The Victoria Rifles of Canada was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

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

Non-Permanent Active Militia The Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) was the military reserve force of Canada from 1855 to 1940. It was composed of several dozen infantry battalions (redesignated as regiments in 1900) and cavalry regiments. After the withdrawal of British ...

of the

Canadian Militia The Canadian Militia is a historical title for military units raised for the defence of Canada. The term has been used to describe sedentary militia units raised from local communities in Canada; as well as the regular army for the Province of Ca ...

and later 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 ...

. First formed in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, Canada East, in 1862, the regiment saw a service history stretching from the Fenian Raids of the 1860s–1870s into the middle of the 20th century. In 1965, the regiment was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the

Supplementary Order of Battle In the Canadian Army, a regiment is placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle when the need for the regiment's existence is no longer relevant. When placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, a regiment is considered "virtually disbanded", and ...

.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments. The Victoria Rifles of Canada were based at the Cathcart Armoury, which houses the Régiment de Maisonneuve today.

Lineage

Victoria Rifles of Canada

* Originated on 22 January 1862 in Montreal, Canada East, 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

Lineage chart

Perpetuations

The Victoria Rifles of Canada perpetuate the following units: * 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), CEF * 60th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada), CEF * 244th Battalion (Kitchener's Own), CEF

Operational history

Fenian Raids

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. During the Fenian raids, the Victoria Rifles participated in the '' Campobello fiasco'' in

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

with other regiments like the

Royal Scots The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment line infantry, of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England ...

. In 1866, several companies from the Victoria Rifles were sent to reinforce defences in St-Jean, Lachine, and Cornwall. 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 the Confederation. At the same time, 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 unfinished business, as the Brotherhood declared by warlike preparation. File:Victoria Rifles of Canada 1862.jpg, Presentation of Colours of Victoria Rifles of Canada in Montreal, 1862 File:No. 6 Company, Victoria Rifles, Montreal, QC, composite, 1889.jpg, No. 6 Company, 3rd Victoria Rifles, 1889

South African War

The Victoria Rifles contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents during the

Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic an ...

, mainly as part of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of

The Royal Canadian Regiment The Royal Canadian Regiment (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 first in the order of precedence amongst Canad ...

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

Great War

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. It arrived in France on 16 September 1915 and fought as part of the

5th Canadian Infantry Brigade The 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Canadian Army that fought during World War I and World War II. Raised in 1915, it formed part of the 2nd Canadian Division and fought on the Western Front during World War I befo ...

2nd Canadian Division The 2nd Canadian Division (2 Cdn Div; ) is a formation of the Canadian Army in the province of Quebec, Canada. The present command was created 2013 when Land Force Quebec Area was re-designated. The main unit housed in this division is the Roy ...

in France and Flanders until the war's end. 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 The 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Canadian Army that saw active service during World War I and World War II as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. The brigade fought on the Western Front during World War I ...

3rd Canadian Division The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as Northwestern Ontario including the ...

in France and Flanders until 30 April 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the

5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF The 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles were a mounted infantry unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during World War I. The unit was raised from volunteers of the 7th and 11th (Canadian) Hussars from the Eastern Townships of Qu ...

, and the

87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF was a Household Foot Guards infantry unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the World War I, First World War. History Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit was authorized on September ...

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

Second World War

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 Newfoundland from November 1940 to September 1941 on garrison duty as part of the 17th Infantry Brigade,

7th Canadian Division Seventh is the ordinal form of the number seven. Seventh may refer to: * Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution * A fraction (mathematics), , equal to one of seven equal parts Film and television *" The Seventh", a second-season e ...

. 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

in the field.

Organization

3rd Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles Canada (22 January 1862)

* ''Regimental Headquarters'' (

) * ''No. 1 Company'' (Montreal) (first raised on 10 January 1862 as the ''1st Rifle Company of Montreal'') * ''No. 2 Company'' (Montreal) (first raised on 10 January 1862 as the ''2nd Rifle Company of Montreal'') * ''No. 3 Company'' (Montreal) (first raised on 10 January 1862 as the ''3rd Rifle Company of Montreal'') * ''No. 4 Company'' (Montreal) (first raised on 28 February 1862 as the ''4th Rifle Company of Montreal'') * ''No. 5 Company'' (Montreal) (first raised on 28 February 1862 as the ''5th Rifle Company of Montreal'') * ''No. 6 Company'' (Montreal) (first raised on 28 February 1862 as the ''6th Rifle Company of Montreal'')

3rd Regiment Victoria Rifles of Canada (15 December 1914)

* ''Regimental Headquarters'' (Montreal) * ''A Company'' (Montreal) * ''B Company'' (Montreal) * ''C Company'' (Montreal) * ''D Company'' (Montreal)

The Victoria Rifles of Canada (1 December 1920)

* ''1st Battalion'' (perpetuating the 24th Battalion, CEF) * ''2nd Battalion'' (perpetuating the 60th Battalion, CEF) * ''3rd Battalion'' (perpetuating the 244th Battalion, CEF)

Alliances

* -

The King's Royal Rifle Corps The King's Royal Rifle Corps was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years' War in North America known in the United Sta ...

(Until 1965)

Battle honours

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

Fenian Raids

South African War

Great War

* * * * * Flers-Courcelette *

Thiepval Thiepval (; ) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Thiepval is located north of Albert at the crossroads of the D73 and D151 and approximately northeast of Amiens. Population First World War The ...

Ancre Heights The Ancre (; ) is a river of Picardy, France. Rising at Miraumont, a hamlet near the town of Albert, it flows into the Somme at Corbie. It is long. For most of its length it flows through the department of Somme. For a short stretch near Puisi ...

* *

Vimy, 1917 The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of ...

Arleux Arleux () is a commune in the Nord département in northern France. Geography The river Sensée joins the Canal du Nord at Arleux. Population Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department The following is a list of the 647 comm ...

*Scarpe,

1917 Events Below, the events of World War I have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 9 – WWI – Battle of Rafa: The last substantial Ottoman Army garrison on the Sinai Peninsula is captured by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force's ...

, '18 * * Passchendaele * * *

Canal du Nord The Canal du Nord (, literally ''Canal of the North'') is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise in Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal in Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-min ...

* Cambrai, 1918 * *

Notable members

* Major General

Charles Basil Price Major general, Major-General Charles Basil Price ("C.B." or "Basil"; 12 December 1890 − 15 February 1975) was a Canadian Army officer who served in both of the world wars. Early life He joined the Victoria Rifles of Canada in 1905 and receive ...

* Lieutenant General

Robert Moncel Lieutenant General Robert William Moncel (9 April 1917 – 10 December 2007) was a senior officer in the Canadian Army. Moncel was Lieutenant-General of the Canadian Army and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He was the youngest gener ...

* Lieutenant Colonel

William Osborne Smith Lieutenant-Colonel William Osborne Smith (1833 – 11 May 1887) was the first Acting Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police, from 25 September to 17 October 1873. Biography Osborne Smith was born to W. H. Smith of Hendreowen (West ...

Notes

References

* 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) {{Authority control Victoria Rifles of Canada Military units and formations of Quebec 1862 establishments in Canada Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1965 Supplementary Order of Battle