12th York Rangers

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Canada Miltary_and_War

For profiles of men of this unit, see the category

Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) RCAC

Lineage

The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) RCAC trace their direct origins to Robert Rogers and his Rangers in 1756 during the French and Indian Wars. Disbanded after seven years of hard service, Rogers reformed the Rangers in 1775 and they soon were carried on the British Army list as the Queen's Rangers, First American Regiment. The Rangers were particularly distinguished under John Graves Simcoe in 1777 at the Battle of Brandywine and were shipped to New Brunswick at the end of the war in 1783. When Simcoe was appointed to be the first Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, he made a stop in New Brunswick and raised the Queen's Rangers again and brought them with him in 1793. The Rangers were stood down again in 1802 and became the York Militia. They became active again during the War of 1812 and again during the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837-38.

The York County Militia was reconstituted again on 14 September 1866 as the 12th "York Battalion of Infantry". It was redesignated as the 12th Battalion of Infantry or "York Rangers" on 10 May 1872, as the 12th Regiment "York Rangers" on 8 May 1900 and, following the Great War, as The York Rangers on 1 May 1920. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment and redesignated The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (MG). It was redesignated as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) on 5 March 1942, as The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (Reserve) on 15 September 1944, as The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) on 30 November 1945, as the 25th Armoured Regiment (Queen's York Rangers), RCAC on 19 June 1947, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (25th Armoured Regiment) on 4 February 1949, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) on 19 May 1958, The Queen's York Rangers (RCAC) on 3 September 1985 and The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) on 12 November 2004.

The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment was formed in Toronto, Ontario on 15 January 1921 as The West Toronto Regiment. On 1 August 1925, it was amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF), The York Rangers and redesignated The Queen's Rangers. It was redesignated The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment on 1 December 1927. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with The York Rangers