The Prince Edward Island Highlanders 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 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 ...
. In 1946, the regiment was amalgamated with
The Prince Edward Island Light Horse
The Prince Edward Island Light Horse was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). First authorized in 1901 as an Independent Squadron of the Canadian Mounted Rifles, it became a ful ...
to form
.
Lineage
The Prince Edward Island Highlanders
* Originated on 25 June 1875, in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in 1 ...
, as the ''Queen's County Provisional Battalion of Infantry''.
* Amalgamated on 30 June 1876, with the Charlottetown Provisional Battalion of Infantry and redesignated as the ''Queen's County Battalion of Infantry''.
* Redesignated on 4 October 1878, as the ''82nd Queen's County Battalion of Infantry''.
* Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the ''82nd Queen's County Regiment''.
* Redesignated on 5 June 1906, as the ''82nd Abegweit Light Infantry''.
* Redesignated on 29 March 1920, as ''The Prince Edward Island Regiment''.
* Redesignated on 15 June 1927, as ''The Prince Edward Island Highlanders''.
* Redesignated on 1 January 1941, as the ''2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Prince Edward Island Highlanders''.
* Redesignated on 1 June 1945, as ''The Prince Edward Island Highlanders''.
* Converted to armour and amalgamated on 1 April 1946, with the 17th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (Prince Edward Island Light Horse), RCAC and redesignated as the ''17th (Prince Edward Island) Reconnaissance Regiment'' (now
)
The Charlottetown Provisional Battalion of Infantry
* Originated on 2 July 1875, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, as the ''Charlottetown Provisional Battalion of Infantry''.
* Amalgamated on 30 June 1876, with the Queen's County Provisional Battalion of Infantry and redesignated as the ''Queen's County Battalion of Infantry''.
Perpetuations
*
105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders), CEF
105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders), CEF was a battalion of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. It was recruited, through the 82nd Regiment Abegweit Light Infantry, first as a reinforcement company, and then a CEF ba ...
History
Early history
Founded in 1875 as the Queen's County Provisional Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes, being renamed the Queen's County Battalion of Infantry in 1876, the 82nd Queen's County Battalion of Infantry in 1879, the 82nd Abegweit Light Infantry in 1906, and The Prince Edward Island Regiment in 1920. It acquired its final title in 1927.
is a
Mi'kmaq
The Mi'kmaq (also ''Mi'gmaq'', ''Lnu'', ''Miꞌkmaw'' or ''Miꞌgmaw''; ; ) are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as the no ...
word translating to 'cradled on the waves' as a reference to
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...
.
South African War
During the
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the So ...
, the 82nd Queen's County Regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents in the field.
First World War
On 6 August 1914, Details from the 82nd Abegweit Light Infantry were placed on active service for local protection duties.
On 22 December 1915, the ''105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders), CEF'' was authorized for service and on 16 July 1916, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in the UK, the battalion provided reinforcements to 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 24 January 1917, the battalion was amalgamated with
104th Battalion, CEF. On 12 October 1917, the 105th Battalion, CEF was officially disbanded.
Second World War
Parts of the regiment were placed on active service on 1 September 1939 for local protective duty and 1st Battalion was mobilized on 1 January 1941. The unit served in Newfoundland from 1941 to 1943. From 1943 to 1945, the 1st Battalion, Prince Edward Island Highlanders, served as part of the 15th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group,
6th Canadian Infantry Division
The 6th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army, formed in 1942 during the Second World War. It was attached to Pacific Command. The division had a brigade sent to the Aleutian Islands Campaign, particularly a ...
in the home defence role of the west coast of Canada.
In early 1945 after the need for home defence was not as great, the battalion embarked for the United Kingdom where it was disbanded shortly after arrival to provide reinforcements in the field to the
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army (french: 1reArmée canadienne) was a field army and a formation of the Canadian Army in World War II in which most Canadian elements serving in North-West Europe were assigned. It served on the Western Front from July 1944 ...
.
A reserve battalion remained on Prince Edward Island.
Post War
On 1 April 1946, The Prince Edward Island Highlanders were amalgamated with the
Prince Edward Island Light Horse to form the ''17th (Prince Edward Island) Reconnaissance Regiment''. and renamed as
in 1949.
Organization
The Prince Edward Island Regiment (2 May 1921)
* 1st Battalion (perpetuating the 105th Battalion, CEF)
* 2nd (Reserve) Battalion
The Prince Edward Island Highlanders (15 June 1927)
* Regimental Headquarters (Charlottetown, PEI)
* A Company (Charlottetown, PEI)
* B Company (New Wiltshire, PEI)
* C Company (Summerside, PEI)
* D Company (Montaque, PEI)
Alliances
-
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ...
(until 1946)
Uniform
The Prince Edward Island Highlanders were kitted as Black Watch except for badges. Officers wore grey
Balmorals in
service dress and
battle dress.
Battle honours
South African War
*
South Africa, 1900
Great War
*
Arras, 1917
The Battle of Arras (also known as the Second Battle of Arras) was a British offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the We ...
,
'18
*
Ypres, 1917
The Third Battle of Ypres (german: link=no, Dritte Flandernschlacht; french: link=no, Troisième Bataille des Flandres; nl, Derde Slag om Ieper), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele (), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by t ...
*
Amiens
Amiens (English: or ; ; pcd, Anmien, or ) is a city and commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in the region of Hauts-de-France. In 2021, the population of ...
*
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line (German: , Siegfried Position) was a German defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to Laffaux, near Soissons on the Aisne. In 1916 ...
*
Pursuit to Mons
Pursuit may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Films
* ''Pursuit'' (1935 film), a 1935 American action film
* ''Pursuit'' (1972 American film), a made-for-TV film directed by Michael Crichton
* ''Pursuit'' (1972 Hong Kong film), a Shaw Brot ...
Notable members
*
Daniel J. MacDonald
Daniel Joseph MacDonald, (July 23, 1918 – September 30, 1980) was a Canadian politician from Prince Edward Island. He served as Minister of Veterans Affairs from 1972 to 1979 and again in 1980 until his death.
Life
He was born on his fami ...
See also
*
Canadian-Scottish regiment
Notes and references
{{Reflist
*Barnes, RM, ''The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments'', London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
Infantry regiments of Canada
Highland & Scottish regiments of Canada
Military units and formations of Prince Edward Island
Infantry regiments of Canada in World War II
Organizations based in Charlottetown
1875 establishments in Prince Edward Island
1946 disestablishments in Canada
Military units and formations established in 1875
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
Prince Edward Island Regiment