The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada

The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
Cap badge of The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
Active	14 September 1866–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Army
Type	Fusiliers
Size	One battalion
Part of	Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Cambridge and Kitchener, Ontario
Motto(s)	DEFENCE NOT DEFIANCE
March	Quick: Seann Triubhas/The Highland Laddie Slow: 74ths Slow March
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant-Colonel Mark T. Poland, C.D.
Colonel-in-Chief	HRH the Duke of York

The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, with companies in Cambridge and Kitchener, and is a unit of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered in London, Ontario. The Duke of York, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, acts as Colonel-in-Chief. Previously, this post was held by The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.

History

The Great War

The 34th Battalion, CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 23 October 1915, where it provided reinforcements to Canadian units in the field until 27 November 1916, when it was reorganized as the 34th Battalion (Boys'), CEF. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 17 July 1917.

The 111th Battalion (South Waterloo), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 25 September 1916 where on 13 October 1916 its personnel were absorbed by the 35th Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for Canadian units in the field. The 111th Battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.

The 118th Battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 22 January 1917 where on 6 February 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 25th Reserve Battalion, CEF, to provide reinforcements for Canadian units in the field. The 118th Battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.

The Second World War

The Highland Light Infantry of Canada mobilized the The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, CASF, for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, CASF, on 7 November 1940 and embarked for Britain on 20 July 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed on JUNO Beach in Normandy as part of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 January 1946. The regiment subsequently mobilized the 3rd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, Canadian Infantry Corps, Canadian Army Occupation Force on 1 June 1945 for service in Germany. The 3rd Battalion was disbanded on 1 May 1946.^[1]

The camp flag of The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada.

The Scots Fusiliers mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Scots Fusiliers, CASF, for active service on 5 March 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Military District No. 2 until the battalion was disbanded on 15 October 1943.^[2]

The Highland Light Infantry regiment participated in the D-Day landings, disembarking at Nan sector on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944 with the rest of the 9th Brigade, which consisted of the The Highland Light Infantry, the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. These regiments were not in the first wave assault, but landed later in the morning and advanced through the lead brigades.^[3]

War In 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.^[4]

Battle honours

The regimental colour of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada.

Battle honours in small capitals are for large operations and campaigns and those in lowercase are for more specific battles. Bold type indicates honours emblazoned on the regimental colour.

First World War

Second World War

South-West Asia

Afghanistan^[5]

Lineage