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Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC)
Encyclopedia
Le Régiment de Hull is a Primary Reserve armoured
reconnaissance regiment
of the Canadian Forces
. The regiment is based in Hull, Quebec
near Ottawa
. Active in all aspects of the day to day life of Outaouais residents, the unit is the only francophone military presence in the area.
Currently, it is organised into three distinct squadrons: C/S Squadron (Commandement et Services) is made up of the logistical and administrative support staff, C Squadron is a training squadron put in place to train new recruits and help integrate them into the profession of arms and, finally, D Squadron is the reconnaissance squadron, to which most of the members of the unit belong.
that the regiment was mobilized during the First World War. Upon its arrival in Europe, the unit was assigned to the Canadian Forestry Corps
. Nevertheless, several volunteers went to serve at the front in other battalions, including the famous 22nd Battalion, CEF.
At the outbreak of Second World War in September 1939, detachments of the regiment were called upon to mount guard at locations deemed vulnerable. In the summer of 1941, after intensive training, the regiment was sent to Nanaimo, British Columbia
, where it took part in defending the national territory as part of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It was the first time a French-language regiment was stationed on Vancouver Island
.
In August 1943, the Régiment de Hull took part in the invasion of Kiska Island, in the Aleutians. The Japanese having already secretly left the island, it did not engage in combat; however, the regiment remained on the island until January 1944. During that period, the soldiers faced the toughest weather conditions ever encountered by the Canadian Army anywhere in the world.
Following the Armistice, the regiment began a new life: on April 1, 1946, the regiment changed from infantry to armour. Several members of the regiment also volunteered for service in Germany
and Korea
.
At the beginning of the 1970s, the regiment's role changed again as it became a light armoured formation. Thus, since 1974, the regiment has served as an armoured reconnaissance unit. Since that time, members of the regiment have had the opportunity to participate in operational tasks, most notably in Cyprus
, Israel
, Haiti
, the former Yugoslavia
, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan
.
In August 1820, the founder of Hull, Philemon Wright
, commanded a group of Militia responsible for according honours to the Governor General
, Lord Dalhousie
, when he visited Hull.
Contemporary records report that the Hull Militia at the time had only a single artillery gun to fire the 19 shots required. The gun, weakened with age, exploded, injuring the artilleryman firing it. The Governor was touched by this tragedy and ordered two copper cannons, 60 sabres, 60 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition to be sent to Hull.
Sixty-four years after this incident, a general directive of the Canadian Militia, dated 15 March 1884, ordered the transfer of the 2nd Company of the 43rd Ottawa and Carleton Battalion of Rifles from Mount Sherwood to Hull.
The headquarters of the company remained at Hull until 1887, when all the dispersed companies were regrouped at the battalion headquarters in Ottawa.
As was the custom of the day, the unit was designated by a number. The Regiment's first official name was accordingly the "70th Regiment". This designation became "The Hull Regiment" on 15 March 1920, and the "Le Régiment de Hull" on 1 May 1923.
Initiatives to create a Militia unit in Hull had nonetheless been under way since the spring of 1914 by a group of Hull citizens, including M.A. Allard, J.A. Cloutier, I. Landre, R. Déziel, J. Paré, J.A. Thibault, J. Gauvin and Lieutenant H. Heyendal. They met at the Collège Notre-Dame.
The creation of the Hull Regiment also coincided (on 7 August 1914) with the acceptance by Great Britain of the Canadian Government's offer to pay all the costs of a military contingent. This first contingent left for England on 3 October of that year.
In Hull, as everywhere else in Canada, the public greeted the war with enthusiasm. Thousands wanted to leave for the front and to take part in what they believed would be a great adventure.
Although it was not mobilized for service overseas, the 70th Regiment provided personnel for the 230th Battalion of les Voltigeurs Canadiens-Français. This unit of the Canadian expeditionary corps was formed almost entirely of members of the 70th Regiment recruited in the Outaouais. It is for this reason that Le Régiment de Hull perpetuates the memory of the 230th Battalion.
After a stay in England, the 230th was assigned to the Forestry Corps in November 1916 and went to France. Before the war, England imported an enormous quantity of wood every year. And while the war had generated even greater demand, the cargoes needed were increasingly scarce as a result of German submarine attacks. This scarcity delayed the dispatch of reinforcements, ammunition, rations, fodder and other essential items.
Canadians not only responded to the call, they set new production records. Over 70% of all the wood used by the allied armies during World War I came from Canada's forests. According to the official Canadian history, the participation of the Canadian Forestry Corps was "remarkable and contributed to the defeat of the submarine campaign".
to return home. Over 60,000 Canadians had died in battle. Thousands more were seriously wounded and many of them would never be able to resume normal life.
The return to civilian life after so terrible a war is often difficult for veterans. Similarly, the resumption of activities by the Hull Militia was not without its problems.
Since the government had decided no longer to designate units by a number, the 70th Regiment officially became "The Hull Regiment" in 1920, a designation which was changed to its French equivalent in Spring 1923.
As was only to be expected after such a murderous war, enthusiasm waned significantly, a state of mind that was only exacerbated by equipment shortages and the need to meet in cramped, inadequate quarters. The Regiment was housed at 84 Principale in Hull, moving to number 29 on the same street in 1922.
Against all odds, the Regiment grew and flourished. In 1924, the Governor General, Baron Byng of Vimy, presented the unit with its regimental colours, the gift of honorary Lieutenant-Colonel J.E. Gravelle.
This impressive ceremony took place on the square in front of City Hall in Hull in the presence of thousands of onlookers. The flag is unique in the Canadian Army in that it displays the Regimental crest on an entirely white background.
As early as 1923, the Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Rodrigue Girard, had dreamed of a proper armoury. This was to be a lengthy undertaking requiring the devotion of successive Commanding Officers.
There are, in fact, two almost identical armouries in Canada: one in Gatineau and one in Vancouver. The Seaforth Armoury
in Vancouver was designed by the architectural firm of McCarter and Nairne and built in 1936 using non-government funds raised by the regiment, two years before the Regiment de Hull built their armoury. Salaberry Armoury
The Seaforth Armoury is painted an off-white. Naturally the regimental cap-badges carved in stone on the outer walls are different in the two locations.
Finally, thanks to the perseverance of Regiment de Hull Commanding Officers and to the combined efforts of the civilian, religious, political and military authorities of the day, the first subsidies for what was to become the Salaberry Armoury were voted by Parliament on 18 February 1937, in large measure due to the efforts of the MP for Hull, Alphonses Fournier, QC.
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone and the blessing of the new Salaberry armoury took place on 21 July 1938. The plans had been drawn by a local architect, Lucien Sarra-Bournet, presumably based upon the 2-year old plans for the Seaforth Armoury. Six months later, on 28 January 1939, less than a year before the declaration of World War II, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Tweedsmuir, presided over the official opening of Salaberry Armoury.
Sixty years on, these two armouries remains some of Canada's most impressive military buildings. The Salaberry Armoury was named in honour of Colonel Charles Michel de Salaberry, celebrated as "the saviour of our country" following his victory at Châteauguay, one of the most important battles of the War of 1812.
Salaberry Armoury
originally stood at the intersection of Taché and Saint-Joseph Boulevards, on an enormous lot owned by Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. Hadley, VC, the Commanding Officer of Le Régiment de Hull from 1927 to 1931. Since then, almost half the land along Saint-Joseph Blvd has been converted into a park.
Many members of the Regiment enrolled in the active Army and initially served as instructors in numerous training camps, including in Saint Jérôme, Quebec and in Cornwall, Ontario.
The first Battalion of Le Régiment de Hull was mobilized for active service on 29 July 1941. A few days later, National Defence Headquarters entrusted command of the Regiment to Lieutenant-Colonel Marcel Grison.
In the meantime, an initial group of officers had been sent to Brockville to undergo special training and the Regiment left for Valcartier, where it underwent intensive training from December 1941 to mid-April 1942. It was subsequently sent to Nanaimo, British Columbia
, where it participated in the defence of Canada as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Infantry Division. This was the first time that a Francophone regiment had been stationed on Vancouver Island
.
, in the Aleutians. The Regiment was at the time under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dollard Ménard, DSO, CD a hero of the Dieppe raid.
The Japanese had invaded the Aleutians in June 1942. Although Kiska
was 4,500 km from Vancouver, the enemy presence caused considerable concern in Canada and the United States. While the US Navy imposed a blockade, air raids were carried out. The blockade and the bombing nonetheless did not succeed in dislodging the enemy, and the Americans decided to attack the islands directly. On 12 May, US troops landed at Attu, resulting in one of the fiercest and most costly battles of the entire war. Of the 3,000 Japanese in the garrison, only 11 were taken prisoner; all the others were killed or committed suicide.
Since Kiska was defended by a stronger garrison (some 5,400 soldiers), the Americans asked Canada for help. The 13th Brigade was chosen to participate in the invasion of Kiska, comprising, in addition to Le Régiment de Hull, the Canadian Fusiliers, the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Rocky Mountain Rangers.
"D" Day for Kiska was set for 15 August 1943. Since the enemy had secretly abandoned the island, Canadian troops were not called upon to fight. The Regiment nonetheless had to stay on the island until January 1944, during which time the soldiers were subjected to the worst weather conditions endured by the Canadian Army anywhere, throughout its entire history.
Shortly after its arrival, however, the Regiment was temporarily renamed the "4th Training Battalion" and assigned to training until their release on 18 September 1945. Many members of the 1st battalion of Le Régiment de Hull were nonetheless involved in fighting on the continent of Europe as reinforcements for other Canadian regiments, an honour for which some paid with their lives.
During this time, a 2nd battalion was formed at Hull to provide reinforcements for the 1st. In addition to undergoing rigorous training, the members of the 2nd battalion contributed to the Army's recruiting efforts, guarded locations considered to be of strategic importance, took part in guarding prisoners of war and subscribed to numerous campaigns to sell Victory Bonds, in which they set records.
This new calling was officially confirmed on 1 April 1946, when the Regiment's name officially became the 21st Armoured Regiment (Le Régiment de Hull). Twelve years later, on 19 May 1958, the Regiment adopted its current name: Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC).
The Regiment should thenceforth have rallied around a cavalry guidon, but continued to serve under its old white regimental colours from infantry days, in the form of the flag it had received in 1924.
During the years that followed the end of World War II, the Regiment took part in training exercises for a war in Europe against the Soviet Union. This was the start of the Cold War and relations between East and West were tense.
It was against this background that, when Communist North Korea invaded South Korea, Canada agreed to send a contingent to serve as part of the UN Forces. More than 60 members of the Regiment volunteered to serve in the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
At almost the same time, the Regiment formed the “Y” Troop to reinforce the armoured squadron of the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade in Europe. This Brigade, the first Canadian force sent overseas in peacetime, was stationed near Hanover, in the Federal Republic of Germany.
From 1970 to 1973, the Regiment's heavy armour role was gradually modified to that of a light armoured formation. The unit was equipped with jeeps for the purpose. This is why, since 1974, the Regiment has acted as a reconnaissance unit in the Eastern Area, which has now become Land Force Quebec Area.
In 1979, the Regiment won the Worthington Trophy for the best Militia armoured unit. This was the crowning achievement after a series of trophies won in various military competitions, including the prestigious Buchanan Trophy, which is awarded to the best Quebec unit.
On 16 October 1982, the Governor General, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer, presented the Regiment with its new colours. The next day, the old regimental colours were deposited at la Maison du Citoyen, in Hull. The new guidon incorporates 2 rams, recalling the unit's service in the infantry, and 2 fleurs-de-lys, symbolizing its Francophone status.
The Regiment celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1989. Ceremonies marking the occasion brought together former members of the unit in Salaberry Armoury. In 2004, the unit and its former members celebrated freedom of the newly amalgamated city of Gatineau
.
Canadian soldiers have developed an unusual degree of expertise and are now highly sought after for such missions. Members of Le Régiment de Hull are no exception to the rule: many of them have had an opportunity to participate in missions in Cyprus, Israel, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia. Members most recently served in the former Yugoslavia, Israel, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.
Alongside their colleagues in the Regular Force, the members of the Regiment in 1988 shared the honour of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to "blue helmets" throughout the world.
Worthington Trophy
Nash Memorial Challenge Trophy
Buchanan Trophy
Colonel Ross Memorial Trophy
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
reconnaissance regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. The regiment is based in Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
near Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Active in all aspects of the day to day life of Outaouais residents, the unit is the only francophone military presence in the area.
Currently, it is organised into three distinct squadrons: C/S Squadron (Commandement et Services) is made up of the logistical and administrative support staff, C Squadron is a training squadron put in place to train new recruits and help integrate them into the profession of arms and, finally, D Squadron is the reconnaissance squadron, to which most of the members of the unit belong.
Regimental history
Established in 1914, the Régiment de Hull was originally named the 70th Regiment. However, it was under the name of the 230th (Voltigeurs Canadiens-Français) Battalion, CEF230th (Voltigeurs Canadiens-Français) Battalion, CEF
The 230th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 eastern Ontario, Hull, Quebec, and the surrounding district. The battalion became the 230th Forestry Battalion in October 1916...
that the regiment was mobilized during the First World War. Upon its arrival in Europe, the unit was assigned to the Canadian Forestry Corps
Canadian Forestry Corps
The Canadian Forestry Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army with its own cap badge, and other insignia and traditions.The Canadian Forestry Corps was created 14 Nov 1916. The crest of the Canadian Forestry Corps consists of a circle, with a beaver on top, superimposed on a pair of...
. Nevertheless, several volunteers went to serve at the front in other battalions, including the famous 22nd Battalion, CEF.
At the outbreak of Second World War in September 1939, detachments of the regiment were called upon to mount guard at locations deemed vulnerable. In the summer of 1941, after intensive training, the regiment was sent to Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, where it took part in defending the national territory as part of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It was the first time a French-language regiment was stationed on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
.
In August 1943, the Régiment de Hull took part in the invasion of Kiska Island, in the Aleutians. The Japanese having already secretly left the island, it did not engage in combat; however, the regiment remained on the island until January 1944. During that period, the soldiers faced the toughest weather conditions ever encountered by the Canadian Army anywhere in the world.
Following the Armistice, the regiment began a new life: on April 1, 1946, the regiment changed from infantry to armour. Several members of the regiment also volunteered for service in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
At the beginning of the 1970s, the regiment's role changed again as it became a light armoured formation. Thus, since 1974, the regiment has served as an armoured reconnaissance unit. Since that time, members of the regiment have had the opportunity to participate in operational tasks, most notably in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Origins
Although Le Régiment de Hull was not officially founded until August 1914, the Canadian Militia was present in Hull long before then.In August 1820, the founder of Hull, Philemon Wright
Philemon Wright
Philemon Wright was a farmer and entrepreneur who founded Wrightstown, the first permanent settlement in the National Capital Region of Canada...
, commanded a group of Militia responsible for according honours to the Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, Lord Dalhousie
George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie
General George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie GCB , styled Lord Ramsay until 1787, was a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator...
, when he visited Hull.
Contemporary records report that the Hull Militia at the time had only a single artillery gun to fire the 19 shots required. The gun, weakened with age, exploded, injuring the artilleryman firing it. The Governor was touched by this tragedy and ordered two copper cannons, 60 sabres, 60 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition to be sent to Hull.
Sixty-four years after this incident, a general directive of the Canadian Militia, dated 15 March 1884, ordered the transfer of the 2nd Company of the 43rd Ottawa and Carleton Battalion of Rifles from Mount Sherwood to Hull.
The headquarters of the company remained at Hull until 1887, when all the dispersed companies were regrouped at the battalion headquarters in Ottawa.
Birth of the regiment
On 7 August 1914, a general order of the Canadian Militia authorized the formation of a unit at Hull. Three days earlier, Canada had entered the war against Germany; World War I had broken out.As was the custom of the day, the unit was designated by a number. The Regiment's first official name was accordingly the "70th Regiment". This designation became "The Hull Regiment" on 15 March 1920, and the "Le Régiment de Hull" on 1 May 1923.
Initiatives to create a Militia unit in Hull had nonetheless been under way since the spring of 1914 by a group of Hull citizens, including M.A. Allard, J.A. Cloutier, I. Landre, R. Déziel, J. Paré, J.A. Thibault, J. Gauvin and Lieutenant H. Heyendal. They met at the Collège Notre-Dame.
The creation of the Hull Regiment also coincided (on 7 August 1914) with the acceptance by Great Britain of the Canadian Government's offer to pay all the costs of a military contingent. This first contingent left for England on 3 October of that year.
In Hull, as everywhere else in Canada, the public greeted the war with enthusiasm. Thousands wanted to leave for the front and to take part in what they believed would be a great adventure.
World War I: 230th Battalion
The first task of the 70th Regiment was to serve as a recruiting centre for the Hull military district. The Regimental records show that the unit enrolled 2,108 men, who were subsequently distributed to a variety of battalions, including the 22nd, 38th, 41st and 57th.Although it was not mobilized for service overseas, the 70th Regiment provided personnel for the 230th Battalion of les Voltigeurs Canadiens-Français. This unit of the Canadian expeditionary corps was formed almost entirely of members of the 70th Regiment recruited in the Outaouais. It is for this reason that Le Régiment de Hull perpetuates the memory of the 230th Battalion.
After a stay in England, the 230th was assigned to the Forestry Corps in November 1916 and went to France. Before the war, England imported an enormous quantity of wood every year. And while the war had generated even greater demand, the cargoes needed were increasingly scarce as a result of German submarine attacks. This scarcity delayed the dispatch of reinforcements, ammunition, rations, fodder and other essential items.
Canadians not only responded to the call, they set new production records. Over 70% of all the wood used by the allied armies during World War I came from Canada's forests. According to the official Canadian history, the participation of the Canadian Forestry Corps was "remarkable and contributed to the defeat of the submarine campaign".
Between the wars
The Armistice enabled some 350,000 members of the Canadian Expeditionary ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
to return home. Over 60,000 Canadians had died in battle. Thousands more were seriously wounded and many of them would never be able to resume normal life.
The return to civilian life after so terrible a war is often difficult for veterans. Similarly, the resumption of activities by the Hull Militia was not without its problems.
Since the government had decided no longer to designate units by a number, the 70th Regiment officially became "The Hull Regiment" in 1920, a designation which was changed to its French equivalent in Spring 1923.
As was only to be expected after such a murderous war, enthusiasm waned significantly, a state of mind that was only exacerbated by equipment shortages and the need to meet in cramped, inadequate quarters. The Regiment was housed at 84 Principale in Hull, moving to number 29 on the same street in 1922.
Against all odds, the Regiment grew and flourished. In 1924, the Governor General, Baron Byng of Vimy, presented the unit with its regimental colours, the gift of honorary Lieutenant-Colonel J.E. Gravelle.
This impressive ceremony took place on the square in front of City Hall in Hull in the presence of thousands of onlookers. The flag is unique in the Canadian Army in that it displays the Regimental crest on an entirely white background.
Salaberry Armoury
There are, in fact, two almost identical armouries in Canada: one in Gatineau and one in Vancouver. The Seaforth Armoury
Seaforth Armoury
The Seaforth Armoury is a Canadian Forces armoury located at 1650 Burrard Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the home of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, a Primary Reserve Infantry unit...
in Vancouver was designed by the architectural firm of McCarter and Nairne and built in 1936 using non-government funds raised by the regiment, two years before the Regiment de Hull built their armoury. Salaberry Armoury
Salaberry Armoury
The Salaberry Armoury , is an historic armoury in Gatineau, Quebec, that is home to the armoured Régiment de Hull. The armoury was built in 1938, and was named after Colonel Charles de Salaberry, a hero of the War of 1812. It was one of a series of armouries built across Canada during the 1930s...
The Seaforth Armoury is painted an off-white. Naturally the regimental cap-badges carved in stone on the outer walls are different in the two locations.
Finally, thanks to the perseverance of Regiment de Hull Commanding Officers and to the combined efforts of the civilian, religious, political and military authorities of the day, the first subsidies for what was to become the Salaberry Armoury were voted by Parliament on 18 February 1937, in large measure due to the efforts of the MP for Hull, Alphonses Fournier, QC.
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone and the blessing of the new Salaberry armoury took place on 21 July 1938. The plans had been drawn by a local architect, Lucien Sarra-Bournet, presumably based upon the 2-year old plans for the Seaforth Armoury. Six months later, on 28 January 1939, less than a year before the declaration of World War II, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Tweedsmuir, presided over the official opening of Salaberry Armoury.
Sixty years on, these two armouries remains some of Canada's most impressive military buildings. The Salaberry Armoury was named in honour of Colonel Charles Michel de Salaberry, celebrated as "the saviour of our country" following his victory at Châteauguay, one of the most important battles of the War of 1812.
Salaberry Armoury
Salaberry Armoury
The Salaberry Armoury , is an historic armoury in Gatineau, Quebec, that is home to the armoured Régiment de Hull. The armoury was built in 1938, and was named after Colonel Charles de Salaberry, a hero of the War of 1812. It was one of a series of armouries built across Canada during the 1930s...
originally stood at the intersection of Taché and Saint-Joseph Boulevards, on an enormous lot owned by Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. Hadley, VC, the Commanding Officer of Le Régiment de Hull from 1927 to 1931. Since then, almost half the land along Saint-Joseph Blvd has been converted into a park.
World War II: the defence of Canada
When Canada declared war on Germany on 10 September 1939, the Regiment did not expect to be mobilized for war. Detachments of the Regiment were assigned to mount guard at points considered vulnerable to saboteurs, specifically Rockcliffe Aerodrome and the Residence of the Governor General.Many members of the Regiment enrolled in the active Army and initially served as instructors in numerous training camps, including in Saint Jérôme, Quebec and in Cornwall, Ontario.
The first Battalion of Le Régiment de Hull was mobilized for active service on 29 July 1941. A few days later, National Defence Headquarters entrusted command of the Regiment to Lieutenant-Colonel Marcel Grison.
In the meantime, an initial group of officers had been sent to Brockville to undergo special training and the Regiment left for Valcartier, where it underwent intensive training from December 1941 to mid-April 1942. It was subsequently sent to Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, where it participated in the defence of Canada as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Infantry Division. This was the first time that a Francophone regiment had been stationed on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
.
The Kiska Landing
In August 1942, Le Régiment de Hull took part in the invasion of the island of KiskaKiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
, in the Aleutians. The Regiment was at the time under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dollard Ménard, DSO, CD a hero of the Dieppe raid.
The Japanese had invaded the Aleutians in June 1942. Although Kiska
was 4,500 km from Vancouver, the enemy presence caused considerable concern in Canada and the United States. While the US Navy imposed a blockade, air raids were carried out. The blockade and the bombing nonetheless did not succeed in dislodging the enemy, and the Americans decided to attack the islands directly. On 12 May, US troops landed at Attu, resulting in one of the fiercest and most costly battles of the entire war. Of the 3,000 Japanese in the garrison, only 11 were taken prisoner; all the others were killed or committed suicide.
Since Kiska was defended by a stronger garrison (some 5,400 soldiers), the Americans asked Canada for help. The 13th Brigade was chosen to participate in the invasion of Kiska, comprising, in addition to Le Régiment de Hull, the Canadian Fusiliers, the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Rocky Mountain Rangers.
"D" Day for Kiska was set for 15 August 1943. Since the enemy had secretly abandoned the island, Canadian troops were not called upon to fight. The Regiment nonetheless had to stay on the island until January 1944, during which time the soldiers were subjected to the worst weather conditions endured by the Canadian Army anywhere, throughout its entire history.
World War II: victory!
After being repatriated in February 1944, the Regiment embarked at Halifax for the United Kingdom on 25 May 1944. Its new barracks were at Camp Gandale in Yorkshire. The soldiers were expecting to take part in the eagerly awaited invasion of occupied Europe.Shortly after its arrival, however, the Regiment was temporarily renamed the "4th Training Battalion" and assigned to training until their release on 18 September 1945. Many members of the 1st battalion of Le Régiment de Hull were nonetheless involved in fighting on the continent of Europe as reinforcements for other Canadian regiments, an honour for which some paid with their lives.
During this time, a 2nd battalion was formed at Hull to provide reinforcements for the 1st. In addition to undergoing rigorous training, the members of the 2nd battalion contributed to the Army's recruiting efforts, guarded locations considered to be of strategic importance, took part in guarding prisoners of war and subscribed to numerous campaigns to sell Victory Bonds, in which they set records.
The postwar period
After the Armistice, a new life began for the Regiment. It was at this time that Le Régiment de Hull changed corps, moving from the infantry to armour.This new calling was officially confirmed on 1 April 1946, when the Regiment's name officially became the 21st Armoured Regiment (Le Régiment de Hull). Twelve years later, on 19 May 1958, the Regiment adopted its current name: Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC).
The Regiment should thenceforth have rallied around a cavalry guidon, but continued to serve under its old white regimental colours from infantry days, in the form of the flag it had received in 1924.
During the years that followed the end of World War II, the Regiment took part in training exercises for a war in Europe against the Soviet Union. This was the start of the Cold War and relations between East and West were tense.
It was against this background that, when Communist North Korea invaded South Korea, Canada agreed to send a contingent to serve as part of the UN Forces. More than 60 members of the Regiment volunteered to serve in the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
At almost the same time, the Regiment formed the “Y” Troop to reinforce the armoured squadron of the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade in Europe. This Brigade, the first Canadian force sent overseas in peacetime, was stationed near Hanover, in the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Cold War
In the late 1950s, the role of the Militia changed; this was the era of civil defence. The members of the Regiment took part in rescue exercises and emergency measures in the event of a nuclear war. The unit subsequently resumed its armoured training.From 1970 to 1973, the Regiment's heavy armour role was gradually modified to that of a light armoured formation. The unit was equipped with jeeps for the purpose. This is why, since 1974, the Regiment has acted as a reconnaissance unit in the Eastern Area, which has now become Land Force Quebec Area.
In 1979, the Regiment won the Worthington Trophy for the best Militia armoured unit. This was the crowning achievement after a series of trophies won in various military competitions, including the prestigious Buchanan Trophy, which is awarded to the best Quebec unit.
On 16 October 1982, the Governor General, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer, presented the Regiment with its new colours. The next day, the old regimental colours were deposited at la Maison du Citoyen, in Hull. The new guidon incorporates 2 rams, recalling the unit's service in the infantry, and 2 fleurs-de-lys, symbolizing its Francophone status.
The Regiment celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1989. Ceremonies marking the occasion brought together former members of the unit in Salaberry Armoury. In 2004, the unit and its former members celebrated freedom of the newly amalgamated city of Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
.
Peacekeeping operations
Since 1948, Canada has taken part in many peacekeeping operations, either with the UN or other international organizations. Over 100,000 members of the Canadian Forces have served in these operations. As of 1 January 2000, 107 Canadian soldiers have died in the course of these missions.Canadian soldiers have developed an unusual degree of expertise and are now highly sought after for such missions. Members of Le Régiment de Hull are no exception to the rule: many of them have had an opportunity to participate in missions in Cyprus, Israel, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia. Members most recently served in the former Yugoslavia, Israel, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.
Alongside their colleagues in the Regular Force, the members of the Regiment in 1988 shared the honour of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to "blue helmets" throughout the world.
Trophies
Over the course of its history, the Régiment de Hull has won the following trophies:Worthington Trophy
- Won in 1979.
- First presented in 1954 by the first Commanding Officer of the Armoured Corps, MGen F.F. Worthington. The trophy is a scale model in silver of a Centurion tank. The trophy is awarded to the best Armoured Corps Militia unit.
Nash Memorial Challenge Trophy
- Won in 1988, 1989.
- The Nash trophy was first awarded in 1939 by MGen Nash, MC, ADC. The trophy was initially awarded to the Armoured Corps Militia unit with the highest percentage of qualified mechanics in its ranks. Since 1980, the trophy has been awarded to the best reconnaissance troop in the Armoured Corps Militia units.
Buchanan Trophy
- Won in 1957, 1964, 1978, 1979, 1980.
- Awarded for the first time in 1957 by LCol E.B.Q. Buchanan. This trophy is given to the best Militia armoured unit in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
Colonel Ross Memorial Trophy
- Won in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984.
- Awarded in honour of Colonel Ross in 1953. The trophy rewards the second best armoured unit in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
Commanding officers
- 1914-20 Lcol W.L. Allard
- 1920-23 Lcol M. Cloutier
- 1923-27 Lcol R. Girard
- 1927-31 Lcol W.F. Hadley, VD
- 1931-35 Lcol F.J.G. Garneau, OBE, ED
- 1935-39 Lcol R. Larose, ED
- 1939-43 Lcol M.C. Grison, ED, ADC
- 1941-42 Lcol L. Normandin (2e Bn)
- 1942-43 Lcol M.A. Lavoie, ED (2e Bn)
- 1943-44 Bgén D. Ménard, DSO, CD
- 1944-46 Lcol L. Saint-Laurent, OBE
- 1946-48 Bgén J.P. Carrière, CD
- 1948-52 Lcol F. Mousseau
- 1952-56 Lcol C. Legault, CD
- 1956-59 Lcol G. Addy, ED, CD
- 1959-64 Lcol G. de Merlis, CD
- 1964-67 Lcol A. Fortier, ED, CD
- 1967-70 Lcol H.A. Langlois, CD
- 1970-73 Lcol J. Dargis, CD
- 1973-76 Col R.E. Dormer, CD, ADC
- 1976-79 Lcol J.R.L. Villeneveuve, CD
- 1979-83 Bgén J. Gervais, OstJ, CD
- 1983-87 Lcol R.L. Adam, CD
- 1987-90 Lcol L. Marleau, CD
- 1990-93 Lcol D. Gagné, OstJ, CD
- 1993-96 Col D. Lafleur, OstJ, CD
- 1996-99 Lcol Y. Isabelle, CD
- 1999-02 Lcol L. Lefebvre, CD, ADC
- 2002-05 Lcol J.L.P. Giguère, CD
- 2005-08 Lcol M. P. Gagné, CD
- 2008-11 Lcol T. Falardeau, CD
- 2011- Lcol A. Lafrance
Regimental sergents-major
- 1914-21 WO1 W. Paquette
- 1921-31 WO1 L.G. Séguin
- 1931-42 WO1 M. Doran
- 1943-45 WO1 A. Handy (1er Bn)
- 1942-52 WO1 G. Doran (2e Bn)
- 1953-59 WO1 E. Blakeney
- 1959-66 WO1 R. Nault, CD
- 1966-67 WO1 F. Gordon, EM, CD
- 1967-71 Adjuc J. Labelle, CD
- 1971-73 Adjuc P.P. Séguin, CD
- 1973-76 Adjuc Y. Chénier, CD
- 1976-77 Adjuc P. Monette, CD
- 1977-84 Adjuc J.A. Barratt, CD
- 1984-85 Adjuc A.E. Allard, CD
- 1985-88 Adjuc G. Sabourin, CD
- 1988-89 Adjuc N. Bouvier, CD
- 1990-93 Adjuc R. Lessard, CD
- 1993-98 Adjuc R. Guilbert, CD
- 1999-99 Adjuc N. Roberge, CD
- 1999-99 Adjum G. Trépanier, CD
- 1999-03 Adjuc D. Morin, CD
- 2003-08 Adjuc R. Riopel, MMM, CD
- 2008-11 Adjuc G. Bergeron, CD
- 2011- Adjuc J.R.R Picotin, CD
See also
- Salaberry ArmourySalaberry ArmouryThe Salaberry Armoury , is an historic armoury in Gatineau, Quebec, that is home to the armoured Régiment de Hull. The armoury was built in 1938, and was named after Colonel Charles de Salaberry, a hero of the War of 1812. It was one of a series of armouries built across Canada during the 1930s...
- 34 Canadian Brigade Group34 Canadian Brigade Group34 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Quebec Area, under Land Force Command of the Canadian Forces. It is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.-Brigade Units:...
- List of units of the Canadian Army
- Authorized marches of the Canadian ForcesAuthorized marches of the Canadian ForcesThe following is a list of the notable authorized marches for various organizations of the Canadian Forces. The first march listed is the march most commonly performed for that organization on parade; it is commonly referred to simply as that organization's "march" or "march past"...
- Land Force Quebec AreaLand Force Quebec AreaLand Force Quebec Area is responsible for all Canadian army operations and administration in the region within the province of Quebec. LFQA is headquartered in Montreal.- Regular Force :* Land Force Quebec Area Training Centre - Courcelette...
- Canadian Forces order of precedenceCanadian Forces order of precedenceAll units of the Canadian Forces have an order of precedence that determines seniority; it often decides such matters as which unit forms up to the right of other units on a ceremonial parade, or the order in which marches or calls are played at a mess dinner.-Order of precedence:# Royal Military...
- Military Unit Mottos: Canada (Land Forces)