, colors =
, identification_symbol =
Caubeen
The caubeen is an Irish beret, formerly worn by peasants.Terence Patrick Dolan: A Dictionary of Hiberno-English. Gill and MacMillan, Dublin. 1999. William Carleton: Willy Reilly, 1856, Chap. XIII, etc. It has been adopted as the head dress ...
, identification_symbol_label = Headdress
, identification_symbol_2 = O'Saffron
, identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan
, identification_symbol_4 =
, identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
, march = "
Garry Owen
The 7th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry regiment formed in 1866. Its official nickname is "Garryowen", after the Irish air " Garryowen" that was adopted as its march tune.
The regiment participated in some of the largest ba ...
"
, mascot =
, battles =
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
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 opposi ...
War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to:
*Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC)
* Muslim conquests of Afghanistan (637–709)
*Conquest of Afghanistan by the Mongol Empire (13th century), see al ...
, notable_commanders =
, anniversaries =
, decorations =
, battle_honours = See
#Battle honours
The Irish Regiment of Canada is a
Primary Reserve
The Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces (french: links=no, Première réserve des Forces canadiennes) is the first and largest of the four sub-components of the Canadian Armed Forces reserves, followed by the Supplementary Reserve, th ...
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 mar ...
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 conscript ...
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 ...
based in
Sudbury, Ontario
Sudbury, officially the City of Greater Sudbury is the largest city in Northern Ontario by population, with a population of 166,004 at the 2021 Canadian Census. By land area, it is the largest in Ontario and the fifth largest in Canada. It is a ...
. It is part of the
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 Infant ...
's
33 Canadian Brigade Group
33 Canadian Brigade Group of the Canadian Army is part of 4th Canadian Division. It commands the Primary Reserve
The Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces (french: links=no, Première réserve des Forces canadiennes) is the first a ...
. Currently one battalion of the regiment exists.
The
Irish regiment
The Irish military diaspora refers to the many people of either Irish birth or extraction (see Irish diaspora) who have served in overseas military forces, regardless of rank, duration of service, or success.
Many overseas military units were pr ...
was founded in 1915 with headquarters in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
. The modern incarnation was formed in Sudbury in 1965 by the conversion of the 58th Field Artillery Regiment,
RCA
The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...
, which became 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada. At the same time, the original battalion in Toronto was reduced to nil strength and placed 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", an ...
as the 1st Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada.
In 1931 they became the only kilted Irish Regiment in the world with the adoption of their unique tartan often called "O'Saffron" designed by Thomas Gordon Ltd. of Glasgow. (Irish regiments in the British Army utilize kilted pipers wearing a solid-coloured saffron kilt.) They also share the
caubeen
The caubeen is an Irish beret, formerly worn by peasants.Terence Patrick Dolan: A Dictionary of Hiberno-English. Gill and MacMillan, Dublin. 1999. William Carleton: Willy Reilly, 1856, Chap. XIII, etc. It has been adopted as the head dress ...
headdress common to other Irish regiments.
Lineage
File:I Regt C Colour.jpg, The regimental colour of 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada.
File:I Regt C Camp Flag.jpg, The camp flag of the Irish Regiment of Canada.
Irish Regiment of Canada
*Authorized on 15 October 1915 as the 110th Irish Regiment
*Redesignated 1 May 1920 as The Irish Regiment
*Redesignated 1 September 1932 as the Irish Regiment of Canada
*Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with the headquarters and A Company of the 1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, and redesignated as the Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun)
*Redesignated 12 August 1940 as the Irish Regiment of Canada
*Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada
*Redesignated 31 January 1946 the Irish Regiment of Canada
*Reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle 10 February 1965
*Amalgamated 15 March 1965 with the 58th (Sudbury) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. The artillery unit was converted to infantry and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada (Sudbury), with the unit transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle being automatically redesignated as the 1st Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada.
The 1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC
*Originated 1 June 1919 in Toronto, Ontario as the 1st Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC
*Redesignated 15 September 1924 as the 1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC
*Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with the Irish Regiment of Canada
The 58th (Sudbury) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
*Originated 1 April 1946 in Sudbury, Ontario as the 49th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
*Redesignated 3 July 1947 as the 58th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
*Redesignated 15 March 1948 as the 58th (Sudbury) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
*Redesignated 12 April 1960 as the 58th (Sudbury) Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, RCA
*Redesignated 10 December 1962 as the 58th (Sudbury) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
*Converted 15 March 1965 to infantry and amalgamated with the 173rd Field Battery, RCA, the 174th Field Battery, RCA, the 175th Field Battery, RCA and the Irish Regiment of Canada and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada (Sudbury)
The 173rd Field Battery, RCA
*Originated 2 February 1920 in Sudbury, Ontario as the 30th Battery, CFA
*Redesignated 1 July 1925 as the 30th Field Battery, CA
*Redesignated 3 June 1935 as the 30th Field Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 30th (Reserve) Field Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 15 May 1943 as the 30th (Reserve) Anti-Aircraft Battery (Type 2H), RCA
*Redesignated 1 April 1946 as the 30th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 3 July 1947 as the 173rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 10 December 1962 as the 173rd Field Battery, RCA
*Converted 15 March 1965 to infantry and amalgamated with the Irish Regiment of Canada
The 174th Field Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 3 July 1947 as the 174th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 10 December 1962 as the 174th Field Battery, RCA
*Converted 15 March 1965 to infantry and amalgamated with the Irish Regiment of Canada
The 175th Field Battery, RCA
*Originated 2 February 1920 in Sudbury, Ontario as the 53rd Battery, CFA
*Redesignated 1 July 1925 as the 53rd Field Battery, CA
*Redesignated 3 June 1935 as the 53rd Field Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 53rd (Reserve) Field Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 15 May 1943 as the 53rd (Reserve) Anti-Aircraft Battery (Type 2H), RCA
*Redesignated 1 April 1946 as the 153rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 3 July 1947 as the 175th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA
*Redesignated 10 December 1962 as the 175th Field Battery, RCA
*Converted 15 March 1965 to infantry and amalgamated with the Irish Regiment of Canada
Lineage charts
Perpetuations
The Great War
*
180th Battalion (Sportsmen), CEF
*
208th Battalion (Canadian Irish), CEF {{Use Canadian English, date=January 2023
The 208th (Canadian Irish) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that ...
*1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF
*30th Field Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF
*53rd Field Battery, CFA, CEF
Operational history
The Great War
The
180th Battalion (Sportsmen), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 14 November 1916. There its personnel were absorbed by the 3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF on 6 January 1917 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 21 May 1917.
The
208th Battalion (Canadian Irish), CEF {{Use Canadian English, date=January 2023
The 208th (Canadian Irish) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that ...
was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 3 May 1917. There it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until its personnel were absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Battalion, CEF and the 8th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 3 January 1918. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.
The 1st Battalion, CMGC, CEF, which was organized in France on 27 March 1918 from the Brigade machine gun companies of the 1st Canadian Division. It provided machine gun support to the 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the
war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 November 1920.
The 30th Field Battery, CFA, CEF, was authorized on 20 April 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 5 February 1916. The battery disembarked in France on 14 July 1916, where it provided field artillery support as part of the 8th Army Brigade, CFA, CEF in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battery disbanded on 1 November 1920.
The 53rd Field Battery, CFA, CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 as the 53rd "Overseas" Depot Battery, CEF', and embarked for Great Britain on 19 September 1916. The battery disembarked in France on 21 August 1917, where it provided field artillery support as part of the 13th Brigade, CFA, CEF, in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battery disbanded on 1 November 1920.
The Second World War
Details from the regiment were placed on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939 as the Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun), CASF (Details), for local protection duties. Those details called out on active service disbanded on 31 December 1940.
The regiment mobilized the Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun), CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the Irish Regiment of Canada, CASF on 12 August 1940; and as the 1st Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada, CASF on 7 November 1940. It embarked for Great Britain on 28 October 1942. It landed in mainland Italy on 10 November 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade,
5th Canadian Armoured Division
Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five.
Fifth or The Fifth may refer to:
* Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth"
* Fifth column, a political term
* Fifth disease, a contagious rash that ...
. Between 20 and 27 February 1945, the battalion moved with the I Canadian Corps to North-West Europe as part of
Operation Goldflake Operation Goldflake was the administrative move of I Canadian Corps (in essence, all Canadian combatant units) and the British 5th Infantry Division from Italy to Northwestern Europe during the Second World War. British-led forces had been figh ...
, where it fought until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 31 January 1946.
The 53rd Field Battery mobilized as the 53rd Field Battery, RCA, CASF on 1 September 1939. On 1 June 1940 it amalgamated with the 26th Field Battery, RCA, CASF and was redesignated as the 26th/53rd Field Battery, RCA, CASF. On 1 January 1941 this amalgamation ceased and it was redesignated as the 53rd Field Battery, RCA, CASF and as the 53rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RCA, CASF the same day. It provided light antiaircraft artillery support as part of the 11th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA, CASF, in Great Britain. The overseas battery disbanded on 1 March 1944.
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.
Alliances
* -
Battle honours
In the list below, 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:I Regt C Colour.jpg, The regimental colour of 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada.
Irish Regiment of Canada Regimental Museum
The museum provides a place to exhibit the Irish Regiment of Canada memorabilia dating from the First World War. It provides a venue for veterans and others who wish to donate service memorabilia for exposition. The museum is a venue to exhibit service memorabilia after the First World War including the United Nations Operations – Korea – 1950-1953 and peacekeeping operations. It is a venue to educate Northern Ontario citizens about the Canadian Forces, in particular the
local militia units, to appreciate their roles and the necessity to support them.
[A-AD-266-000/AG-001 Canadian Forces Museums –Operations and Administration 2002-04-03]
Order of precedence
Media
*The Story of the Irish Regiment of Canada 1939-1945 by Major Gordon Wood
See also
*
Organization of Military Museums of Canada The Organization of Military Museums of Canada is a national organization for the promotion of military museums in Canada.
The OMMC was established in 1967 by a group of military museums, historians, and military history enthusiasts. It has over 40 ...
Notable Members
* Major
Alan Cockeram
Alan Cockeram, DSO (December 6, 1894 – September 11, 1957) was a mining executive, military officer and Canadian politician who sat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1940s. He is best known for having given up his York South seat in orde ...
* Major General
Herb Petras
References
External links
Official Website of the 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada*
ttp://army.ca/inf/irrc.php 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada at army.ca
{{Canadian Forces Land Force Command
Irish Regiment of Canada
Military units and formations of Ontario
Regimental museums in Canada
Infantry regiments of Canada in World War II
Military units and formations established in 1915