, colors =
, colors_label =
, march = "
British Grenadiers
"The British Grenadiers" is a traditional marching song of British, Australian and Canadian military units whose badge of identification features a grenade, the tune of which dates from the 17th century. It is the Regimental Quick March of the ...
"
, mascot =
, equipment =
, equipment_label =
Equipment
Equipment most commonly refers to a set of tools or other objects commonly used to achieve a particular objective. Different job
Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and ...
, battles =
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, anniversaries =
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
, battle_honours = See
, commander1 =
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, commander3 =
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, notable_commanders =
, identification_symbol =
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The Winnipeg Grenadiers was an
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...
of the
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the 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 respo ...
.
First formed on 1 April 1908 under General Order No. 20. Initially it was raised with headquarters at
Morden, Manitoba
Morden is a city located in the Pembina Valley region of southern Manitoba, Canada near the United States border. It is about west of the neighbouring city of Winkler; together Morden and Winkler are often referred to as Manitoba's Twin Cities. ...
, and companies at: A Company at Morden, B Company at Morden, C Company at
Manitou
Manitou (), akin to the Iroquois '' orenda'', is the spiritual and fundamental life force among Algonquian groups in the Native American theology. It is omnipresent and manifests everywhere: organisms, the environment, events, etc. ''Aasha ...
, D Company at
Carman
In Celtic mythology, Carman or Carmun was a warrior and sorceress from Athens who tried to invade Ireland in the days of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with her three sons, Dub ("black"), Dother ("evil") and Dian ("violence"). She used her magica ...
, E Company at
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
, F Company at
Pilot Mound, G Company at
Cartwright
Cartwright may refer to:
* Wainwright (occupation), a tradesperson skilled in the making and repairing of carts or wagons
* Cartwright (surname), including the list of people
Places
; Australia
* Cartwright, New South Wales
; Canada
* Cartwr ...
and H Company at
Boissevain. The unit did not have any active personnel enrolled at the formation.
On 1 February 1910, all companies and headquarters were moved to
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
. On 2 May 1910, the designation was changed to the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers. The first officers were gazetted to the regiment on 18 May 1910. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Norlande Ruttan, who came from the Retired List, commanded the regiment on organization (General Order No. 57 (HQ 32-1-107)). The regiment was reorganized under General Order No. 120 (1915) on 1 October 1915 to establish four companies.
Lineage
The Winnipeg Grenadiers
The Winnipeg Grenadiers originated in Morden, Manitoba on 1 April 1908, as the 100th Regiment. It was redesignated the 100th "Winnipeg Grenadiers" on 2 May 1910 and The Winnipeg Grenadiers on 12 March 1920. On 16 November 1936, it was amalgamated with the 10th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and redesignated The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun). It was redesignated the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun) on 7 November 1940, the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers on 15 March 1941 and The Winnipeg Grenadiers on 28 January 1946. It 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 ...
on 28 February 1965.
10th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC
The 10th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 1 June 1919, as the 10th Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC. It was redesignated the 10th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, on 15 September 1924. On 16 November 1936, it was amalgamated with The Winnipeg Grenadiers. The perpetuation of the 10th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (1919–1936) was assigned to The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun).
[Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.]
Lineage Chart
, -
, style="text-align: left;",
class="wikitable"
+ Abbreviations used in the chart
-
! Abbreviation !! Phrase
-
Bde Brigade
-
Bn Battalion
-
CASF
Canadian Active Service Force
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
-
CEF
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 ...
-
CMGC
Canadian Machine Gun Corps
The Canadian Machine Gun Corps (CMGC) was an administrative corps of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and of the Canadian Militia. It was part of the CEF sent to France during World War I. The Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade was or ...
-
Inf. Infantry
-
MG Machine Gun
-
No. Number
-
Regt Regiment
Perpetuations
The Winnipeg Grenadiers perpetuate the
11th Battalion, CEF; the
78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF
The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The 78th Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916. It disembarked in Fra ...
; and the
100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF.
Operational history
The Great War
Details from the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.
The
11th Battalion, CEF was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 30 September 1914. It was redesigned as the 11th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF, on 29 April 1915 to reinforce the
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December ...
in the field. On 4 January 1917, its personnel, along with the 100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF, were absorbed by a new 11th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 12 October 1917.
The
78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF
The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The 78th Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916. It disembarked in Fra ...
, was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916, disembarking in France on 13 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Canadian Brigade,
4th Canadian Division
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantr ...
in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.
The
100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 September 1916, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 20 January 1917, when the 11th Reserve Battalion, CEF, absorbed its personnel. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.
Ethelbert "Curley" Christian (-15 March 1954) of the 78th Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers was wounded at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and was the only quadruple amputee of either World War to survive.
File:73-78 Bn CEF.jpg, Battle Patch of the 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF
File:Curley Christian on the Montrose.jpg, Curley Christian in 1936
Second World War
The regiment mobilized The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF, on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF, on 7 November 1940, and as the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, CASF, on 15 March 1941. It served in
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
and
Bermuda
)
, anthem = "God Save the King"
, song_type = National song
, song = " Hail to Bermuda"
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, mapsize2 =
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, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name =
, e ...
on garrison duty from May 1940 to October 1941 (the detachment assigned to the
Bermuda Garrison
The Bermuda Garrison was the military establishment maintained on the British Overseas Territory and Imperial fortress of Bermuda by the regular British Army and its local militia and voluntary reserves from 1701 to 1957. The garrison evolved fr ...
moved to
Aruba
Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...
in August 1940).
Hong Kong
On 27 October 1941, it embarked for
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
as a part of
C Force
"C" Force was the Canadian military contingent involved in the Battle of Hong Kong, in December 1941. Members of the force were the first Canadian soldiers to see action in World War II. The major Canadian units involved in the defence of Hon ...
, where it was destroyed while fighting in defence of the colony during the
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
(8–25 December 1941).
Company Sergeant-Major
John Robert Osborn
Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn, VC (2 January 1899 − 19 December 1941) was a Canadian soldier. Osborn was a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that ...
, VC (2 January 1899 – 19 December 1941) was a 42-year-old warrant officer second class and the CSM of "A" Company. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the fighting for Hong Kong on 19 December 1941.
His Victoria Cross citation reads, in part:
File:Canadian Troops Arriving in Hong Kong.jpg, On 16 November 1941, the Winnipeg Grenadiers arrived in Hong Kong. Yet, they could not reverse the outcome of the Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
.
File:John Robert Osborn.png, Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn
Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn, VC (2 January 1899 − 19 December 1941) was a Canadian soldier. Osborn was a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that ...
, VC
File:Hong Kong Park statue.jpg, Statue of an anonymous World War I soldier from statuary collection of Eu Tong Sen
Eu Tong Sen (; 23 July 1877 – 11 May 1941) was a leading businessman in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong during the late 19th and early 20th century. He was vice-president of the Anti-Opium Society and a member of the Kinta Sanitary Boar ...
. Also visible is the Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
memorial plaque dedicated to all the defenders of Hong Kong in December 1941 through John Robert Osborn
Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn, VC (2 January 1899 − 19 December 1941) was a Canadian soldier. Osborn was a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that ...
File:HK Central 香港公園 Hong Kong Park memory of John Robert Osborn bronze statue sign Nov-2013.JPG, Memorial plaque dedicated to all the defenders of Hong Kong in December 1941 through John Robert Osborn and to commemorate the British Garrison at Hong Kong.
Home Defence
The 1st Battalion was reconstituted on 10 January 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the Prince Rupert Defences,
8th Canadian Infantry Division
The 8th Canadian Infantry Division was a military formation of the Canadian Army that served within Pacific Command in Western Canada during World War II. The Division units were raised on 18 March 1942 and the HQ was raised on 12 May 1942 at Pri ...
. It took part in the expedition to
Kiska, Alaska, as a component of the
13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
The 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade was a formation of the Canadian Army that served in both World Wars. During World War I, the brigade formed part of the 5th Canadian Division. However, the 13th Brigade never saw combat as the brigade along wi ...
, serving there from 16 August 1943 to 22 December 1943.
It embarked for Great Britain on 25 May 1944. On 1 November 1944, it was absorbed by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, CASF, and designated as the 3rd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, Type A (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CASF. On 5 July 1945, it was converted and redesignated the No. 10 Canadian Repatriation Depot, Type "T". The depot was disbanded on 28 January 1946.
File:Grenadiers durrant.jpg, Winnipeg Grenadiers Camp, 1941
Alliances
On 15 August 1914, an alliance was authorized with the
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)
The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 100th (Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot and the 109th Regiment of Foot ...
. This regiment, first raised in Canada in 1858 as the
100th (Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot, was disbanded (with five other Irish regiments) in July 1922 due to the division of Ireland. The regiment's present alliance, which dates from 6 November 1933, is the
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...
.
Battle honours
Battle honours in small capitals are for large operations, and campaigns and those in lowercase are for more specific battles. Bold type indicates honours authorized to be emblazoned on regimental colours.
File:Winnipeg Grenadiers colour.jpg, The Regimental Colour of The Winnipeg Grenadiers.
Great War
Second World War
Cadet corps
The cadet corps was originally formed on 15 February 1917 and named 526 100th Grenadiers Cadet Corps. It was disbanded 13 November 1931. Its affiliation was 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers.
In 1946 members of the regiment through the Grenadiers Winnipeg Incorporated took steps to reform the cadet corps. On 1 October 1946, the cadet corps was authorized under the title 526 The Winnipeg Grenadiers Cadet Corps.
[Canadian Army Order 110-4, Issue No. 12, 1946] The cadet corps parades at
Minto Armoury
The Minto Armoury is a prominent and historic structure in the West End of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The armoury is currently the home base of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, 38 Signal Regiment, and several o ...
in Winnipeg.
References
External links
www.regiments.org - The Winnipeg Grenadiers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winnipeg Grenadiers
Infantry regiments of Canada
Military units and formations established in 1908
Morden, Manitoba
Military units and formations of Manitoba
Infantry regiments of Canada in World War II
Battle of Hong Kong
Military units and formations in Bermuda in World War II
Military units and formations disestablished in 1965
Supplementary Order of Battle