Royal Rifles of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Royal Rifles of Canada was a rifle regiment
in the Canadian Army and fought alongside the Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Battle of Hong Kong
during World War II
.
The unit was formed in 1862 as the 8th Battalion and renamed the 9th Battalion in 1900. It was reformed alongside the Les Voltigeurs de Québec
in 1920. Its recruiting areas included, the Eastern Townships, Quebec City and Gaspe, Quebec, and Northern New Brunswick. The Royal Rifles of Canada fought gallantly in the Battle of Hong Kong
in December 1941. The survivors surrendered on December 25 1941 and spent the rest of the war in captivity. It was disbanded after World War II
, but the regiment's HQ on the Plains of Abraham, Quebec City became home to a museum, which was destroyed by a fire in 2008.
The Sherbrooke Hussars
(RCAC), a present day Canadian Forces Primary Reserve unit, perpetuates the Royal Rifles of Canada and the date 1941 on its guidon. Not as a battle honour, but an acknowledgement that one of its predecessor units, the 7th/XI Hussars, provided about half its effective strength to the Royal Rifles while it was preparing for overseas.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Canadian Army and fought alongside the Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Battle of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The unit was formed in 1862 as the 8th Battalion and renamed the 9th Battalion in 1900. It was reformed alongside the Les Voltigeurs de Québec
Les Voltigeurs de Québec
Les Voltigeurs de Québec is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The name of the regiment commemorates another older French-Canadian militia light infantry unit, the Canadian Voltigeurs...
in 1920. Its recruiting areas included, the Eastern Townships, Quebec City and Gaspe, Quebec, and Northern New Brunswick. The Royal Rifles of Canada fought gallantly in the Battle of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
in December 1941. The survivors surrendered on December 25 1941 and spent the rest of the war in captivity. It was disbanded after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but the regiment's HQ on the Plains of Abraham, Quebec City became home to a museum, which was destroyed by a fire in 2008.
The Sherbrooke Hussars
Sherbrooke Hussars
The Sherbrooke Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces.-Sherbrooke Regiment:The Sherbrooke Regiment was initially formed in 1866 as the Sherbrooke Battalion of Infantry, becoming the 53rd Battalion in 1867. The regiment provided volunteers for the 12th Battalion,...
(RCAC), a present day Canadian Forces Primary Reserve unit, perpetuates the Royal Rifles of Canada and the date 1941 on its guidon. Not as a battle honour, but an acknowledgement that one of its predecessor units, the 7th/XI Hussars, provided about half its effective strength to the Royal Rifles while it was preparing for overseas.
See also
- Newfoundland (dog)Newfoundland (dog)The Newfoundland is a breed of large dog. Newfoundlands can be black, brown, gray, or black and white. They were originally bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in the Dominion of Newfoundland, now part of Canada. They are known for their giant size, tremendous strength, calm dispositions,...
regarding GanderGander (dog)Gander was a Newfoundland dog posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal, the "animals' VC", in 2000 for his deeds in World War II, the first such award in over 50 years.-Military service:...
, the canine mascot and hero who carried away a hand grenadeHand grenadeA hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
from wounded members of the unit.