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 the oldest highland regiment in Western Canada.
Lineage
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Originated 1 February 1910 in Winnipeg, Manitoba as The 79th Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 1 April 1910 as The 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 12 March 1920 as The Cameron Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 1 November 1923 as The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 30 November 1945 as The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 1 October 1954 as The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (Motor) Redesignated 11 April 1958 as The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of CanadaCanadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
Operational history
Great War Details of The 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
The 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada contributed one company to the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF (perpetuated by the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's).Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
The 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 1 June 1915. It disembarked in France on 22 February 1916, where it fought as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
The 174th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 29 April 1917. There, on 7 May 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 14th Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 1 September 1917.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
The 179th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 3 October 1916. There, on 21 October 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 17 July 1917.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
Second World War The regiment mobilized The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, CASF for active service on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, CASF on 7 November 1940. It embarked for Great Britain on 12 December 1940. The battalion took part in Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid, on 19 August 1942. It returned to France on 7 July 1944, as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 30 November 1945.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
Afghanistan The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
Perpetuations
The Great War 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF 174th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF 179th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF
History
Formation As early as 1905 the local Scottish community in Winnipeg, led by the St Andrew's Society of Winnipeg, began lobbying the government to raise a Highland regiment. Under increasing pressure from the Scottish lobbyists the government relented and the initial steps taken to form Western Canada's first Highland regiment. On 29 September 1909, the prospective officers met and committees dealing with finances, uniforms and the band were formed. As the government grant did not cover the entire cost of uniforms and equipment, the Scottish societies and the officers undertook to raise the money themselves managing an initial amount of $25,000.00. Almost all of the original accoutrements were manufactured in Scotland, obtained from William Anderson & Sons Ltd. On 1 February 1910, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada were officially gazetted, headquartered in the former Dominion Lands Office at 202 Main Street. On 9 October 1910, the regiment received its first stand of Colours, presented by Mrs D. C. Cameron, wife of the honorary lieutenant-colonel.
The availability of the number "79" was fortuitous and enabled the new Canadian regiment to adopt the regimental number of a famous regiment in Scotland, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders who had been raised in 1793 as the 79th (Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Along with the regimental number the new Canadian regiment chose to also perpetuate the uniform of the Imperial Camerons.Imperial Camerons This association with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders became official on 31 January 1911, when His Majesty, King George V authorized the alliance of the two Highland regiments. On 22 June 1911, a contingent of 61 Camerons, parading with their allied regiment, participated in the coronation of King George V.
Great War
When the First World War broke out the Canadian Army did not mobilize based on its existing structure. Instead Sir Sam Hughes, the Minister of Militia created an entirely new table of organization with numbered battalions raised on geographical lines. This often meant that more than one militia regiment contributed men to a single new Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) Battalion. Under this mobilization plan militia regiments were to remain in Canada acting only as drafting units. Initially the Camerons were tasked with raising a company. The First Volunteer Overseas Company mobilized 7 officers and 250 other ranks under Captain John Geddes. This company mustered at Camp Valcartier to be formed into a battalion with companies from three other Canadian highland regiments, the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF. The Camerons next mobilized the Second Volunteer Overseas Company providing the second-in-command, Major D. S. MacKay, a company (10 officers, 250 other ranks) and a signals section for what would become the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion (The Royal Winnipeg Rifles). It would not be until December 1914 that the regiment would be permitted to raise an entire battalion for overseas service.
On 18 December 1914, the Camerons received authority to raise a complete battalion for overseas service and the Volunteer Overseas Battalion was gazetted and mobilization commenced under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert M. Thomson. The battalion began training at Minto Armoury in Winnipeg and was soon re-designated the 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), CEF. On 29 May 1915 the battalion entrained for Montreal and deployment overseas. Embarking on HMTS Grampian on 9 June with a complement of 39 officers and 1,020 other ranks, the 43rd arrived in England on 8 June, disembarking at Davenport and proceeding by train to Lower St Martin's Plain, Shorncliffe. Arriving at the camp to find nothing ready for them, the Camerons set about pitching tents and setting up camp. The battalion made camp so expertly that they continued to be tasked to prepare camp for newly arriving units.
On 22 July the 43rd supplied a reinforcement draft of 386 other ranks to the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, the first of several. This loss of manpower placed the 43rd in peril of being broken up entirely and used as reinforcements. On 28 September the 43rd moved from the tented camp into huts at East Sandling. On 23 November the battalion was made into a reserve battalion and began taking casualties from the 15th and 16th Battalions on strength. Reinforced with the arrival of a number of drafts from the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Drafting Detachment back in Winnipeg, the 43rd was brought back up to strength and reprieved from dissolution, ceasing to be a reserve Battalion on 24 January 1916. The casualties on its strength were transferred to the 17th Reserve battalion, and on 29 January, the 43rd entrained for Liphook, Bramshott Camp to join the 3rd Canadian Division.
Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions at Sanctuary Wood in 1916 as a sergeant, Robert Shankland received a battlefield commission and continued to serve with the 43rd Battalion as an officer. On the morning of 26 October, he was the last officer to led his platoon forward to the crest of the hill. Once in position at the Bellevue Pillboxes, he could see that the remnant of "B" Company, in command of Sgt. Donald Mowat, along with additional men from "D" Company had captured the hill at the Bellevue Spur, the main trench line defending Passchendaele. Overrunning it and holding the position was critical to capturing the ruins of the town.
Although both flanks were eventually exposed, they held the position, withstanding incessant artillery shelling, German counterattacks and sustaining frightful casualties. In danger of being cut off and losing the vital position, Shankland turned over his command to another officer, and then returned to battalion headquarters, where he gave a first-hand report of the situation. He also offered a detailed plan on how a counterattack with reinforcements could best be achieved. He then returned to his men to hold the Spur while elements of the 43rd, now reinforced by companies of the 52nd and 58th Battalions captured the strong-points on both flanks. Once Bellevue Farm had been captured, Captain Galt, Officer Commanding "D" Company took over from Shankland, and Shankland returned to have his wounds dressed. For his actions that day Robert Shankland was awarded the Victoria Cross. Military Crosses were awarded to Capt. Donald A. Galt for attacking Bellevue Farm and later holding the Spur for two days; Lt. Edmund Smart of "A" Company for establishing a defensive flank and capturing a strong point (with four men) and taking eighty prisoners. And Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to Cpl. James Hainstock of "B" Company for his part in capturing the Spur, organizing a sniping defence, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy assembling for a counter-attack, and for holding this position for two days; CSM Donald Mowat "A" Company, but attached to "B", for leading with three men in the capture of one of the Pillboxes on the crest of the Spur, and dressing wounded under fire.