1902 Disbanded 1914 Placed on active service 71st "Overseas" Infy Bn, CEF 1st Bn, CEF 1916 Absorbed by 44th, 54th and 74th "Overseas" Bn, CEF 1918 Disbanded 2nd Bn, CMGC, CEF 1919 The Royal Canadian Regt. Permanent Active Militia component formed 2nd MG Bde, CMGC 1920 Overseas component disbanded The Oxford Rifles Disbanded The Western Ontario Regt Disbanded 1924 The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regt) 2nd MG Bn, CMGC 1936 The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regt) (MG) 1939 The Royal Canadian Regt, CASF 1942 1st Bn, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regt), CASF 2nd (Reserve) Bn, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regt) 1942 1st Bn, The Oxford Rifles, CASF 2nd (Reserve) Bn, The Oxford Rifles 2nd (Reserve) Bn, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regt) (MG) 1944 2nd Canadian Infy Training Bn, Type A (Canadian Fusiliers), CASF 1945 1st Canadian Infy Bn (The Royal Canadian Regt), CASF Disbanded The Oxford Rifles Disbanded 1945 2nd Bn The Royal Canadian Regt, CIC 1946 The Royal Canadian Regt, CIC Disbanded The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regt) (MG) 1950 The Royal Canadian Regt, (1st Bn) RCIC 2nd Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt, RCIC 3rd Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt, RCIC 1952 1st Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt, RCIC 2nd Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt 1953 1st Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt 1954 Disbanded The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt) 1958 3rd Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt (London and Oxford Fusiliers) 1970 3rd Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt 4th Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt (London and Oxford Fusiliers) 1990 4th Bn, The Royal Canadian Regt 2012 Perpetuates War of 1812 units Perpetuates War of 1812 units Perpetuates War of 1812 units Perpetuates War of 1812 units 2024

Abbreviations used in the chart

Abbreviation	Phrase
Arty	Artillery
Bde	Brigade
Bn	Battalion
CASF	Canadian Active Service Force
CEF	Canadian Expeditionary Force
CIC	Canadian Infantry Corps
CMGC	Canadian Machine Gun Corps
Coys	Companies
Infy	Infantry
MG	Machine Gun
RCIC	Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
Regt	Regiment

Perpetuations

War of 1812

• The Loyal London Volunteers
• 1st Regiment of Middlesex Militia
• 1st Regiment of Oxford Militia

The Great War

• 1st Battalion (Ontario Regiment), CEF
• 33rd Battalion, CEF
• 71st Battalion, CEF
• 142nd Battalion (London's Own), CEF
• 168th Battalion (Oxfords), CEF
• 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF

Operational history

The camp flag of The RCR.

Afghanistan

The regiment contributed personnel to the various Task Forces and the Regular Force battalions served as the basis for several of the Task Forces that operated in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.

Battle honours

Regimental colour of 1st Battalion

The Royal Canadian Regiment has been awarded a total of 58 battle honours. In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles. Battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colours.

The War of 1812

• Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada
• Detroit
• Niagara
• Non-emblazonable honorary distinction Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada

North West Rebellion

• Saskatchewan
• North West Canada, 1885

South African War

• Paardeberg
• South Africa, 1899–1900

Great War

• Ypres, 1915, '17
• Gravenstafel
• St. Julien
• Festubert, 1915
• Mount Sorrel
• Somme, 1916
• Pozières
• Flers–Courcelette
• Ancre Heights
• Arras, 1917, '18
• Vimy, 1917
• Arleux
• Scarpe, 1917, '18
• Hill 70
• Passchendaele
• Amiens
• Drocourt–Quéant
• Hindenburg Line
• Canal du Nord
• Cambrai, 1918
• Pursuit to Mons
• France and Flanders, 1915–18

Second World War

• Landing in Sicily
• Valguarnera
• Agira
• Adrano
• Regalbuto
• Sicily, 1943
• Landing at Reggio
• Motta Montecorvino
• Campobasso
• Torella
• San Leonardo
• The Gully
• Ortona
• Cassino II
• Gustav Line
• Liri Valley
• Hitler Line
• Gothic Line
• Lamone Crossing
• Misano Ridge
• Rimini Line
• San Martino–San Lorenzo
• Pisciatello
• Fosso Vecchio
• Italy, 1943–1945
• Apeldoorn
• North-West Europe, 1945

The Korean War

• Korea, 1951–1953

Afghanistan

• Afghanistan

History

Early history

The Royal Canadian Regiment is one of Canada's oldest Regular Force military units. In 2012 the regiment was assigned the perpetuation of the 1st Regiment of Middlesex Militia (1812–15) and the 1st Regiment of Oxford Militia (1812–15) from the War of 1812, and as a result carries three battle honours from that conflict. The RCR was also assigned the perpetuation of The Loyal London Volunteers which was accompanied by a non-emblazonable Honorary Distinction.

The regiment itself was formed as the Infantry School Corps on 21 December 1883, authorized by a Militia Act which also created the Cavalry School Corps. These school corps were created as regular units that would train the Canadian militia. The first companies stood up in Fredericton NB, St Jean-sur-Richelieu QC, and Toronto ON in 1883, with a fourth company standing up in London ON several years later. The Infantry School Corps' first battle honours were earned during the North-West Rebellion in 1885, where it fought at Batoche and Cut Knife Creek. The regiment later provided personnel to the Yukon Field Force (1898–1900), which assisted the North-West Mounted Police in the Yukon during the Gold Rush. The Regiment was then in the South African (Boer) War (1899–1903), its overseas deployment was delayed by a garrison assignment in Bermuda from September 1914 until August 1915. Upon returning to Nova Scotia, its members attested for overseas service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), arriving in France in October 1915 to fight in WW1.

The South African War

LCol William Dillon Otter

The regiment's name was changed to The Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry in 1893, with a new emphasis on being combat capable. William Dillon Otter, formerly of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, was the first Commanding Officer. He would later become the first Canadian-born Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army.

During the South African War (Second Boer War), the "2nd (Special Service) Battalion" was raised from across the country to contribute Canada's First Contingent in this war, with Otter in command. This battalion was quickly disbanded in 1900 upon its return to Canada, even though they were considered by many British officers to be the best infantry battalion in the country. The "3rd (Special Service) Battalion" was also raised at this time, in 1900, and was employed as a garrison force in Halifax until 1902 when it was also disbanded.

The unveiling of the South African War Memorial in Toronto Canada in 1908

In the Boer War, the Toronto company of the 2RCRI fought Canada's first overseas battle at Sunnyside, Cape Colony, on January 1, 1900, defeating a Boer commando in an action led by Australia's Queensland Mounted Infantry. The unit as a whole then joined and played an instrumental role in the victory at the Battle of Paardeberg Drift (18–27 February 1900), including an advance by night towards the enemy lines, quietly digging trenches on high ground 65 yards from the Boer lines. On February 27, 1900, the Boers, staring into the muzzles of Canadian and British rifles, surrendered, thus removing the commando blocking the way to the first Boer capital, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State. This date has since been celebrated by the Regiment as Paardeberg Day. Having delivered the first unqualified good news of the war for the British Empire, the Regiment also distinguished itself on the march north, arriving first at the gates of Pretoria.

During the South African War Private Richard Rowland Thompson was awarded a Queen's scarf, one of the four presented to soldiers of the Dominions, a further four scarves crocheted by Queen Victoria went to non-commissioned officers of the British Army.

A small statuette (1999) by André Gauthier (sculptor) commemorates the centennial of the Royal Canadian Regiment’s Battle of Paardeberg during the Boer War.

The end of the Victorian era and the Great War; 1900–1919

In October 1901 the regiment received new colours from the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) during his visit to Canada, and the regiment's name was changed to The Royal Canadian Regiment. In 1914, the regiment was deployed to Bermuda for garrison duties from September 1914 to August 1915 when it returned to Halifax and reattested for overseas service. The RCR arrived in France in October 1915 to join the new 3rd Canadian Division. The regiment combined with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and the 42nd and 49th Canadian Infantry Battalions to form the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Battle honours awarded to The Royal Canadian Regiment for its actions in the First World War included: "Mount Sorrel, Somme, 1916, Flers-Courcelette, Ancre Heights, Arras, 1917, 18, Vimy, 1917, Hill 70, Ypres, 1917, Passchendaele, Amiens, Scarpe, 1918, Hindenburg Line, Canal du Nord, Pursuit to Mons, FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1914–18".

Among the honours and awards to members of the regiment in the First World War was the Victoria Cross (VC) won by Lieutenant Milton Gregg. The RCR also recognizes the VC won by Lieutenant Frederick William Campbell, who was an officer of the 1st (Western Ontario) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, one of the battalions now perpetuated by The RCR.

The inter-war years; 1919–1939

The RCR remained a Permanent Force regiment between the wars and returned to its role of providing instruction to the Militia through garrisons in London (Ontario), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Toronto (Ontario) and Montreal (Quebec).

The Second World War; 1939–1945

On 1 September 1939 the regiment was mobilized as part of the Canadian Active Service Force as Canada prepared for participation in the Second World War. When war was declared on September 10, the RCR had already been allocated to the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, a formation made up entirely of Ontario units. Moving to the United Kingdom in December 1939 as a component of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, the RCR saw hard training for almost four years.

On 10 July 1943, the RCR landed at Pachino in the opening waves of the Allied invasion of Sicily – the last member of the regiment to participate in these original waves – George F. Burrows of Chatham Ontario – died on April 11, 2012, in Windsor, Ontario at the age of 88. The regiment and its sister units in the 1st Brigade, The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and the 48th Highlanders of Canada fought in several battles as the division advanced north and then east towards Messina. After the 38-day campaign on the island was completed, the regiment was involved in another amphibious landing (codenamed Operation Baytown) at Reggio di Calabria, as part of Allied invasion of the Italian mainland in September.

The RCR fought in several battles of the Italian campaign, including key engagements in the Moro River valley near Ortona in December 1943. During 1944, the regiment took part the Battle of Monte Cassino in attacks on German defensive lines called the Hitler Line and later the Gothic Line.

The regiment was transferred to northwest Europe in February 1945 during Operation Goldflake and took part in the liberation the Dutch city of Apeldoorn. The regiment received 28 battle honours for its participation in the Second World War. The regiment returned home to Canada in 1945.

The post-war period and the Korean War; 1945–1953

In 1950 the regiment was called upon to contribute to Canada's forces for the Korean War. A new Active Service Force (Special Force) was to be raised, and the regiment expanded to a two-battalion, then a three-battalion, organization. The 2nd Battalion, followed by the 1st and 3rd Battalions, each saw service in Korea. The 2nd Battalion helped stabilize the 38th parallel, most notably at the Chail-li sector. In October 1952, the 1st Battalion fought the Chinese at the battle of Kowang San (Hill 355 – Little Gibraltar). It was replaced by the 3rd Battalion, which took over the Jamestown Line on Hill 187, where it fought one of the last engagements before the armistice in 1953. After the end of the Korean War, the regiment was reduced to two battalions, when the 3rd Battalion was disbanded in July 1954.

The Cold War; 1953–1992

In 1954 two London, Ontario, Militia regiments, the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (MG) and The Oxford Rifles were amalgamated and redesignated The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment). This unit thus became the Reserve component of The RCR. In 1958, it was renamed 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers).

In 1989, the designation of the Reserve battalion was shortened to 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. This amalgamation also brought to the regiment the perpetuation of a number of battalions of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force, including the 1st, 33rd, 71st, 142nd and 168th Battalions as well as the 2nd Battalion of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. The amalgamation also saw the total battle honours for the First World War, based on the combined list of amalgamated components of the regiment, increase to the full list seen below.

The Militia battalion (3rd Battalion) was renumbered as the 4th Battalion in 1970 when the Canadian Guards were reduced to nil strength and the soldiers of that regiment's 2nd Battalion (at CFB Petawawa) became the restored 3rd Battalion, The RCR, on the Regular Force order of battle. At the same time, the 2nd Battalion of The RCR was relocated to CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, and reconstituted from the soldiers of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada as its two battalions there were also reduced to nil strength and removed from the active regiments in the army's Regular Force order of battle.

During the 1950s and 1960s, battalions of The RCR were stationed as part of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at Fort York, Germany. These deployments were executed by 1RCR (1955–57 and 1962–65) and 2RCR (1953–55 and 1965–70). 3rd Battalion was later deployed to Germany, stationed in Baden-Söllingen 1977–84 and 1988–93.

All three Regular Force battalions of The RCR were deployed during the October Crisis in 1970 as part of the government's response to the FLQ. Major John Hasek became the first commander of the Skyhawks Parachute Team when it formed in 1971. The three Regular Force battalions were also deployed in to support the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec.

Throughout the Cold War period, The RCR participated in Canada's contributions to United Nations peacekeeping. For battalions of the regiment, this meant rotating tours on the island of Cyprus. The six-month tours of this mission, named Operation Snowgoose, were executed by elements of the regiment 13 times between 1966 and 1992.

In 1977 the 3rd Battalion was posted to CFB Baden-Soellingen in Germany.

Century of Service Plaque The Royal Canadian Regiment 1883–1983, Royal Canadian Military College Saint-Jean

In 1983, a Century of Service plaque at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean commemorates the centennial of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1883–1983 Canada's oldest permanent force infantry regiment. Elements of the regiment garrisoned at Saint John sur Richelieu from 1884–1908 and 1924–.

In 1984 the battalion was rotated to Winnipeg. In 1988 the battalion was rotated back to Baden until the base was closed in 1993 at which time it was disbanded in Germany and subsequently stood up at CFB Borden, Ontario, as a "10/90" battalion. The "10/90" concept created an infantry battalion in each Regular Force regiment with approximately 10 per cent of its personnel being full-time Regular soldiers, while the remaining positions were filled by Reserve Force soldiers from affiliated units in the region. These units existed until 1996 when the three 10/90 battalions were stood down and replaced by light infantry battalions on the Regular Force order of battle. Initially formed without specific regimental affiliation, within the year the light infantry battalion was relocated to CFB Petawawa and officially designated the 3rd Battalion, The RCR.

In 1990, HQ and Duke of Edinburgh's Company (the first rifle company) of the 1st Battalion deployed to Cornwall, Ontario, as part of Operation Kahnawake. The 2nd Battalion, as part of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, deployed to the Montreal region to partake in Operation Salon. These deployments were part of the government's response to the Oka Crisis.

In 1991, M Company and a platoon from P Company from 3rd Battalion(CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany) and C Company from 1RCR (CFB London, Ontario) served in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the first Gulf War. These companies were employed on airfield and field hospital security duties.

The peacekeeping era; 1992–2004

In 1992, soldiers from the English-speaking N Company of the 3rd Battalion (Major Devlin), based out of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Baden-Soellingen in Germany, as an attachment to the French-speaking Royal 22^e Régiment, operationally secured the Sarajevo airport during the Yugoslav wars. This operation saw a re-deployment of the entire battle group from Croatia to the Sarajevo Theatre of Operations, under the command of General Lewis MacKenzie.

Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, made mention of this operational force and its commitment to international peace while she was in the National Capital Region that same year during Canada's 125th, stating:

“I am delighted to be here with you once again, to share in this day of national celebration, and, as a member of the Canadian family, to wish Canada a happy birthday on this one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary of Confederation. We have an occasion, and a country, worth celebrating ... I want to say a special word about the brave Canadian soldiers who today seek to bring peace, under the United Nations auspices, to a dangerous situation in Bosnia. They serve both Canada and the cause of peace with courage and conviction. As Queen of Canada, I salute their contribution with pride ... You have inherited a country uniquely worth preserving. I call on you all, wherever you live, whatever your walk of life, to cherish that inheritance, and to protect it with all your strength. May God bless each and every one of you as you go about that task. And may God bless Canada. “ (Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on the 125th anniversary of Confederation, July 1, 1992).

Shortly thereafter the Governor General of Canada bestowed the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation to N Company. The official warrant stated:

"... The first was to the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22^e Regiment Battle Group (Including N Company, 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment) for having opened the airport in the besieged city of Sarajevo in July 1992 (OP HARMONY). The Commendation was officially presented to the unit by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, CC, CMM, COM, CD, Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces during a ceremony which took place at the Citadel in Quebec City on 9 September 2002 ...".

The unit returned to Bosnia for a tour with the stabilization force, SFOR, in 1998 and 1999.

all 3 Battalions served as peacekeepers in the Sinai Peninsula, in Bosnia and Kosovo.

In 2000, the 2nd Battalion had the honour of mounting the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace, when a detachment came to London to commemorate the Canadian involvement in the Second Boer War, and to celebrate the re-opening of Canada House. Later that year, H Company Group of 2nd Battalion deployed to eastern Africa as part of UNMEE. As the United States prepared militarily and politically to launch military actions against Iraq, 2 RCR formed a provisional battle group and was warned off that if the government decided to participate, it would deploy. The government decided against participation and instead decided to return to Afghanistan. I Company Group deployed to Kabul on 26 May 2003 to form the Defence and Security Company for the construction of the Canadian camp. It returned to Canada in August of that year after 3rd Battalion Group took on ISAF operations.

The "Leadership Award"(2000) by André Gauthier (sculptor) was commissioned for The Royal Canadian Regiment.

In March 2004 the same company deployed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of Operation Halo (Operation "Secure Tomorrow" as the United States called it) to conduct security operations as part of the Multinational Interim Force. This force was set in place in order to set the conditions for the United Nations to take over. I Company conducted a relief in place with H Company Group in June. H Company changed roles to the UN force and redeployed to Gonaïves, Haiti. It returned to Canada in September of that year.

Afghanistan; 2006–present

Main article: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006

In August 2006, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Athena, replacing the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for a six-month tour of duty in theatre.

In February 2007, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment replaced the 1st Battalion in Afghanistan for a tour of duty.

In September 2008, 3rd Battalion replaced 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry as part of Operation Athena, Roto 6, forming the core of the Task Force Kanadahar Battle Group. It served until relieved in place by 2nd Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment in April 2009. The predeployment training of a platoon from the battalion was filmed for the reality television series Combat School.

In April 2010, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, deployed for Task Force 1–10

In February 2012, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment formed the core of Rotation 1 of the Canadian Contribution Training Mission – Afghanistan and deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, on Operation Attention till November 2012.

Recognition

The Freedom of the City was exercised by the Royal Canadian Regiment in Fredericton, New Brunswick on 2 June 1973 and in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador on June 19, 2005.

On 10 November 1983 Canada Post issued 'The Royal Canadian Regiment, The British Columbia Regiment' as part of the Canadian Forces, Regiments, 1883–1983 series. The stamps were designed by Ralph Tibbles, based on a painting by William Southern. The 32¢ stamps are perforated 13.5 × 13 and were printed by Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited.

Honorary appointments

Prince Philip as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Regiment in April 2013.

Colonel-in-chief

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was appointed as the colonel-in-chief of The Royal Canadian Regiment on 8 December 1953. Prince Philip has had only one predecessor in this appointment, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, from 1929 to 1942.

Colonel of the regiment

The colonel of the regiment, through such appointment, holds the pre-eminent position in the conduct of regimental affairs. He is the senior member of the Regimental Council, an advisor to The RCR Association Board of Directors and The RCR Trust Fund. The Colonel of the Regiment is Major-General (Ret'd) J.Ivan Fenton, who accepted the appointment on 18 June 2015 in a ceremony that took place in CFB Gagetown.

Honorary lieutenant-colonel, 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment

The honorary lieutenant-colonel, through such appointment, is specifically an adviser and mentor to the 4th Battalion, as the Colonel of the Regiment is to the Regiment as a whole. The Honorary Lieutenant Colonel is a member of The RCR Senate and acts as an adviser to The RCR Association Board of Directors and The RCR Trust Fund. The current honorary lieutenant-colonel (HLCol) of the 4th Battalion is Colonel Bruce W. Burnham, of Ilderton, Ontario.

Patron

On 5 June 2012, Judith Irving was officially appointed first patron of the Regiment.

In December 2013, Mike Holmes was officially appointed a patron of the Regiment.

Regimental Sculptor

On 26 June 2013, Christian Cardell Corbet was officially appointed the first Regimental Sculptor. This took place at Canada House, London, UK where Corbet was presented with a regimental tie following the unveiling of his portrait bust of the Colonel in Chief of The Regiment, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT.

The RCR cap badge

"An eight-pointed diamond cut star; upon the star a raised circle surmounted by the crown; within the raised circle, the block letters "VRI", the Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria." (Description of the badge of The RCR as presented in Regiments and Corps of the Canadian Army, published by the Army Historical Section, 1964)

The letters VRI on the cap badge of The RCR stand for Victoria Regina Imperatrix, which is Latin for "Victoria, Queen and Empress". The right to wear the imperial cypher and crown was granted to the regiment by Queen Victoria in 1893.

When a royal or imperial cypher forms part of the badge of a regiment it is normal for it to change with each succeeding sovereign. During the period 1901 to 1919, the officially authorized versions of the regiment's cap badge were those with Edward VII's and George V's cyphers, although the regiment continued to use the "VRI" ensigned badges throughout this time while petitioning for their formal return. In 1919, George V granted The Royal Canadian Regiment permission to wear "VRI" in perpetuity – a unique privilege.

Company designations

The companies of the battalions of The RCR are lettered sequentially across the regiment:

• 1st Battalion – A to F
• 2nd Battalion – G to L
• 3rd Battalion – M to R
• 4th Battalion – S, T and X (S Company consists of a Company Headquarters as well as two rifle platoons located in London, Ontario, and 3 Platoon located in Stratford, Ontario. T Company consists of a Company Headquarters located in Stratford, Ontario, and X Company consists of the Battalion Headquarters personnel.)

In the Regular Force battalions, the first four companies are rifle companies, and the latter two are combat support (weapons) and administration company (combat service support).

When on parade, companies parade in alphabetic order. Companies are normally addressed by the NATO phonetic alphabet for their designation letter with the following exceptions:

• A Coy, 1RCR, is designated and always referred to as "Duke of Edinburgh's Company" or, colloquially, "Duke's Company"
• C Coy, 1RCR, is known as "Charles" Company. This unique designation was adopted during the Korean War, as the company was noted for maintaining a very high standard of dress and deportment.
• M Coy, 3RCR, is often referred to as "Para" Company, short for Parachute Company, at the discretion of the commanding officer, although this title is not officially recognized by the regiment as other than a colloquial nickname

Regimental bands

Bugles and Drums

The first band of The RCR was formed under "A" Company of the Infantry School Corps in 1894, when Sergeant Charles Hayes, a graduate of Kneller Hall Music College, enlisted in January 1894. That same year the corps also reported training nine buglers for the Militia.

By 1899, the authorized establishment for the regiment included four "Sergt. Trumpeters or Drummers" on the staff of the Regimental Depots along with 16 "Trumpeters, Buglers or Drummers" between the stations of the regiment. By 1901, the authorized establishment had changed to one "Sergt. Trumpeters or Drummers" and 12 "Trumpeters, Buglers or Drummers", possibly indicating a consolidation of musicians into a regimental band rather than a training cadre at each garrison.

The regiment reported having an active band throughout much of the First World War, once their instruments were smuggled forward for them to use. With few lapses, the regiment maintained a Drum and Bugle band at least until the 1990s, when the 1st Battalion had a Drum and Bugle Corps within the ranks of C Company.

Pipes and Drums

In 1970, following a review of the regular army, a number of infantry battalions were disbanded. The Canadian Guards and the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada lost both of their regular battalions, with personnel being distributed to The Royal Canadian Regiment. The 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment adopted the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch, becoming the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The 3rd Battalion of The RCR, similarly, adopted the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Battalion, The Canadian Guards, when they were disbanded. In 1977 the 3rd Battalion Pipes and Drums were redesignated the Special Service Force Pipes and Drums.

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment currently maintains the only Pipes and Drums in the Canadian regular army.

The RCR Band

The 'Drum and Bugle' and 'Pipe and Drum' bands of the regiment are notable in that all members are trained infantry soldiers employed secondarily as musicians. The RCR Band, in contrast, was a professional brass and reed band manned by military musicians. This band was formed in London in the 1950s, transferred to CFB Gagetown in the 1970s and disbanded in the 1990s.

Music

• "Hurrah for our boys in khaki" by Fred & Chas Adams, which was respectfully inscribed to the Royal Canadian Regiment, was published in Toronto by R.S. Williams & Sons, circa 1900. First line: "We've heard in song and story about the soldiers of the Queen" Chorus: "They fought the Boers at Paardeberg."
• "The Regimental March of the Royal Canadian Regiment" by Lieut. Langford and G. Offen was published by Capt. F.A. Lister, R.C.R., 1910. First line: "Oh! we're crushing the gravel again today"
• "March, The Royal Canadian Regiment" by Arthur W. Hughes was published in Toronto and Winnipeg by Whaley, Royce & Co., circa 1900.

Perpetuation

War of 1812: The Royal Canadian Regiment perpetuates the 1st Regiment of the Middlesex Militia (1812–15) and the 1st Regiment of the Oxford Militia (1812–15).

First World War: The Regiment perpetuates a number of units of the Canadian Militia and the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) of the First World War:

• Units of the Canadian Militia:
  • The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment), which were formed by the amalgamation of:
    • The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), which started as the "7th Infantry Battalion, 'Prince Arthur's Own'" in 1866, and
    • The Oxford Rifles, which started as the "Twenty-second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada" in 1863,
  • 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps (1919–1938).
• Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF):
  • 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF,
  • 33rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF,
  • 71st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF,
  • 142nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF,
  • 168th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF,
  • 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF, which was formed from:
    • 4th Canadian Machine Gun Company,
    • 5th Canadian Machine Gun Company,
    • 6th Canadian Machine Gun Company, and the
    • 14th Canadian Machine Gun Company.

Alliances

• United Kingdom – The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
• United Kingdom – The Rifles
• Jamaica – The Jamaica Regiment

See also

• The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces
• List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
• Royal Canadian Regiment Museum
• 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Forces
• Maroon beret
• The Canadian Guards

Order of precedence

Regular Force:

Reserve Force:

Badge

Coat of arms of Royal Canadian Regiment

Notes The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 21, 2009, in Volume 143, page 693 of the Canada Gazette. Motto PRO PATRIA; meaning “For country”. Banner Badge On an eight-pointed diamond-cut star Argent a bezant inscribed VRI, the Cypher of Queen Victoria, in letters Argent and encircled by a rope Or surmounted in chief with the Royal Crown proper; Symbolism The star is a customary infantry badge shape from the 19th Century. King George V granted the regiment the right to wear in perpetuity Queen Victoria’s cypher “VRI” in memory of the sovereign under whose reign the regiment was raised and in view of the services the regiment rendered in the Great War.

Books

• Lt. Col. (RET) Reverend Lyman R. Coleman, Honorary Chaplain to The Royal Canadian Regiment. "Called To Serve" (The Regimental Warehouse; 31 May 2010).
• Lt. Col. (RET) Reverend Lyman R. Coleman, Honorary Chaplain to The Royal Canadian Regiment. "In This Sign"
• Strome Galloway "Sicily, to the Siegfried Line" (The Regimental Warehouse; 3 July 2009)
• Strome Galloway "Some Died at Ortona; The Royal Canadian Regiment at War in Italy 1943" (The Regimental Warehouse; 3 July 2009)
• Bernd Horn "Establishing a Legacy: The History of the Royal Canadian Regiment 1883–1953" (Dundurn; 19/05/2008) ISBN 1550028170
• "Presentation of colours to the Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, by Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh K.G., Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, nominated by Her Majesty the Queen to make this presentation, Fort York, Germany, 17th October 1955." (Aldershot, Gale & Polden, The Wellington Press, 1955)
• "Honour roll : the Royal Canadian Regiment : Northwest Rebellion 1885 to United Nations operations Korea 1950–53" (Ottawa : Public Relations, the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1961)
• "Standing rules for officers' messes of the Royal Canadian Regiment" (Canada; Director of Artillery, ©1913)
• "A short history of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1883–1964" (London Ont. : The Regiment, 1964.)
• Bernd Horn "Doing Canada Proud: The Second Boer War and the Battle of Paardeberg."

Fiction

• Martin Marais "The Battle of Paardeberg: Lord Roberts' Gambit."

External links

• History and Uniform of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1883 to 1970
• 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Defence site)
• 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Defence site)
• 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Defence site)
• 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Defence site)
• The Royal Canadian Regiment (Regimental Website)
• The Royal Canadian Regiment Association
• The RCR Kit Shop – AKA Regimental Warehouse
• The Royal Canadian Regiment at Regiments.org
• Badges of The Royal Canadian Regiment
• Battle Honours of The Royal Canadian Regiment
• The Royal Canadian Regiment and The First World War – 1914–1919
• Ortona Toast, a regimental observance, on Duty & Valour