The Royal Grenadiers was an infantry regiment of the

Non-Permanent Active Militia The Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) was the name of Canada's part-time volunteer military force from 1855 to 1940. The NPAM (also called "the Militia" though that term could also encompass the full-time standing army known as the Permanent A ...

of the Canadian Militia (now 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 ...

). The regiment was unique in its history as it was only one of two regiments in the Canadian Army to be designated as a

Grenadier A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word '' grenade'') was originally a specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in battle. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited fr ...

Regiment (the other unit being The Winnipeg Grenadiers). In 1936, the regiment was Amalgamated with

The Toronto Regiment The Toronto Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). The regiment was formed in 1920 when the war raised 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment) of the Canadian Expeditionary ...

to form The Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers (now

The Royal Regiment of Canada , battle_honours = See #Battle honours , website = , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = Tactical recognition flash , nickname = Royals , battles ...

Lineage

The Royal Grenadiers

* Originated on 14 March 1862, in

Toronto, Ontario 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 ancho ...

, as The 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada. * Redesignated on 21 November 1862, as The 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry), Canada. * Redesignated on 10 April 1863, as the 10th or "Royal Regiment of Toronto Volunteers"'. * Redesignated on 5 August 1881, as the 10th Battalion, Royal Grenadiers. * Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the 10th Regiment, Royal Grenadiers. * Redesignated on 1 May 1920, as The Royal Grenadiers. * Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with

and Redesignated as The Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers (now The Royal Regiment of Canada).

Perpetuations

58th Battalion, CEF The 58th Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. History The battalion was authorized on 20 April 1915. The battalion recruited in central Ontario and was mobilized at Niagara-on-the-Lake ...

123rd Battalion (Royal Grenadiers), CEF The 123rd Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Toronto, Ontario, they began recruiting in November 1915. After arriving in England, they continued to train as an infa ...

History

Early history

On 14 March 1862, The 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada was authorized for service in Toronto,

Canada West The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, in the Report on the ...

(now Ontario) with its Headquarters and line companies in Toronto. As in common with most Canadian Militia infantry regiments being raised at the time, they were as a rifle regiment. However around the same time of the regiments founding, the members of the unit requested to the militia department that they be organized and uniformed as a line infantry unit instead. As a result on 21 November 1862, the regiment was Redesignated as The 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Canada and again on 10 April 1863, as the 10th or Royal Regiment of Toronto Volunteers.

The Fenian Raids

The 10th or Royal Regiment of Toronto Volunteers was called out on active service from 8 to 31 March and from 1 to 22 June 1866. The battalion served on the Niagara frontier and would take part in the mopping up operations after the disastrous

Battle of Ridgeway The Battle of Ridgeway (sometimes the Battle of Lime Ridge or Limestone Ridge) was fought in the vicinity of the town of Fort Erie across the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York, near the village of Ridgeway, Canada West, currently Ontario, Ca ...

1880’s

On 5 August 1881, the regiment was Redesignated as the 10th Battalion Royal Grenadiers. At the time, this unit would be the only other regiment of its type in the entire British Empire: the other regiment being The Grenadier Guards.

The North-West Rebellion

On 27 March 1885, the 10th Battalion, Royal Grenadiers was called to arms and turned out in marching order the following day. The Battalion served with General Middleton's column of the North West Field Force, until they returned from active service on 24 July 1885. The 10th Royal Grenadiers would see action at the Battle of Fish Creek (24 April), and the

Battle of Batoche The Battle of Batoche was the decisive battle of the North-West Rebellion, which pitted the Canadian authorities against a force of First Nations and Métis people. Fought from May 9 to 12, 1885, at the ad hoc Provisional Government of Saskatche ...

(9-12 May), serving with distinction during the campaign and earning the regiment its first battle honours.

The South African War & Early 1900’s

During the

South African 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 Sout ...

, the 10th Battalion Royal Grenadiers contributed volunteers for the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. As a part of the country wide reorganisation of the Canadian Militia at the start of the 20th Century, on 8 May 1900, the regiment was Redesignated as the 10th Regiment, Royal Grenadiers.

The Great War

On 6 August 1914, Details of the 10th Royal Grenadiers were placed on active service for local protection duties. When 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 ...

was raised, the 10th Royal Grenadiers contributed drafts to help raise the

3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF The 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force that saw service in the First World War. It was created on 2 September 1914 with recruits from Toronto, primarily from ...

alongside those from The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and The Governor General’s Body Guard. On 20 April 1915, the 58th Battalion, CEF, was authorized for service and on 22 November 1915, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in Europe, on 22 February 1916, the 58th Battalion disembarked in France, where it fought as part of the

9th Canadian Brigade The 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Canadian Army that saw active service during World War I and World War II as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. The brigade fought on the Western Front during World War I ...

3rd Canadian Division The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from th ...

in France and Flanders until the end of the war. On 15 September 1920, the 58th Battalion, CEF was disbanded. On 22 December 1915, the

was authorized for service and from 7 to 8 August 1916, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. On 17 January 1917, the battalion was converted to a Pioneer Battalion and Redesignated the 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, Royal Grenadiers, CEF. On 10 March 1917, the battalion disembarked in France where it served as the Pioneer Battalion of the 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders. On 25 May 1918, the battalion was reorganized to form three new Engineering Battalions; the 7th, 8th and 9th Canadian Engineer Battalions, CEF. On 15 September 1920, the 123rd Battalion, CEF was disbanded.

1920s-1930s

On 15 March 1920, as a result of the

Otter Commission The Otter Commission, or Otter Committee, was established after the First World War to tackle a problem created by the chaotic mobilization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In 1919 units of the CEF, intended as a wartime expeditionary force, ret ...

and the following post-war reorganization of the militia, the 10th Regiment Royal Grenadiers was Redesignated as The Royal Grenadiers and was reorganized with 2 battalions (1 of them a paper-only reserve battalion) to perpetuate the assigned war-raised battalions of the

. As a result of the 1936 Canadian Militia Reorganization, on 15 December 1936, The Royal Grenadiers was Amalgamated with

to form The Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers (now

The Royal Regiment of Canada , battle_honours = See #Battle honours , website = , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = Tactical recognition flash , nickname = Royals , battles ...

Organization

The 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada (14 March 1862)

* Regimental Headquarters (

) * No. 1 Company (Toronto, Ontario) * No. 2 Company (Toronto, Ontario) * No. 3 Company (Toronto, Ontario) * No. 4 Company (Toronto, Ontario) * No. 5 Company (Toronto, Ontario) * No. 6 Company (Toronto, Ontario) * No. 7 Company (Toronto, Ontario)

10th Regiment Royal Grenadiers (5 June 1915)

* Regimental Headquarters (Toronto, Ontario) * A Company (Toronto, Ontario) * B Company (Toronto, Ontario) * C Company (Toronto, Ontario) * D Company (Toronto, Ontario)

The Royal Grenadiers (21 February 1921)

* 1st Battalion (perpetuating the 58th Battalion, CEF) * 2nd (Reserve) Battalion (perpetuating the 123rd Battalion, CEF)

Alliances

* -

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 ...

(Until 1922)

Uniform

Line Infantry

When the 10th Regiment was first raised, it was first intended for it to be organized as a

rifle regiment A rifle regiment is a military unit consisting of a regiment of infantry troops armed with rifles and known as riflemen. While all infantry units in modern armies are typically armed with rifled weapons the term is still used to denote regiments t ...

wearing the rifleman’s green uniform similar to that of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps,

The Rifle Brigade The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

or that of the 2nd Queen’s Own Rifles. However, the new battalion was instead designated as a regiment of infantry. As such, the 10th Royals would wear the scarlet uniform of the line infantry. The uniform of the 10th Royals of a Scarlet Infantry Pattern tunic with dark (royal blue) blue facings and dark blue trousers with a red stripe. The officer’s uniform would also be of this similar pattern but from better quality materials. For an undress uniform, officers of the 10th Royals would wear a dark blue patrol jacket. The regimental headdress consisted of the 1861 pattern "French"

shako A shako (, , or ) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, plume (see hackle) ...

with a regimental plate on the front and a white-over-red ball tuft. The shako would later be replaced in 1879 by the blue home service helmet and later the white Canadian Pattern Service Helmet. The undress headdress for other ranks and NCO’s consisted of the dark-blue Kilmarnock cap with brass numerals indicating the regimental number. For the officers, they would instead wear a peaked forage cap.

Grenadiers

When the battalion was redesignated as a regiment of Grenadiers in 1881, the 10th Grenadiers would adopt the full dress uniform similar to that of the

Brigade of Guards The Brigade of Guards was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1856 to 1968. It was commanded by the Major-General commanding the Brigade of Guards and was responsible for administering the guards regiments. After the Second Wor ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and the Governor General’s Foot Guards in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

. This uniform would consist of the grenadier pattern tunic with royal blue facings worn by the Foot Guards in London and the Governor General’s Foot Guards but with their regimental tunic having its buttons in singles similar to that of the

Grenadier Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...

(unlike the Governor General’s Foot Guards which have their buttons in pairs similar to that of the

Coldstream Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...

). Though redesignated as Grenadiers in 1881, the regiment continued to wear the Canadian Pattern Service Helmet until the early 1890s when they finally changed to the grenadier bearskin cap for full dress. When it was adopted, it was worn with a white plume (later changed to a red-over white plume). After The Royal Grenadiers were Amalgamated with

in 1936 and became

The Royal Regiment of Canada , battle_honours = See #Battle honours , website = , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = Tactical recognition flash , nickname = Royals , battles ...

, the grenadier pattern uniform became the regiment’s full dress uniform and is still used today by the regiment for ceremonial occasions.

Battle honours

North-West Rebellion

* Fish Creek * Batoche *

North West Canada, 1885 The North-West Rebellion (french: Rébellion du Nord-Ouest), also known as the North-West Resistance, was a resistance by the Métis people under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by First Nations Cree and Assiniboine of the District of S ...

The South African War

* South Africa, 1899–1900

The Great War

Ypres, 1915 During the First World War, the Second Battle of Ypres was fought from for control of the tactically important high ground to the east and south of the Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium. The First Battle of Ypres had been fought the pre ...

, '17 *

Festubert, 1915 The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915) was an attack by the British army in the Artois region of France on the western front during World War I. The offensive formed part of a series of attacks by the French Tenth Army and the British ...

* Mount Sorrel *

Somme, 1916 The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

, '18 * Flers-Courcelette *

Ancre Heights The Ancre (; ) is a river of Picardy, France. Rising at Miraumont, a hamlet near the town of Albert, it flows into the Somme at Corbie. It is long. For most of its length it flows through the department of Somme. For a short stretch near P ...

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 W ...

Vimy, 1917 The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions o ...

Arleux Arleux () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Geography The river Sensée joins the Canal du Nord at Arleux. Population Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department The following is a list of the 648 communes o ...

* Scarpe, 1917, '18 *

Hill 70 The Battle of Hill 70 took place in the First World War between the Canadian Corps and five divisions of the German 6th Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France b ...

* Passchendaele *

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 ...

* Drocourt-Quéant *

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 191 ...

Canal du Nord The Canal du Nord (, literally ''Canal of the North'') is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-min ...

Cambrai, 1918 The Battle of Cambrai, 1918 (also known as the Second Battle of Cambrai) was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle ...

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 ...

France and Flanders, 1915–18 The Western Front was one of the main theatres of war during the First World War. Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of impor ...

Notable members

* Brigadier General

James Mason James Neville Mason (; 15 May 190927 July 1984) was an English actor. He achieved considerable success in British cinema before becoming a star in Hollywood. He was the top box-office attraction in the UK in 1944 and 1945; his British films inc ...

* Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Grasett

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal_Grenadiers Grenadier regiments of Canada Military units and formations of Ontario Royal Regiment of Canada Canadian Militia units of The North-West Rebellion Military units and formations disestablished in 1936