The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) is a

Primary Reserve The Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces () is the first and largest of the four sub-components of the Canadian Armed Forces reserves, followed by the Supplementary Reserve, the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (f ...

armoured Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

of the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...

, based in

Windsor, Ontario Windsor ( ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is situated on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from the U.S city of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Esse ...

, and is part of the

4th Canadian Division The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. It is currently responsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian province of Ontario and is headquartered at Denison Armoury in Toronto. The division was first created as ...

31 Canadian Brigade Group 31 Canadian Brigade Group (31 CBG; ) 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 Ha ...

Lineage

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) originated in Windsor, Ontario, on 15 December 1936 as ''The Essex Regiment (Tank)'', named after Essex County. It was redesignated as the ''30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion (Essex Regiment)'' on 27 January 1942; as the ''30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment), CAC'' on 8 June 1942; as the ''30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment), RCAC'' on 2 August 1945; as the ''22nd Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment), RCAC'' on 1 April 1946; as ''The Windsor Regiment (22nd Reconnaissance Regiment)'' on 4 February 1949; as ''The Windsor Regiment (22nd Armoured Regiment)'' on 1 October 1954; as ''The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)'' on 19 May 1958; as ''The Windsor Regiment'' on 19 September 1985. On 14 August 1997 the regiment reverted to its previous designation as ''The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)''.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.

Lineage chart

Operational history

Second World War

Details from the regiment were called out on active service for local protection duties on 28 May 1940 as ''The Essex Regiment (Tank), CASF (Details)''. The regiment subsequently mobilized an armour regiment designated the ''30th Reconnaissance Battalion (The Essex Regiment), CAC, CASF'' for active service on 12 May 1942. It was redesignated the ''30th Reconnaissance Regiment (The Essex Regiment), CAC, CASF'' on 8 June 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence and training role as part of Military District No. 12. On 23 July 1943 it embarked for Britain where its soldiers were employed as assembly workers for unassembled vehicles arriving from Canada. The regiment was subsequently disbanded on 31 March 1944.

Alliances

* -

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) is a light Cavalry regiments of the British Army, cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. The regiment, through the Royal Scots Greys, is the oldest survivi ...

Battle honours

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) was awarded its first battle honour on 9 May 2014: the theatre honour AFGHANISTAN.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell Violet Elizabeth Dowdeswell ( Patton; born November 9, 1944) is a Canadian civil servant who served as the 29th lieutenant governor of Ontario from 2014 to 2023. As lieutenant governor, Dowdeswell was the viceregal representative of the Crow ...

, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented the regiment with a new guidon that includes this battle honour on 24 September 2022.

Media

*''Black Beret: A History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC), 1936-2006'' by Michael R. McNorgan (Jan 2006)

Order of precedence

References

External links

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) Official Webpage.

Museum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Windsor Regiment Armoured regiments of Canada Military units and formations of Ontario Military units and formations established in 1936