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The
Algonquin Regiment was an infantry regiment of the
Canadian Army that briefly belonged to the Royal Canadian
Armoured Corps from 1954 to 1965.
Lineage
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97th
Regiment of Rifles formed in 1900 from four
independent companies
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Redesignated 97th Regiment "Algonquin Rifles" on
1 June 1903
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Redesignated The Algonquin Rifles on 1 May 1920
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Redesignated The Algonquin Regiment on 15
February 1929
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Reorganized on 15 December 1936 when the regiment (less
"B", "C" and "D" Companies) amalgamated with The Sault
Ste. Marie Regiment to become The Sault Ste. Marie and
Sudbury Regiment (M.G.) while the remainder amalgamated
with The Northern Pioneers, retaining the designation
The Algonquin Regiment
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Redesignated The Algonquin Regiment (26th Armoured
Regiment) 1 October 1954 and converted to armour
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Redesignated The Algonquin Regiment (RCAC) 19 May
1958
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Redesignated The Algonquin Regiment and converted
back to infantry in 1965
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The
Algonquin Regiment |
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Headquarters:
North Bay, ON
Predecessors: 97th Regiment "Algonquin
Rifles", The Northern Pioneers
Perpetuates: 122nd, 159th, 162nd, 228th and
256th Battalions, CEF
Raised: 1900
Status on 31 December 1999: Active Militia
Regiment |
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On 1 June 1922, The Algonquin Rifles
were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization and reorganized the
same day by authority of General Order 120/22. The change was
administrative and has no affect on the lineage of the regiment.
Likewise, The Algonquin Regiment was disbanded for the purpose of
reorganization and amalgamation on 14 December 1936 and reorganized
the next day under the authority of General Order 189/36, in a
similar administrative move that also did not break the lineage of
the regiment.
On 15 December 1936, 'The Sault Ste. Marie Regiment' was amalgamated
with "'Headquarters" and "A Company" of The Algonquin Regiment and
redesignated The Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Regiment (MG) by
authority of General Order 189/36. The unit eventually became the
49th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. The same
day, The Northern Pioneers were amalgamated with "B", "C" and "D"
Companies of The Algonquin Regiment, retaining the latter
designation.
First World War
The 23rd Regiment "The Northern Pioneers" were placed on active
service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duties, contributing
soldiers to the 1st Battalion, CEF, and later recruiting for the
122nd Battalions and 162nd Battalions of the CEF. Both units later
provided reinforcements for units of the Canadian Corps in the
field. The Algonquin Regiment was permitted to perpetuate the
history of these CEF battalions.
The 97th Regiment "Algonquin Rifles"
contributed men to the 15th Battalion, CEF in September 1915, and
later recruited for the 159th, 228th and 256th Battalions. The
latter two served in France as the 6th and 10th Battalions, Canadian
Railway Troops while the 159th provided reinforcements for the
Canadian Corps.
Second World War
The Algonquin Regiment, CASF was mobilized on 24 May 1940, and
served in Newfoundland from 7 February 1942 to 6 February 1943. The
unit embarked for the United Kingdom on 19 June 1943, and landed in
Normandy on 23-24 July 1944 as part of the 10th Canadian Infantry
Brigade, a component of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division. The
active unit, redesignated 1st Battalion, The Algonquin Regiment, was
disbanded on 15 February 1946. A 2nd Battalion served in the Reserve
Army.
Post War
On 4 May 1951, the regiment
mobilized two temporary Active Force companies, designated "E"
and "F" (CAO 110-2, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No. 245/51 and SD 1
Letter No. 4237, 5 May 1951). "E" Company was reduced to nil
strength upon its personnel being absorbed into the '1st
Canadian Infantry Battalion' for service in Germany with the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (SD 1 Letter No. 4365, 12
November 1951). It was disbanded on 29 July 1953 (CAO 78-2, Pt
'B', Supp Issue No. 352/53). "F" Company was initially used as a
reinforcement pool for "E" Company. On 15 May 1952, it was
reduced to nil strength, upon its personnel being absorbed by
the newly formed '2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion' for service
in Korea with the United Nations (SD 1 Letter No. 4452, 22 April
1952 and CAO 110-2, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No. 283/52). "F" Company
was disbanded on 29 July 1953 (CAO 78-2, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No.
352/53).1
Battle Honours
Ypres '15, '17
Arras, 1917
Hill 70
St. Quentin
Hindenburg Line
St. Quentin Canal
Cambrai, 1918
Falaise
The Laison
The Seine, 1944
The Scheldt
The Lower Maas
The Hochwald
Küsten Kanal |
Festubert, 1915
Arras, 1917
Somme, 1918
Bapaume, 1918
Epehy
Beaurevoir
France and Flanders, '15, '17-'18
Falaise Road
Chambois
Moerkerke
Breskens Pocket
The Rhineland
Veen
Bad Zwischenhahn |
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North-West Europe,1944-45 |
Insignia
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Cap Badge
The cap badge is described in "Regiments and Corps of the Canadian
Army" as:
Within an annulus inscribed "THE
ALGONQUIN REGIMENT", the head of a bull moose, facing dexter;
below the head of the bull moose, the motto "NE-KAH-NE-TAH";
supporting the annulus, on either side, two maple leaves; below
the annulus, a scroll inscribed "CANADA", the whole surmounted
by the Crown.
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Badge
design (Queen's Crown) |
Combat Cap
badge |
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Collar Badges
Collar badges were issued in left and right pairs, in either silver (officers) or
white metal (other ranks). The
badges measured 5/8" high by 1-1/4" wide.2
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Metal Shoulder Titles
Officers wore silver 1/2" wide shoulder titles, other ranks wore
white metal. The badges were a downwards arc with the word
ALGONQUIN. |
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| Buttons
Buttons featured the bull moose
from the regimental crest, in white metal or silver, and
came in three sizes.3 |
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Cloth Shoulder Flashes
The overseas battalion wore a dark blue shoulder flash on Battle
Dress during the Second World War, with yellow lettering. After the
war, a similar title with CANADA was adopted.
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Notes
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A-DH-267-000/AF-003 http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-3/par2/doc/ar.pdf
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Thompson, Roy J.C.
Canadian Army Cap Badges 1953-1973, 2nd Edition
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Thompson, Ibid
Lieutenant-Colonel W.J. Megill,
Commanding Officer, The Algonquin Regiment, Wadhurst, England,
22 November 1943. Megill wears the full range of unit insignia,
including regimental shoulder flashes, CANADA titles, and the
dark green patches of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division.
Megill was destined to leave the battalion before it went into
combat, in order to lead the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade of
the 2nd Canadian Division through the Normandy campaign, and
beyond.
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