The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment was an infantry regiment of the
Non-Permanent Active Militia of the
Canadian Militia (now the
Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was Converted from Infantry to Artillery to become the 45th Field Battery RCA and now forms part of the
(currently on 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 ...
).
Lineage
The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment
* Originated on 16 November 1866, in
Bowmanville, Ontario, as the 45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry.
* Redesignated on 1 January 1898, as the 45th Victoria Battalion of Infantry.
* Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the 45th Victoria Regiment.
* Redesignated on 16 July 1917, as the 45th Victoria and Haliburton Regiment.
* Redesignated on 12 March 1920, as The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment.
* Amalgamated on 14 December 1936, with the 45th Field Battery, RCA and Redesignated as the 45th Field Battery (Howitzer), RCA.
Perpetuations
*
109th Battalion (Victoria & Haliburton), CEF
The 109th Battalion CEF was a unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the men of which saw active service during the First World War.
History
The battalion was formed from volunteers from the Ontario counties of Victoria and Haliburton. It ...
*
252nd Battalion (Lindsay), CEF
History
Early History
With the passing of the
Militia Act of 1855
The ''Militia Act of 1855'' was an Act passed by the Parliament of the Province of Canada that permitted the formation of an "Active Militia", which was later subdivided into the Permanent Active Militia and the Non-Permanent Active Militia, and ...
, the first of a number of newly-raised independent militia companies were established in and around the
Durham County region of
Canada West (now the Province of Ontario). These companies would see active service when called out during the
Fenian Raids of the late 1860's.
On 16 November 1866, the 45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry was authorized for service by the regimentation of four of these previously authorized independent militia rifle and infantry companies. Its Regimental Headquarters was at Bowmanville and had companies at Bowmanville,
Orono, Cartwright and
Newcastle.
The North West Rebellion & Late 19th Century
On 10 April 1885, the 45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry mobilized a company for active service with
The Midland Battalion
The Midland Provisional Battalion (also known as The Midland Battalion) was a military unit of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army) from Eastern Ontario, Canada, which fought in the North-West Rebellio ...
where it served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force. On 24 July 1885, the company was removed from active service.
On 1 January 1898, the 45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry was Redesignated as the 45th Victoria Battalion of Infantry.
The South African War & Early 1900s
During the South African War, the 45th Victoria Battalion of Infantry contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents serving overseas; serving with the
2nd (Special Service) Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, the
Strathcona’s Horse, the
Canadian Mounted Rifles and the
Royal Canadian Artillery.
On 8 May 1900, the 45th Victoria Battalion of Infantry was Redesignated as the 45th Victoria Regiment.
The Great War
On 22 December 1915, the 109th Battalion (Victoria & Haliburton), CEF was authorized and on 23 July 1916, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in the UK, the battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 5 October to 8 December 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the
20th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF
The 20th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Service history
The battalion was composed of volunteers from militia units in central Ontario. Much of the unit was drawn from the 12th Y ...
; the
21st Battalion (Eastern Ontario), CEF
The 21st Battalion (Eastern Ontario), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War.
History
The battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 6 May 1915. It disembarked in France ...
; the
38th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF
The 38th Battalion, CEF was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. It was mobilized in Ottawa and recruited in Ottawa, Brockville, Perth, Prescott and Alexandria. An initial draft of five officers and 251 other ranks was sen ...
; and the
124th Battalion (Governor General's Body Guard), CEF
The 124th (Governor General's Body Guard) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in that city. After sailing to England in August 1 ...
. On 21 May 1917, the 109th Battalion, CEF was disbanded.
On 1 May 1917, the 252nd Battalion (Lindsay), CEF was authorized for service and on 2 June 1917, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in the UK, the battalion was absorbed by the 6th Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. On 1 September 1917, the 252nd Battalion, CEF was disbanded.
1920s–1930s
On 15 March 1920, as a result of the reorganization of the Canadian Militia following the
Otter Commission, the 45th Victoria and Haliburton Regiment was Redesignated as The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment and was reorganized with 2 battalions (1 of them a paper-only reserve battalion) to perpetuate the assigned war-raised battalions of the
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry division ...
.
On 15 December 1936, as a result of the 1936 Canadian Militia Reorganization, The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment was Converted from Infantry to Artillery and Amalgamated with the 45th Medium Battery, RCA and Redesignated as the 45th Field Battery (Howitzer), RCA.
Organization
45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry (16 November 1866)
* Regimental HQ (Bowmanville, Ontario)
* No. 1 Company (Bowmanville, Ontario) (first raised on 22 January 1862 as the Bowmanville Rifle Company)
* No. 2 Company (Orono, Ontario) (first raised on 22 June 1866 as the Orono Infantry Company)
* No. 3 Company (Cartwright, Ontario) (first raised on 17 August 1866 as the Cartwright Infantry Company)
* No. 4 Company (Newcastle, Ontario) (first raised on 17 August 1866 as the Newcastle Infantry Company)
45th Victoria Regiment (8 May 1900)
* Regimental HQ (
Lindsay, Ontario)
* No. 1 Company (
Cameron, Ontario)
* No. 2 Company (Lindsay, Ontario)
* No. 3 Company (Lindsay, Ontario)
* No. 4 Company (
Omemee, Ontario
Omemee is a community within the city of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada, formerly known as Victoria County. Located on Ontario Highway 7, which is the Trans-Canada Highway, Omemee is one of the communities in the Kawartha Lakes, as the proclaim ...
)
* No. 5 Company (
Janetville, Ontario; later moved in 1905 to
Fenelon Falls, Ontario
Fenelon Falls is a village in Ontario, Canada, part of the city of Kawartha Lakes. Nicknamed the "Jewel of the Kawarthas," it has a population of 2,500 permanent inhabitants, which swells in the summer due to tourism and holiday cottages. Fenelon ...
)
* No. 6 Company (
Woodville, Ontario
Woodville is a community in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada. It is located west of Lindsay. The population is approximately 650.
History
Known in the late 19th century as Irish Corners, the name of the town was changed to Woodville after the co ...
)
The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment (15 September 1920)
* 1st Battalion (perpetuating the 109th Battalion, CEF)
* 2nd (Reserve) Battalion (perpetuating the 252nd Battalion, CEF)
Battle Honours
*
Arras, 1917
*
Hill 70
*
Ypres, 1917
* The Great War, 1916-1917
Notable Members
* The Honourable
Sir Sam Hughes
Sir Samuel Hughes, (January 8, 1853 – August 23, 1921) was the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during World War I. He was notable for being the last Liberal-Conservative cabinet minister, until he was dismissed from his cabinet pos ...
,
* Lieutenant Colonel
James Macleod
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Victoria_and_Haliburton_Regiment
Infantry regiments of Canada
Military units and formations of Ontario
Military units and formations disestablished in 1936