The Brockville Rifles

The Brockville Rifles

Cap Badge of the Brockville Rifles
Active 1866-present
Country Canada
Branch Primary Reserve
Type Rifles
Role Light Infantry
Size One Battalion
Part of Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ Brockville
Motto(s) Semper Paratus
March The Bonnie Dundee
Anniversaries Regimental birthday - 5 October 1866

The Brockville Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is fifteenth in the order of precedence of Canadian Army Infantry Regiments. The Brockville Rifles are part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, 4th Canadian Division.[1]

Badge

Description

"Gules a bugle stringed Argent all within an annulus Sable edged and inscribed THE BROCKVILLE RIFLES in letters Argent surmounting a Maltese cross Sable and Argent bearing in the upper limb a plaque Sable fimbriated and inscribed AMIENS in letters Argent and in the lower limb a like plaque inscribed PURSUIT TO MONS, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper."[2]

Symbolism

The crown on the badge represents service to the Crown. The Maltese cross and the bugle are common among badges of light infantry and rifle regiments. "THE BROCKVILLE RIFLES" is the regimental title and "AMIENS" and "PURSUIT TO MONS" are battle honours from the Great War.[3]

Motto

SEMPER PARATUS(Always prepared)

March

"Bonnie Dundee"

Alliance

'British Army'

The Rifles

Battle Honours

In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles.

War of 1812

Honorary distinction: the non-emblazonable honorary distinction DEFENCE OF CANADA - 1812-1815 - DÉFENSE DU CANADA.

The Great War

The Second World War

War In Afghanistan

Perpetuations

The Brockville Rifles perpetuate the Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Leeds Militia (1812–15), the 156th Battalion, CEF; and 32nd Battery, Canadian Field Artilley, CEF.

The Brockville Rifles perpetuate units dating to 1796 with the formation of the 1st Battalion Leeds Militia at Elizabethtown (later Brockville). At its peak Leeds County had raised a total of nine battalions. During the War of 1812 regiments that the Brockville Rifles perpetuate were involved with the capture of Ogdensburg and the Battle of Crysler's Farm.[6]

Lineage

The Brockville Rifles originated in Brockville, Ontario on 5 October 1866, when the 41st Brockville Battalion of Rifles was authorized. It was redesignated the 41st Regiment "Brockville Rifles" on 8 May 1900; The Brockville Rifles on 12 March 1920; and the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Brockville Rifles on 18 March 1942.

The regiment was converted to artillery and redesignated the 60th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Brockville Rifles), RCA, on 1 April 1946. On 1 September 1954 it was amalgamated with the 32nd Anti-Tank Battery (Self-Propelled), RCA and redesignated as the 32nd Locating Battery (Brockville Rifles) RCA. On 1 December 1959, it reverted to infantry and was redesignated The Brockville Rifles.[7]

On 5 October 1866 the 41st Brockville Battalion of Rifles was authorized with six companies located as follows: 1 Company was in Brockville, 2 Company was in Gananoque, 3 Company was in Perth, 4 Company was in Merrickville, 5 Company was in Carleton Place and 6 Company was in Pakenham.

During the First World War on 22 December 1915 the 156th Leeds & Grenville Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was authorized. The unit moved to England as part of the proposed 5th Division, however pressing needs for troops and reinforcements on the front caused the disbanding of the unit and the men were transferred to other units.[8]

Following the Great War, the regiment was redisgnated The Brockville Rifles. In April 1926, the Colonel Commandant of the King's Royal Rifle Corps invited the unit to ally with them. Today, following a series of amalgamations within the British Army, The Brockville Rifles are allied with The Rifles.

The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Brockville Rifles, Canadian Active Service Force on 18 March 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Division, and in Jamaica on garrison duty from 5 August 1944 to 27 March 1946. The battalion was disbanded on 30 April 1946. The 2nd (Reserve) Battalion served on a part-time basis in the Reserve Army at home in Brockville.

The regiment provided No. 2 Company of The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Canadian Active Service Force for active service on 24 May 1940.

On April 1, 1946, the Brocks were converted and re-designated the 60th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Brockville Rifles) RCA. On 1 September 1954, following another amalgamation, the Brocks were yet again converted, this time to the 32nd Locating Battery (Brockville Rifles) RCA. In December 1959, the regiment reverted to infantry once again and adopted its current designation as The Brockville Rifles.

Operational History

The Fenian Raids

The 41st Brockville Battalion of Rifles was called out on active service from 24 May 1870 to 1 June 1870 and served on the St. Lawrence River frontier.

The Great War

The 156th Battalion (Leeds and Grenville), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 19 October 1916, where the battalion's personnel were absorbed by the 109th Battalion (Victoria & Haliburton), CEF, 119th Battalion (Algoma), CEF, 120th Battalion (City of Hamilton), CEF, 123rd Battalion (Royal Grenadiers), CEF, and 124th Battalion (Governor General's Body Guard), CEF on 1 November 1916. On 27 December 1916, the battalion was reformed to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until absorbed by the 6th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 15 February 1918. The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.

The 32nd Battery, CFA, CEF, was authorized on 15 August 1915 and embarked for Britain on 5 February 1916, disemabrking in France on 14 July 1916, where it fought as part of the 9th Brigade, CFA, CEF from 15 July 1916 to 1 July 1917, and subsequently with the 8th Army Brigade, CFA from 5 July 1917, in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battery was disbanded on 23 October 1920.

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Brockville Rifles, CASF on 18 March 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Division, and in Jamaica on garrison duty from 5 August 1944 to 27 March 1946. The battalion was disbanded on 30 April 1946.

The regiment provided No. 2 Company of The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940.

The 32nd (Kingston) Field Battery, RCA in conjunction with the 34th Field Battery, RCA, mobilized the 32nd/34th Field Battery, RCA, CASF on 24 May 1940. This unit was reorganized as two separate batteries on 1 January 1941, designated the 32nd (Kingston) Field Battery, RCA, CASF and the 34th Field Battery, RCA, CASF (which was redesignated the 32nd (Kingston) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA, CASF on the same day). It provided light anti-aircraft artillery support as part of the 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, CASF in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battery was disbanded on 13 November 1945. The battery subsequently mobilized the 2nd/32nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA, Canadian Army Occupation Force on 1 June 1945 for active service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. The battery was disbanded on 4 April 1946.[9]

War In Afghanistan

The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.[10]

Appointments

Honorary Colonel
Honorary Colonel D. Pryer, CD

Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel R. Garber, CD

Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Colonel P. d'Orsonnens, CD

Regimental Sergeant Major
Chief Warrant Officer A.J. McKenzie, CD

Training

The Brocks train regularly at Canadian Armed Forces ranges and training areas such as CFB Petawawa and CFB Kingston, as well as within Brockville, Prescott, and other local communities. Members of the unit are expected to train a minimum of one night a week and participate in one weekend exercise a month. Training consists of basic infantry soldier skills, individual battle task standards, and more advanced training such as urban operations, and live fire field exercises. The unit often trains with its sister unit, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, as well as participating in Brigade level training exercises with 33 Canadian Brigade Group as part of the 33 Territorial Battalion Group formation, encompassing units from across 33 CBG.

Operations

Members of the Brockville Rifles have served on operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, The Former Republic of Georgia, among other deployments. The unit prepares soldiers to be effective and employable as individual augmentees to Canadian Forces operations and deployments.

Recruiting

The unit recruits Infantry Soldiers and Officers from Brockville and surrounding communities, traditionally west to Kingston and north to Kemptville and Ottawa. Basic Training for the Primary Reserve is typically conducted every second weekend over a period of 6 months, during the Fall & Winter. Infantry Soldiers must complete an 8-week qualification course at CFB Meaford. Infantry Officers must make a significant commitment, as they must complete Basic Training as well as two additional qualification courses at the Infantry School in CFB Gagetown which will require a further 10 and 12 week commitment. As the training schedule closely mirrors academic calendars, the Army Reserve is well suited to High School, College, and University students.

Armoury

Site Date(s) Designated Location Description Image
Brockville Armoury 1-9 East Avenue facing King Street 1900-1 1990 Recognized - Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Housing The Brockville Rifles, this centrally located, large, low-massed, stone structure in the Romanesque style features a low-pitched gable roof.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Brockville Rifles.

References

  1. ↑ 1000-1 Organization Message - Canadian Army 181202Z JUL 13
  2. ↑ A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  3. ↑ A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  4. ↑ Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  5. ↑ http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/05/09/south-west-asia-theatre-honours
  6. ↑ Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  7. ↑ A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  8. ↑ A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  9. ↑ Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces A-DH-267-003/AF-002 -- Part Two: Infantry Regiments
  10. ↑ http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/05/09/south-west-asia-theatre-honours

Alliances

Order of precedence

Preceded by
The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)		 The Brockville Rifles Succeeded by
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
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