The Essex and Kent Scottish
Encyclopedia
The Essex and Kent Scottish is a Primary Reserve infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...

 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 was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.Founded in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including: 1887 - 21st Battalion, Essex Fusiliers; 1900 - 21st Regiment, Essex Fusiliers; 1920 - The Essex Fusiliers, acquiring...

 and The Kent Regiment
The Kent Regiment
The Kent Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. In 1954 it was amalgamated with The Essex Scottish Regiment to form The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment....

.

Its Colonel-in-Chief
Colonel-in-Chief
In the various Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel of the Regiment. They do not have an operational role. They are however kept informed of all important activities of the regiment, and pay occasional visits to its...

 is HRH
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...

 Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside...

. The Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...

 is LCol
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...

 Morris W. Brause, and the Deputy Commanding Officer is Maj
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...

 John Hodgins. The Regimental Sergeant Major is CWO Cyril Cheng.

There are two standing platoons within the regiment: One Platoon based in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...

; and Two Platoon, based in Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Chatham–Kent is a unitary authority in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mostly rural, its centres of population are Blenheim, Chatham, Dresden, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wallaceburg. Modern Chatham–Kent was created in 1998 by the merger of Kent County and its municipalities.- History :The former city of...

.

The Essex Scottish Regiment

On June 12, 1885, The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.Founded in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including: 1887 - 21st Battalion, Essex Fusiliers; 1900 - 21st Regiment, Essex Fusiliers; 1920 - The Essex Fusiliers, acquiring...

 was created as a part of the Canadian militia, then named The 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry. It would be composed of five infantry companies, which were formed between the years 1860 and 1885 in Essex County. Over the long history of the Regiment, it was renamed a total of four times. It was first redesignated as the 21st Battalion Essex Fusiliers on February 4, 1887.

Then as the 21st Regiment Essex Fusiliers on May 8, 1900. From there it was redesignated to simply The Essex Fusiliers on April 1, 1920. And finally, to The Essex Scottish Regiment on July 15, 1927.

The Kent Regiment

This regiment was formed on January 1, 1901. It was given the title of the 24th Kent Regiment, with the headquarters stationed in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. As with many regiments in 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 24th Kent Regiment was renamed, and more than once. In December 1936, the regiment was redesignated as The Kent Regiment (MG) when it amalgamated with B Company, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC. Eventually it was named The Kent Regiment
The Kent Regiment
The Kent Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. In 1954 it was amalgamated with The Essex Scottish Regiment to form The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment....

 on April 1, 1941.

Operational History

During the Great War details of the 21st Regiment Essex Fusiliers and 24th Kent Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties. The 18th Battalion, CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 April 1915 and arrived in France on 15 September 1915. The battalion fought as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:...

 in France and Flanders until the end of the war and was disbanded on 15 September 1920. The 99th Battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 31 May 1916 where its personnel were absorbed by the '35th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field on 6 July 1916. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917. The 186th Battalion was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 28 March 1917 where on 7 April 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 4th Reserve Battalion, CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field, with the battalion sisbanding on 15 September 1917. The 241st Battalion was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 29 April 1917 where on 7 May 1917 its personnel were absorbed by the 5th Reserve Battalion, CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 1 September 1917.

During the Second World War, The Essex Scottish mobilized the The Essex Scottish Regiment, CASF, for active service on 1 September 1939. It embarked for Great Britain on 16 July 1940 and was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Essex Scottish Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940. The battalion took part in the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942 and returned to France on 5 July 1944, as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...

. The battalion fought in North-West Europe until the end of the war and was disbanded on 15 December 1945. The Kent Regiment (Machine Gun) mobilized The Kent Regiment, CASF, for active service on 24 May 1940 and was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Kent Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940.40 It served in Canada as part of the 14th Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Infantry Division
8th Canadian Infantry Division
The 8th Canadian Infantry Division was a Canadian formation that served within Pacific Command in Western Canada during World War II. The Division unit's were raised on 18 March 1942 and the HQ was raised on 12 May 1942 at Prince George, BC. The Division was a home defence unit. It initially...

, part of Pacific Command. The battalion was disbanded on 30 March 1946.

Perpetuations

The Essex and Kent Scottish perpetuate the 18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF, 99th (Essex) Battalion, CEF, 186th (Kent) Battalion, CEF
186th (Kent) Battalion, CEF
The 186th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Chatham, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in Kent County, Ontario. After sailing to England in March 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 4th Reserve...

, and 241st Battalion (Canadian Scottish Borderers), CEF.

The forming of The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment

On October 1, 1954, almost one-hundred years after Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Chatham–Kent is a unitary authority in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mostly rural, its centres of population are Blenheim, Chatham, Dresden, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wallaceburg. Modern Chatham–Kent was created in 1998 by the merger of Kent County and its municipalities.- History :The former city of...

 and Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...

 decided to first have an operational militia, The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment was formed. It occurred when The Kent Regiment and The Essex Scottish Regiment decided to unite as a single regiment. On March 7, 1962, the regiment's two battalions were officially formed. The 1st Battalion's Headquarters was in Windsor, while 2nd Battalion was stationed in Chatham.

In the year 1964, The Canadian Forces Headquarters decided to make certain reductions and amalgamations within the Canadian Military structure. Many units in the Province of Ontario were affected by this decision, including The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment. So, following new orders and protocol, the two battalions of the regiment amalgamated on March 31, 1965. This is the current structure of the regiment.

Battle honours

The Great War

(Those battle honours in capital letters are emblazoned on the regimental colour).

YPRES, 1915, '17; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916, '18; Flers-Courcelette; Thiepval; Ancre Heights; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.
The Second World date
Dieppe; BOURGUÉBUS RIDGE; St. André-sur-Orne; FALAISE; Falaise Road; Clair Tizon; Forêt de la Londe; THE SCHELDT; Woensdrecht; South Beveland; THE RHINELAND; Goch-Calcar Road; The Hochwald; Xanten; Twente Canal; Groningen; Oldenburg; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1942, 1944-1945.

Cadets

There are four Cadet Corps affiliated to the regiment
  • 59 Legion Highlander Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (Chatham-Kent, Ontario)
  • 1086 Walkerville Army Cadet Corps (Windsor, Ontario)
  • 2715 Metropolitan Legion Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (Windsor, Ontario)
  • 2819 South Essex Scottish Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (Kingsville, Ontario)

Alliances

- The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
"PWRR" redirects here. For the railroad with these reporting marks, see Portland and Western Railroad.The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division...

 - The Royal Anglian Regiment

External links

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