Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

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

Founded on April 26 1860, it is the oldest continuously serving infantry regiment in Canada. The unit motto is In Pace Paratus—In Peace Prepared.

The 2nd Battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada was formed on April 26, 1860, predating the Confederation of Canada. Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie. During the Trent Affair of 1862, William Mulock asked John McCaul, the head of University College (part of the University of Toronto), to call a student meeting that led to the formation of the University Rifle Company of volunteers, 9 Company of The Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto, later K Company of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.

It was re-designated as the Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada or Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto on 18 March 1863.

The Fenian Raids - The Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto were called out on active service from 8 to 31 March and from 1 to 22 June 1866. The battalion fought on the Niagara frontier. The Queen's Own Rifles first saw combat and sustained nine killed in action during the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866, where they and the 13th Volunteer Infantry Battalion (The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry) fell back when charged by a massive force of better armed and highly experienced Fenian insurgents composed of recent Irish American Civil War veterans. It was renamed as 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on 13 January 1882.

North West Rebellion - The 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada mobilized detachments for active service on 10 April 1885 that served with the Battleford Column of the North West Field Force, and were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.

South African War - It was named the 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on 8 May 1900. The Regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents, mainly the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. The Second Boer War was the first time that soldiers from the Regiment fought on foreign soil. They were recognized for their service and earned a battle honour for the regiment, even though they were not allowed to wear the QOR cap badge in South Africa.

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada has taken part in every Canadian military campaign, and served with great distinction in World War I and World War II in which 7 Riflemen were awarded the Victoria Cross. The 2nd Battalion, commanded by LCol W.H.V. Matthews served in Korea following the armistice from 26 March 54 to 6 April 1955. The QOR of C has provided personnel to support disaster relief in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Riflemen have also served on Expeditionary Operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Namibia, Somalia and Sudan.

Currently, the regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only reserve regiment in Canada to currently have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the reserve battalion, the Regimental Association, and the Regimental Band and Bugles. The official abbreviation is The QOR of C, but the name is often abbreviated to QOR. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada parade out of Moss Park Armoury in downtown Toronto.

Links

• Wikipedia - The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
• Canadian Army - The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives
• Wikitree Profile - North West Rebellion