North-West Europe 1944–1945 is a
battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or Military operation, operation on its flags ("colours"), uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible.
In ...
(more properly known as an honorary distinction)
[ earned by regiments of the ]British Commonwealth
The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an international association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire
The B ...
forces during the Second World War that took part in the actions of the northern part of the war's Western Front. The battle honour ''North-West Europe'' is suffixed with the year, or years, in which the awarded unit took part in the action.[North-West Europe]
canadiansoldiers.com, retrieved an
29 June 2019.
It refers to the land campaign starting with the 6th June landings in Normandy
Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy.
Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...
and ended with Field Marshal Montgomery taking the German military surrender of all German forces in the Netherlands, Northwest Germany and Denmark on Lüneburg Heath
Lüneburg Heath (, ) is a large area of heath (habitat), heath, geest, and woodland in the northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover and Bremen and is ...
in Northwest Germany. The campaign was conducted by Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF; ) was the headquarters of the Commander of Allies of World War II, Allied forces in northwest Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. US General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the ...
, of which the British 21st Army Group was a component, along with the American 12th and 6th Army Groups. Together, the three army groups comprised the Allied effort on the Western Front which at its longest stretched from the North Sea to Switzerland.
The battle honours for the Second World War were not awarded until 1957/58 by which point some units had amalgamated or been disbanded.
List of units
The following units were awarded the battle honour,
Canadian regiments
* The Toronto Scottish Regiment (1944–1945)[
* ]The Royal Regiment of Canada
The Royal Regiment of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment is based in Toronto, Ontario, and forms part of the 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
The ceremonial dress uniform of th ...
(1944–1945)[
* The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (1944–1945)][
* The Essex Scottish Regiment (1944–1945)][
* ]Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army.
Lineage
File:FMR Colours.jpg, The regimental colour of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
File:FMR Camp Flag.jpg, The camp flag of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
File:Fusilie ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group and is headquartered at the Minto Armoury in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is ...
(1944–1945)[
* The South Saskatchewan Regiment (1944–1945)][
* 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment) (1945)][
* The Elgin Regiment (1944–1945)][
* ]The Royal Montreal Regiment
The Royal Montreal Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in Westmount, Quebec. It is part of the 2nd Canadian Division's 34 Canadian Brigade Group.
Lineage
File:RMR Colour.jpg, Regimental colour
File:RMR Cam ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
Organization
The sub-units of the Lorne Scots are in the foll ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]12th Manitoba Dragoons
The 12th Manitoba Dragoons is an armoured regiment of the Canadian Army that is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.
Lineage 12th Manitoba Dragoons
*Originated 1 July 1903 in Brandon, Manitoba, as the ''12th "Manitoba Dragoons"''.
*Ama ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)
The 14th Canadian Hussars was a light cavalry and later light armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First raised in 1910 as the 27th Light Horse, the regiment was ...
(1944–1945)[
* 7th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (]17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars
The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). First organized in 1879 as "A" Squadron of the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Can ...
) (1944–1945)[
* ]The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry regiment.
Regimental badge
The regimental badge is laid out as follows: within a wreath of thistles and maple leaves, the figure of St And ...
(1944–1945)[
* (1944–1945)][
* ]The New Brunswick Rangers
The New Brunswick Rangers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1946, the regiment was amalgamated with The Saint John Fusiliers to form The South New Brunswick Regiment whi ...
(1944–1945)[
* The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) (1944–1945)][
* ]The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Canadian Brigade Group, 2nd Canadian Division, of the Canadian Army. The regiment is at 2067, rue Bleury (2067, Bleury Street) in Montreal, Quebec, Canad ...
(1944–1945)[
* Le Régiment de Maisonneuve (1944–1945)][
* ]The Calgary Highlanders
The Calgary Highlanders (10th Canadians) is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The regiment is a part-time reserve unit, under the command of 41 Canadian Brigade Gr ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles (R Wpg Rif) are a Primary Reserve one-battalion infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Nicknamed the "Little Black Devils", they are based at Minto Armoury in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles are part of 3rd ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Regina Rifle Regiment
The Royal Regina Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Prior to 1982 the regiment was known as The Regina Rifle Regiment. The Royal Regina Rifles are part of 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.
The r ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Canadian Scottish Regiment
The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
The regiment is in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Courtenay, British Columbia. It is part of the 3 ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, based in Toronto. The regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only reserve regiment in Canada to currently have ...
(1944–1945)[
* Le Régiment de la Chaudière (1944–1945)][
* ]The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, and is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment is headquartered in Bathurst, New Brunswick, with sub-units in ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
The Highland Light Infantry of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. In 1965, the regiment was amalgamated with The Scots Fusiliers of Canada to form The Highland Fusiliers of Canada (now The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada).
...
(1944–1945)[
* The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (1944–1945)][
* ]The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army founded in 1936. In 1954, it was amalgamated with The Pictou Highlanders and 189 LAA RCA Battery to form 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North).
Histo ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in St. Catharines, Ontario.
The regimental colonel-in-chief is the Duchess of Edinburgh and the regimental motto is , "Not for us but for our count ...
(1944–1945)[
* The Algonquin Regiment (1944–1945)][
* (1944–1945)][
* ]6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars)
The 1st Hussars is an armoured Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, based in London and Sarnia, Ontario.
Regimental seniority
Despite "1st" in the title, the regiment is not the most senior armoured unit. With the militia reo ...
(1944–1945)[
* 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse) (1944–1945)][
* 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment) (1944–1945)][
* ]21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General's Foot Guards)
First most commonly refers to:
* First, the ordinal form of the number 1
First or 1st may also refer to:
Acronyms
* Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters, an astronomical survey carried out by the Very Large Array
* Far Infrared a ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]22nd Armoured Regiment (The Grenadier Guards)
The Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) is a reserve infantry regiment in the 34 Canadian Brigade Group, 2nd Canadian Division, of the Canadian Army. The regiment is the oldest and second-most-senior infantry regiment in the Primary Reserve of the ...
(1944–1945)[
* 28th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Regiment) (1944–1945)][
* 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment (1944–1945)][
* ]1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Canadian Army formed in July 1942 during the Second World War; it served in North West Europe, landing in Normandy during Operation Tonga, in conjunction with the D ...
(1944–1945)[
* 1st Armoured Car Regiment (Royal Canadian Dragoons) (1945)][
* 4th Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) (1945)][
* ]The Saskatoon Light Infantry
The Saskatoon Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). The regiment was formed in 1924, when The North Saskatchewan Regiment (1920–1924) was reorganized into fo ...
(1945)[
* 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The Governor General's Horse Guards) (1945)][
* The Westminster Regiment (Motor) (1945)][
* ]The Princess Louise Fusiliers
The Princess Louise Fusiliers is a Primary Reserve light infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed as 66th The Halifax Battalion of Infantry and then named 66th Battalion (Princess Louise Fusiliers) after Princess Louise in 1879, ...
(1945)[
* ]The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked first in the order of precedence amongst Canad ...
(1945)[
* ]48th Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto, Ontario, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
Regimental Badge
...
(1945)[
* ]The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The regiment is subordinate to 39 Canadian Brigade Group, 3rd Canadian Division. Based at the Seaforth Armoury ...
(1945)[
* ]Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricias) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...
(1945)[
* ]The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment is part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, one of four brigade groups of 4th Canadian Division. The regimental headquarters and one ...
(1945)[
* ]The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry), or L Edmn R, is a Primary Reserve infantry unit of the Canadian Armed Forces based in Edmonton, Alberta. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment is part of 3rd Canadian D ...
(1945)[
* Royal 22e Régiment (1945)][
* ]The Carleton and York Regiment
The Carleton and York Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1954, the regiment was amalgamated with The New Brunswick Scottish and The North Shore (New Brunswick) ...
(1945)[
* ]The West Nova Scotia Regiment
The West Nova Scotia Regiment is a line infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, part of the Primary Reserve, and is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 36 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment recruits volunteers from the South-Western part of the ...
(1945)[
* ]The Perth Regiment
The Perth Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.
Lineage
Lineage of The Perth Regiment:
The Perth Regiment (Overseas Battalion)
*Originated 22 Dec as 110th (Overseas) Batta ...
(1945)[
* ]The Cape Breton Highlanders
The Cape Breton Highlanders is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It was established in 1871, merged into The Nova Scotia Highlanders in 1954, and re-established as a distinct regiment in 2011. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's ...
(1945)[
* ]The Irish Regiment of Canada
The Irish Regiment of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in Sudbury, Ontario. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 33 Canadian Brigade Group. Currently one battalion of the regiment exists.
The Irish regi ...
(1945)[
* 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment) (1945)][
* 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Three Rivers Regiment) (1945)][
* 2nd Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)) (1945)][
* 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars) (1945)][
* 9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons) (1945)][
* Prince Edward Island Regiment for actions of ]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 Canadian Mounted Rifles, it became a full regi ...
(1944–1945)[
]
US-Canadian forces
* First Special Service Force
The 1st Special Service Force (FSSF) was an elite joint American–Canadian commando unit in World War II, formed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Frederick of the Operations Division of the U.S. General Staff. During the Italian campaign of W ...
(1944)[
]
British regiments
* Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a reserve regiment in the British Army. Incorporated by royal charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII, it is the oldest regiment in the British Army and is considered the second-oldest military unit in the w ...
(1944–1945)
*Royal Norfolk Regiment
The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...
(1944–45)
* East Lancashire Regiment
The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, a Line infantry, line infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot and 59t ...
(1944–1945)[Battle Honours]
Lancashire Infantry Museum, accessed an
archived
30 June 2019.
* South Lancashire Regiment
The South Lancashire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958.
The regiment, which recruited, as its title suggests, primarily from the South Lancashire area, was created as part of the Childers Ref ...
(1944–1945)[
* ]Suffolk Regiment
The Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment Line infantry, of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, participating in many wars and conflicts, including the World War I, First and ...
* 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 of the United Kingdom, monarchy; due to this, it often ...
(1944–1945)
* Irish Guards
The Irish Guards (IG) is one of the Foot guards#United Kingdom, Foot Guards regiments of the British Army and is part of the Guards Division. Together with the Royal Irish Regiment (1992), Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish infant ...
* Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards (GREN GDS) is the most senior infantry regiment of the British Army, being at the top of the Infantry Order of Precedence. It can trace its lineage back to 1656 when Lord Wentworth's Regiment was raised in Bruges to protect ...
(1944–1945)[, Grenadier Guards Association, East Kent Branch, accessed and 21 July 2019.]
* Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards (WLSH GDS; ), part of the Guards and Parachute Division, Guards Division, is one of the Foot guards, Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. It was founded in 1915 as a single-battalion regiment, during the World War I, First ...
* 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* 1⁄60 of a ''second'', i.e., the third in a series of fractional parts in a sexagesimal number system
Places
* 3rd Street (dis ...
* Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.
In 1702, Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he di ...
(1944–1945)
* Parachute Regiment (1944–1945)
* South Staffordshire Regiment
The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for only 68 years. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot a ...
(1944)
* Army Commandos (1942–1944), in the form of honours granted to the Commandos Association.
* Manchester Regiment
The Manchester Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1958. The regiment was created during the 1881 Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot and the 96th R ...
(New 1st Battalion) (1944–1945)
* Gloucestershire Regiment
The Gloucestershire Regiment, commonly referred to as the Glosters, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 until 1994. It traced its origins to Colonel Gibson's Regiment of Foot, which was raised in 1694 and later became the ...
(1944–1945)Battle Honours The Gloucestershire Regiment 28th LXI
accessed 9 August 2019 an
31 August 2018.
*Life Guards
*Royal Horse Guards
See also
* North-West Europe campaign of 1940
*North-West Europe 1942 (Battle honour) North-West Europe 1942 was a battle honour awarded to units of the British and Canadian armies that took part in one or more of the following operations in the Second World War:
*Operation Biting
*St Nazaire Raid
* Operation Myrmidon
*Operation Aber ...
References
*Baker, Anthony ''Battle Honours of the British and Commonwealth Armies'' 1986. Ian Allan Publishing
{{DEFAULTSORT:North-West Europe Campaign Of 1944-1945
Battle honours of the British Army