The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Active	1866 - 1954
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Militia (1866-1940) Canadian Army (1940-1954)
Type	Fusiliers
Role	Infantry
Size	One Regiment
Part of	Non-Permanent Active Militia (1866-1940) Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1942-1954)
Garrison/HQ	London, Ontario
Engagements	Fenian Raids North-West Rebellion Second Boer War First World War Second World War
Battle honours	North West Canada, 1885 South Africa, 1899.1900 Ypres 1915, 17 Gravenstafel St. Julien Festubert, 1915 Mount Sorrel Somme 1916 Pozieres Flers-Courcelette Ancre Heights Arras 1917-1918 Vimy 1917 Arleux Scarpe 1917, 1918 Hill 70 Passchendaele Amiens Drocourt –Queant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Pursuit to Mons France and Flanders 1915-1918

The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1954, they were amalgamated with The Oxford Rifles to form the reserve battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Lineage[]

The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)[]

• Originated on 27 April 1866, in London, Ontario as the 7th Battalion Infantry (Prince Arthur's Own) by the regimentation of six independent artillery, rifle and infantry companies previously authorized on the following dates:
  • No. 1 Company (Volunteer Militia Foot Artillery Company) (London, Ontario) (first raised on 22 January 1862).
  • No. 2 Company (2nd Volunteer Militia Company of Infantry) (London, Ontario) (first raised on 23 January 1863).
  • No. 3 Company (The Merchants Volunteer Rifle Company of London) (London, Ontario) (first raised on 26 December 1862).
  • No. 4 Company (Volunteer Rifle Company) (London, Ontario) (first raised on 24 March 1865).
  • No. 5 Company (The London Highland Volunteer Rifle Company) (London, Ontario) (first raised on 7 August 1856).
  • No. 6 Company (2d Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of London) (London, Ontario) (first raised on 20 March 1856).^[5]
• Redesignated on 1 May 1866, as the 7th Battalion Infantry.
• Redesignated on 15 February 1867, as the 7th Battalion London Light Infantry.
• Redesignated on 16 January 1880, as the 7th Battalion Fusiliers.
• Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the 7th Regiment Fusiliers.^[7]
• Redesignated on 29 March 1920, The Western Ontario Regiment.
• Redesignated on 1 August 1924, as The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).^[1][2][3]
• Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with the Headquarters and A Company of the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and redesignated as The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun).^[1][2][3][8]
• Redesignated on 29 January 1942, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
• Redesignated on 24 March 1942, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun).
• Redesignated on 1 April 1946, as The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Machine Gun).
• Amalgamated on 1 October 1954, with The Oxford Rifles and redesignated as the London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment).^[1][2][3]

2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC[]

• Originated on 1 June 1919, in London, Ontario as the 2nd Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC.
• Redesignated on 15 September 1924, as the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC.
• Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).^[2]

Perpetuations[]

• 1st Battalion (Ontario Regiment), CEF^[9]
• 33rd Battalion, CEF
• 142nd Battalion (London's Own), CEF^[1]

Operational History[]

Fenian Raids[]

On 1 June 1866, the 7th Battalion Infantry (Prince Arthur's Own) were called out on active service. The battalion served on the St. Clair frontier and was removed from active service on 22 June 1866.^[2] A few years later on 12 April 1870, Two companies from the 7th Battalion, London Light Infantry were called out on active service. They served on the St. Clair frontier and were removed from active service on 21 April 1870.^[2]

North West Rebellion[]

On 10 April 1885, the 7th Battalion, Fusiliers were mobilized for active service. It served as part of the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force. At the end of hostilities. the battalion was removed from active service on 24 July 1885.^[2]

South African War[]

During the South African War, the 7th Battalion, Fusiliers contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents, most notably for the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.^[2]

First World War[]

On 6 August 1914, Details of the 7th Regiment, Fusiliers were placed on active service for local protection duties.^[2]

On 10 August 1914, the 1st Battalion, CEF was authorized and embarked for Great Britain on 26 September 1914. On 12 February 1915, the battalion disembarked in France, where it fought as part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. Upon it's return to Canada, the battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^[2]

On 7 November 1914, the 33rd Battalion, CEF was authorized and on 1 April 1916, embarked for Great Britain. Upon arrival in the UK on 6 April 1916, it was redesignated the 33rd Reserve Battalion, CEF and provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 36th Overseas" Battalion, CEF. On 17 July 1917, the 33rd Battalion was disbanded.^[2]

On 22 December 1915, the 142nd Battalion, CEF was authorized and on 31 October 1916, embarked for Great Britain. Upon arrival in the UK on 12 November 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF and provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. On 27 July 1917, the battalion was disbanded.^[2]

Second World War[]

On 29 January 1942, the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), CASF was mobilized for active service. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Pacific Command and as the machine gun battalion of the 6th Canadian Infantry Division.^{[2][3][10][11]}

In late 1943, the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was reassigned to the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group of the 6th Canadian Infantry Division and took part in the expedition to Kiska, Alaska, serving there from 16 August 1943 to 22 December 1943.^{[2][3][10][11]}

On 28 May 1944, the 1st Battalion embarked for the UK and later on 1 November 1944, it was redesignated the 2nd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, Type A (Canadian Fusiliers), CASF.^[2][3] On 10 August 1945, the overseas battalion was disbanded.^[2][3]

Post War and Amalgamation[]

Post war, The Canadian Fusiliers resumed their role as an infantry regiment in the Canadian Army Reserve.^[3]

On 1 October 1954, as a result on the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) were Amalgamated with The Oxford Rifles to become The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment) and subsequently became the reserve battalion of the RCR.^[1][2][3][4]

Alliances[]

•  United Kingdom - The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (Until 1954)^[6]

Battle Honours[]

North West Rebellion[]

• North West Canada, 1885^[12]

South African War[]

• South Africa, 1899.1900.^[13]

The Great War[]

• Ypres 1915, 17
• Gravenstafel
• St. Julien
• Festubert, 1915
• Mount Sorrel
• Somme 1916
• Pozieres
• Flers-Courcelette
• Ancre Heights
• Arras 1917-1918
• Vimy 1917
• Arleux
• Scarpe 1917, 1918
• Hill 70
• Passchendaele
• Amiens
• Drocourt –Queant
• Hindenburg Line
• Canal du Nord
• Pursuit to Mons
• France and Flanders 1915-1918.^[14][15]

References[]