The 56th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery is a

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), 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 re ...

Reserve

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

based in

Brantford Brantford ( 2021 population: 104,688) is a city in Ontario, Canada, founded on the Grand River in Southwestern Ontario. It is surrounded by Brant County but is politically separate with a municipal government of its own that is fully indep ...

, Ontario. The regiment is currently part of

4th Canadian Division The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. It is currently responsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian province of Ontario and is headquartered at Denison Armoury in Toronto. The division was first created as ...

32 Canadian Brigade Group 32 Canadian Brigade Group (32 CBG) of the Canadian Army is part of the Land Force Central Area, 4th Canadian Division. It is centred on the Greater Toronto Area, as well as Niagara Region, Ontario, Niagara Region and Brantford, Ontario, Brantfor ...

.http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/units-unites/unit-unite-eng.asp?id=200 accessed 14 February 2012 The 56th Field Regiment, RCA, parades at the Sgt William Merrifield VC Armoury, at 18 Brant Avenue, Brantford, Ontario.

Allocated Batteries

*10th Field Battery, RCA (St Catharines) *54th Field Battery, RCA (Brantford) *69th Field Battery, RCA (Simcoe) Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.

Lineage

56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA

*Originated 28 September 1866 in York, Ontario on as the 37th "Haldimand Battalion of Rifles" *Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 37th Regiment "Haldimand Rifles" *Redesignated 1 May 1920 as

The Haldimand Rifles The Haldimand Rifles was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was Amalgamated with The Dufferin Rifles of Canada to form The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of ...

*Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with The Dufferin Rifles of Canada and 'C Company' of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (now

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, Princess Louise's), or A & SH of C, is a Primary Reserve Scottish regiment, Highland infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, based at John W. Foote VC A ...

) and redesignated as The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada *Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada *Redesignated 1 June 1945 as The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada *Converted 1 April 1946 to artillery on and redesignated as the 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA *Amalgamated 1 October 1954 with the 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA', and redesignated as the 56th Field Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA *Redesignated 12 April 1960 as the 56th Field Artillery Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA *Redesignated 20 November 1975 as the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA

The Dufferin Rifles of Canada

*Originated 28 September 1866 in Brantford, Ontario as the 38th "Brant Battalion of Infantry" *Redesignated 30 November 1866 as the 38th "Brant" Battalion of Infantry *Redesignated 24 March 1871 as the 38th "Brant" Battalion of Rifles *Redesignated 3 July 1874 as the 38th "Brant" Battalion or "Dufferin Rifles" *Redesignated 28 September 1883 as the 38th Battalion "Dufferin Rifles of Canada" *Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 38th Regiment "Dufferin Rifles of Canada" *Redesignated 1 May 1920 as The Dufferin Rifles of Canada *Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with The Haldimand Rifles and C Company of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC

25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA

*Originated 28 September 1866 in Simcoe, Ontario, as the 39th "Norfolk Battalion of Rifles" *Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 39th Regiment "Norfolk Rifles" *Redesignated 1 May 1920 as The Norfolk Rifles *Redesignated 15 November 1928 as The Norfolk Regiment of Canada *Converted 15 December 1936 to artillery and designated as the 25th (Norfolk) Field Brigade, RCA *Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 25th Reserve (Norfolk) Field Brigade, RCA *Redesignated 5 September 1942 as the 25th Reserve (Norfolk) Field Regiment, RCA *Redesignated 1 April 1946 as the 25th Field Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA *Redesignated 28 November 1946 as the 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA *Amalgamated 1 October 1954 with the 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA

Chart

Perpetuations

War of 1812

*The Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers (The Car Brigade) *The 1st Regiment of Norfolk Militia *The 2nd Regiment of Norfolk Militia

The Great War

*41st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF *

4th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF 4th (Central Ontario) Battalion, CEF was an infantry battalion raised as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force for service during the First World War. Raised in Canada in September 1914, the battalion sailed to the United Kingdom within weeks ...

36th Battalion, CEF The 36th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. History The battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914, and recruited in Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding district. The 36th Battalion embarked for U ...

114th Battalion (Haldimand), CEF The 114th Battalion (Haldimand), CEF, also known as "Brock's Rangers," was an infantry battalion of the Great War Canadian Expeditionary Force. The 114th Battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916 where ...

125th Battalion (1st Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF The 125th Battalion (1st Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. History Based in Brantford, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 throughout ...

133rd Battalion (Norfolk's Own), CEF The 133rd Battalion (Norfolk's Own), CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, the unit began recruiting during the later months of 1915 in Norfolk County; recruiting more ...

215th Battalion (2nd Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF The 215th Battalion (2nd Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volu ...

Operational history

The Great War

The

, was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Britain on 3 October 1914. It disembarked in France on 12 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade,

1st Canadian Division The 1st Canadian Division (French: ) is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very short notice, and is staffed and ...

in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920. The

, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 19 June 1915. The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917. The

, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916. Its personnel were absorbed by the 35th Reserve Battalion, CEF and the 36th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 11 November 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917. The

, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 7 August 1916. The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until February 1917, when it was allotted to the 14th Infantry Brigade,

5th Canadian Division The 5th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of most army units in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador; as well as some un ...

in England. On 16 April 1918 its personnel were absorbed by the 8th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918. The

was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 30 October 1916, where its personnel were absorbed by the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF on 12 November 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917. The

was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Britain on 29 April 1917, where its personnel were absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Battalion, CEF on 18 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917. The 41st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 18 August 1915. The battery disembarked in France on 14 July 1916, where it provided artillery support as part of the 11th Brigade, CFA, CEF in France and Flanders until 24 March 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 30th Battery, CFA, CEF and the 40th Battery, CFA, CEF. The battery was disbanded on 1 November 1920.

The Second World War

The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada mobilized The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada, CASF on 7 November 1941. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 17th Canadian Infantry Brigade,

7th Canadian Infantry Division The 7th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army, mobilized in the spring of 1942 and assigned for home defence within Atlantic Command, during World War II. At the time it was assumed it would consist of volun ...

. The battalion was disbanded on 8 March 1945.

Notable soldiers

* William Merrifield * Oliver Milton Martin

Order of precedence

References

{{Reflist Field artillery regiments of Canada Military units and formations established in 1954 Brantford Military units and formations of Ontario