Victoria Rifles of Canada

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Not to be confused with Victoria Rifles (Nova Scotia).
The Victoria Rifles of Canada
The cap badge of the Victoria Rifles of Canada
Active22 January 1862 – 5 March 1965
Country Canada
BranchCanadian Militia (1862-1940)
Canadian Army (1940-1965)
TypeRifle regiment
RoleInfantry
SizeOne battalion
Part ofNon-Permanent Active Militia (1871-1940)
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1942-1965)
Garrison/HQMontreal, Quebec
Nickname(s)The Vics
Motto(s)Latin: Pro aris et focis (For hearth and home)
March"Huntsmen's Chorus" and Lutzow's Wild Hunt
EngagementsFenian Raids
South African War
First World War
Second World War
Battle honoursSee #Battle Honours

The Victoria Rifles of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First formed in Montreal, Quebec in 1862, the regiment would see a history of service stretching from the Fenian Raids of the 1860s-70s right into the middle of the 20th Century. In 1965, the regiment was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.[1][2][3][4]

The Victoria Rifles of Canada were based at the Cathcart Armoury, which today houses the Régiment de Maisonneuve.[5]

Lineage[edit]

The Victoria Rifles of Canada[edit]

  • Originated on 22 January 1862, in Montreal, Quebec, as The 3rd Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles Canada.
  • Redesignated on 18 July, 1862, as the 3rd Battalion, The Victoria Volunteer Rifles of Montreal.
  • Redesignated on 5 December, 1879, as the 3rd Battalion Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  • Redesignated on 8 May, 1900, as the 3rd Regiment Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  • Redesignated on 29 March, 1920, as The Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  • Redesignated on 15 November, 1934, as Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  • Redesignated on 7 November, 1941, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  • Redesignated on 1 June, 1945, as the Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  • Reduced to Nil Strength on 5 March, 1965, and Transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.[2][3][4]

Lineage chart[edit]

Lineage chart[6]
1862The 3rd Bn Volunteer Militia Rifles Canada
18623rd Bn "The Victoria Volunteer Rifles of Montreal"
18793rd Bn "Victoria Rifles of Canada"
19003rd Regt "Victoria Rifles of Canada"
191424th Bn, CEF
191560th "Overseas" Bn, CEF
1917244th "Overseas" Bn, CEF
1917Absorbed by 5th Bn, CMR, and 87th "Overseas" BnAbsorbed by 23rd Reserve Bn, CEF
1920Disbanded1st Bn (24th Bn, CEF), The Victoria Rifles of Canada2nd Bn (60th Bn, CEF),[a] The Victoria Rifles of Canada3rd Bn (244th Bn, CEF),[a] The Victoria Rifles of Canada
19341st Bn (24th Bn, CEF), Victoria Rifles of Canada2nd Bn (60th Bn, CEF), Victoria Rifles of Canada3rd Bn (244th Bn, CEF), Victoria Rifles of Canada
1936Victoria Rifles of CanadaDisbandedDisbanded
1940The Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF
19411st Bn, The Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF2nd (Reserve) Bn, Victoria Rifles of Canada
1944Disbanded
1945Victoria Rifles of Canada
1951"E" Coy,[b] Victoria Rifles of Canada"F" Coy,[b] Victoria Rifles of Canada
1951Absorbed by 1st Canadian Rifle Bn
1952Absorbed by 2nd Canadian Rifle Bn
1965Supplementary Order of Battle

Perpetuations[edit]

The Victoria Rifles of Canada perpetuate the following units:

Operational history[edit]

The Fenian Raids[edit]

The battalion was called out on active service during the 1866 Fenian Raids from 8 March to 31 March 1866, and during the 1870 Fenian Raids from 24 May to 24 June 1870.[3]

During the Fenian raids, the Victoria Rifles participated in the Campobello fiasco in Cornwall with other regiments like the Royal Scots.[8] In 1866 several companies from the Victoria Rifles were sent to reinforce defences in St-Jean, Lachine and Cornwall.[9]

The raids of 1870 were the least effective of the Fenian attempts against Canada. The effort four years earlier at Campobello had the most far-reaching effects, as it induced New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to enter Confederation, while operations in Canada East and Canada West brought about a martial spirit similar to that which swept the United States at the outbreak of the Civil War. Because the campaign was of short duration, there was no time for disenchantment. Yet the raids of 1866 were clearly unfinished business, as the Brotherhood declared by warlike preparation.[10]

  • Presentation of Colours of Victoria Rifles of Canada in Montreal, 1862
    Presentation of Colours of Victoria Rifles of Canada in Montreal, 1862
  • No. 6 Company, 3rd Victoria Rifles, Montreal, QC, 1889
    No. 6 Company, 3rd Victoria Rifles, Montreal, QC, 1889

The South African War[edit]

The Victoria Rifles contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the Boer War, mainly as part of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment.[11]

Between 1885 and 1902, The Rifles were sometimes called upon to help quell civil disruptions in Montreal and Valleyfield.

The Great War[edit]

During the Great War, details of the regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.

The 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 11 May 1915, arriving in France on 16 September 1915, where it fought as part of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The 24th Battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

The 60th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada), CEF, was authorized on 20 April 1915, embarked for Great Britain on 4 November 1915 and arrived in France on 21 February 1916, where it fought as part of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until 30 April 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, and the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1918.

The 244th Battalion (Kitchener's Own), CEF, was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 28 March 1917 where its personnel were absorbed by the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF, on 21 April 1917 to provide reinforcements for units of the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 15 Sept 1920.[3]

  • The distinguishing patch of the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF.
    The distinguishing patch of the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF.
  • The distinguishing patch of the 60th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada), CEF.
    The distinguishing patch of the 60th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada), CEF.
  • Soldier of the Victoria Rifles, guarding the Lachine Canal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    Soldier of the Victoria Rifles, guarding the Lachine Canal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Second World War[edit]

During the Second World War, the regiment was called out on service for local protection duties on 26 August 1939 and details of the regiment were also mobilized for active service under the designation Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF (Details) on 1 September 1939. The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940 and the regiment mobilized an active service unit designated as The Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF, on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Victoria Rifles of Canada, CASF, on 7 November 1940. It served in Canada, and in Newfoundland from November 1940 to September 1941 on garrison duty as part of the 17th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division. The 1st Battalion embarked for Great Britain on 20 November 1944, and it was disbanded the next day, on 21 November 1944, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Army in the field.[3]

Organization[edit]

3rd Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles Canada (22 January, 1862)[edit]

  • Regimental Headquarters (Montreal, Quebec)
  • No. 1 Company (Montreal, Quebec) (first raised on 10 January, 1862 as the 1st Rifle Company of Montreal)
  • No. 2 Company (Montreal, Quebec) (first raised on 10 January, 1862 as the 2nd Rifle Company of Montreal)
  • No. 3 Company (Montreal, Quebec) (first raised on 10 January, 1862 as the 3rd Rifle Company of Montreal)
  • No. 4 Company (Montreal, Quebec) (first raised on 28 February, 1862 as the 4th Rifle Company of Montreal)
  • No. 5 Company (Montreal, Quebec) (first raised on 28 February, 1862 as the 5th Rifle Company of Montreal)
  • No. 6 Company (Montreal, Quebec) (first raised on 28 February, 1862 as the 6th Rifle Company of Montreal)[4]

3rd Regiment Victoria Rifles of Canada (15 December, 1914)[edit]

  • Regimental Headquarters (Montreal, Quebec)
  • A Company (Montreal, Quebec)
  • B Company (Montreal, Quebec)
  • C Company (Montreal, Quebec)
  • D Company (Montreal, Quebec)[4]

The Victoria Rifles of Canada (1 December, 1920)[edit]

  • 1st Battalion (perpetuating the 24th Battalion, CEF)
  • 2nd Battalion (perpetuating the 60th Battalion, CEF)
  • 3rd Battalion (perpetuating the 244th Battalion, CEF)[4]

Alliances[edit]

Battle Honours[edit]

Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental unit appointments.

The Fenian Raids[edit]

  • Eccles Hill

The South African War[edit]

The Great War[edit]

Notable Members[edit]

Notes[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victoria Rifles of Canada.
  1. ^ a b Reserve order of battle
  2. ^ a b Regular Force
  1. ^ a b "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.
  2. ^ a b c Defence, National (2018-11-14). "The Victoria Rifles of Canada". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Victoria Rifles of Canada". 2007-10-10. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  5. ^ "Cathcart Armoury". Parks Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  6. ^ "The Victoria Rifles of Canada". www.canada.ca. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  7. ^ "CEF Infantry Battalions" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.
  8. ^ Hereward Senior. The last invasion of Canada. p. 53.
  9. ^ Hereward Senior. The last invasion of Canada. p. 112.
  10. ^ Hereward Senior (1991). The last invasion of Canada: the Fenian raids, 1866-1870. Dundurn Press Ltd. ISBN 9781550020854.
  11. ^ Carman Miller. Painting the Map Red. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 1998. p. 434.

References[edit]

  • A Brief History of the Active Service Battalion of the Victoria Rifles. 24th Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division Canadian Expeditionary Forces 1914-15 by Canada. Canadian Army. 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada) (Jan 1 1915)
  • From the War Diaries of Sgt. J.W. Kennedy, M.M. and Bar, Second Canadian Division, 24th Battalion, Victoria Rifles by J. W. Kennedy (Jan 2007)
  • The 24th Battalion, C.E.F., Victoria Rifles of Canada 1914-1919 by R.C. Fetherstonhaugh (1930)
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