The York Rangers 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 ...

). Although the unit was first officially created in 1866, the regiment traces its ancestry and origins as far back to

Rogers' Rangers Rogers' Rangers was a company of soldiers from the Province of New Hampshire raised by Major Robert Rogers and attached to the British Army during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War). The unit was quickly adopted into the British army as ...

of the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

, the

Queen's Rangers The Queen's Rangers, also known as the Queen's American Rangers, and later Simcoe's Rangers, were a Loyalist military unit of the American Revolutionary War. Formed in 1776, they were named for Queen Charlotte, consort of George III. The Queen' ...

of the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

and also the

York Militia The York Militia was a volunteer militia unit in Upper Canada formed after the passage of the Militia Act of 1793. Members of the York Militia were drawn from the settlers of York County, an area mostly made up of present-day Greater Toronto. T ...

of the War of 1812. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment) to form The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment).

Lineage

The York Rangers

* Originated on 14 September 1866, in Aurora, Ontario, as the ''12th York Battalion of Infantry''. * Redesignated on 10 May 1872, as the ''12th Battalion of Infantry or York Rangers''. * Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the ''12th Regiment York Rangers''. * Redesignated on 1 May 1920, as ''The York Rangers''. * Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with The Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment) and redesignated as ''The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (MG)''.

Lineage Chart

Perpetuations

* 35th Battalion, CEF * 127th Battalion (12th York Rangers), CEF * 220th Battalion (12th Regiment York Rangers), CEF

History

North-West Rebellion

On 10 April, 1885, the 12th York Rangers mobilized four companies for active service during the North-West Rebellion with the York and Simcoe Provisional Battalion. The battalion served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force. On 24 July 1885, these companies were removed from active service.

Great War

When the Canadian Expeditionary Force was raised in September 1914, the 12th York Rangers contributed drafts to help raise the 4th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF. The regiment also contributed drafts to help form the 20th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF. On 7 November, 1914, the ''35th Battalion, CEF'' was authorized for service. On 9 February 1915, the battalion was redesignated as the ''35th Reserve Battalion, CEF'' and on 16 October, 1915, 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 4 January, 1917, the battalion’s personnel were absorbed by the 4th Reserve Battalion, CEF. On 8 December, 1917, the 35th Battalion, CEF was disbanded. On 22 December, 1915, the ''127th Battalion (12th York Rangers), CEF'' was authorized for service and on 21 August, 1916, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in the UK, the battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. On 20 November, 1916, the battalion was reorganized as a railway battalion. On 13 January, 1917, the battalion disembarked in France and on 3 February, 1917, the battalion was redesignated the ''2nd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, CEF''. From 1917 until early 1918, the battalion provided special light railway engineering services to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders. During the German Spring Offensive of 1918, the battalion would resume its original infantry role continued in the Allied Frontline until the Amiens Offensive of August 1918. Soon after, the battalion resumed its railway battalion role until the end of the war. On 23 October, 1920, the 127th Battalion (12th York Rangers), CEF was disbanded. On 15 July, 1916, the ''220th Battalion (12th Regiment York Rangers), CEF'' was authorized for service and on 26 January, 1917, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. On 7 May, 1917, the battalion’s personnel were absorbed by the 3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. On 1 September, 1917, the 220th Battalion, CEF was disbanded.

Organization

12th York Battalion of Infantry (14 September 1866)

* No. 1 Company (Scarborough, Ontario) (first raised in September 1862 as the ''Scarborough Rifle Company'') * No. 2 Company (Aurora, Ontario) (first raised in December 1862 as the ''Aurora Infantry Company'') * No. 3 Company (Lloydtown, Ontario) (first raised in December 1862 as the ''Lloydtown Infantry Company''; absorbed in 1872 by the Aurora company) * No. 4 Company (King, Ontario) (first raised in January 1863 as the ''King Rifle Company'') * No. 5 Company (Newmarket, Ontario)

12th York Battalion of Infantry (October 1866)

* Regimental Headquarters (Newmarket, Ontario) * No. 1 Company (Scarborough, Ontario) * No. 2 Company (Aurora, Ontario) * No. 3 Company (Lloydtown, Ontario) (absorbed in 1872 by the Aurora company) * No. 4 Company (King, Ontario) * No. 5 Company (Newmarket, Ontario) * No. 6 Company (Keswick, Ontario; moved in 1867 to Sutton, Ontario) * No. 7 Company (Markham, Ontario) * No. 8 Company (Sharon, Ontario) * No. 9 Company (Unionville, Ontario) (raised in November 1866)

The York Rangers (01 December, 1920)

* Regimental Headquarters (Aurora, Ontario) * 1st Battalion (Aurora, Ontario) (perpetuating the 127th Battalion, CEF) * 2nd Battalion (perpetuating the 35th Battalion, CEF) * 3rd (Reserve) Battalion (perpetuating the 127th Battalion, CEF) * 4th (Reserve) Battalion (perpetuating the 220th Battalion, CEF)

The York Rangers (01 August, 1925)

* Regimental Headquarters (Aurora, Ontario) * 1st Battalion (Aurora, Ontario) (perpetuating the 127th Battalion, CEF) * 2nd (Reserve) Battalion (perpetuating the 35th Battalion, CEF (jointly with The Queen's Rangers)) * 3rd (Reserve) Battalion (perpetuating the 220th Battalion CEF)

Alliances

* -

The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), frequently known as the Yorkshire Regiment until the 1920s, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division. Raised in 1688, it served under vario ...

(Until 1936)

Battle honours

North West Rebellion

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 ...

Great War

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, '17 *

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* Mount Sorrel *

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, '18 *

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 ...

, '18 *

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* Pilckem * Langemarck, 1917 *

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* Broodseinde *

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* Passchendaele * St. Quentin *

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Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:York_Rangers Ranger regiments of Canada Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) Military units and formations established in 1866 Military units and formations disestablished in 1936 Military units and formations of Ontario