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31 Canadian Brigade Group

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

31st (Reserve) Brigade Group
31 Canadian Brigade Group
Formation patch of the 31st Canadian Brigade Group.
Active1942–1946
1 April 1997–present
Country Canada
Branch Primary Reserve
TypeHeadquarters
Part of4th Canadian Division
Garrison/HQWolseley Barracks, London, Ontario
Motto(s)Latin: Pro aris et focis (For hearth and home)[1]
Websitehttp://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/31-cbg/index.page
Insignia
NATO Map Symbol[2]
31 CBG
4 Cdn Div

31 Canadian Brigade Group (31 CBG; French: 31e Groupe-brigade du Canada) is part of the 4th Canadian Division, under the Canadian Army. It encompasses the southwestern portion of Ontario, and is headquartered in London, Ontario. The 31 CBG area of responsibility stretches from Hamilton to Windsor. The brigade has approximately 2,400 soldiers. Colonel Chris Brown, CD is Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group. The brigade sergeant-major is Chief Warrant Officer Mike Coit, CD.[3]

History

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Second World War

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31st (Reserve) Brigade Group was created, within 1 Militia District, on 1 April 1942 when the reserve force in Canada was reorganized for the war. Like today, the formation consisted of part-time soldiers who were paraded and trained on evenings and weekends. The brigade group was closed down on 28 November 1945 and the headquarters itself closed on 8 June 1946.[4] During its existence, the brigade group was headquartered in London, Ontario and it held the following organization:

  • Canadian Infantry Corps
  • Canadian Armoured Corps
  • Royal Canadian Artillery
    • 31st (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA
  • Royal Canadian Engineers
    • 7th/11th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE
  • Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
    • Brigade Group Company, 1st (Reserve) Divisional, RCASC
  • Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
    • 24th (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC
  • Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
    • E and J sections, No.1 (Reserve) District Signals, RCCS
  • Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
    • No.2 Group,
    • No.2 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME
    • No.1 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME
    • No.2 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME
    • No.3 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME
    • No.4 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

1997 to Present

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31 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG) was recreated on 1 April 1997, with its headquarters located in London, replacing the London Militia District (LMD). Resulting from a major restructuring of the army, it was established as one of ten reserve brigade groups organized across Canada.

Brigade composition

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Overview

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31 CBG is an infantry-focused reserve brigade comprising 12 units in addition to the brigade headquarters in London. These units are spread out over southern and south-western Ontario, in London, Sarnia, Windsor, Guelph, Hamilton, St. Thomas, Waterloo, Burlington, Stratford, Owen Sound, Barrie, Cambridge, Kitchener, and Chatham. The Grey and Simcoe Foresters also provide support to the 4th Canadian Division as part of the Arctic Response Company Group, supporting communities in northern Ontario and northern Canada.

Regiments

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31 Canadian Brigade Group Branch Location
31 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters Headquarters London, Ontario
1st Hussars Armoured Reconnaissance London and Sarnia
The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) Armoured Reconnaissance Windsor
11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA Artillery Guelph and Hamilton
31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) Engineer St. Thomas and Waterloo
31 Signal Regiment Communications Hamilton and London
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) Infantry Hamilton and Burlington
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Infantry London and Stratford
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters Infantry Owen Sound and Barrie
The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada Infantry (Mortar) Cambridge and Kitchener
The Essex and Kent Scottish Infantry Windsor and Chatham
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) Infantry Hamilton
31 Service Battalion Combat Service Support Hamilton, London, and Windsor

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "31 Canadian Brigade Group". Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges. Canadian Heraldic Authority. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  2. ^ Canadian Forces (15 May 2000). B-GL-331-003/FP-001 Military Symbols for Land Operations. Department of National Defence. pp. 4, 24–25.
  3. ^ "31 Canadian Brigade Group | Army Reserve Brigade | Canadian Army". army-armee.forces.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Reserve Brigades - Second World War". Canadian Soldiers.com. 24 February 2013.