The Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=The Royal Winnipeg Rifles


caption=Cap badge of the RWR
dates= 1883 – Present
country=Canada
branch=Militia
command_structure=Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
type=Rifles
identification_symbol_4=R Wpg Rif
identification_symbol_4_label=Abbreviation
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief
nickname=
march="Old Solomon Levi"
motto= "Hosti Acie Nominati"
garrison=Minto Armoury
Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles (R Wpg Rif) are a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. They are based at Minto Armouries in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The RWR are part of Land Force Western Area's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.

History

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles were formed in 1883 under command of Lt Col. William Nassau Kennedy. The regimental Latin motto is "Hosti Acie Nominati", which means “named by the enemy in battle”. After the Battle of Fish Creek during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, a captured Métis asked, "The red coats we know, but who are those little black devils?", a reference to the fact that while infantry of the line wore red coats, the Winnipeg soldiers were clad in traditional rifle green.

During the First World War, the Regiment raised several battalions for the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

In the 1920 reorganization of the Canadian Militia following the report of the Otter Committee, the Regiment's former designation as 90th Regiment was dropped, the current designation of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles was adopted.

During the Second World War, three battalions of the regiment served. The 1st Battalion served in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion was a reserve unit that remained on part-time duty in Winnipeg, and a 3rd Battalion served in the Canadian Army Occupation Force.

The 1st Battalion were among the first Allied troops to land on the Normandy beaches on D-Day. They served throughout the Northwest Europe campaign, including the Battle of the Scheldt, the Rhineland, and the final battles across the Rhine, before returning to Canada in 1945. The 3rd Battalion was raised in 1945 and remained in Germany until 1946.

In 1955, the Regiment amalgamated with The Winnipeg Light Infantry with no change in designation.

Traditions

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles adhere to standard Rifle Regiment traditions; as such they do not have a stand of colours and march to the traditional Rifle pace of 140 beats per minute. Battle honours are borne the cap badge and drums. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles have also adopted a devil device carrying a sceptre and, in imitation of a rifleman's role on the battlefield, is depicted as running.

The formal rank designation of a trained private (one chevron) of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles is "Rifleman".

The Regimental Band's drums are emblazoned with the unit's battle honours. Pioneers are tasked to protect them on parade. Pioneers wear leather armour and carry special weapons: an axe, a pick, a hatchet and a halberd.

The regimental march of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles is "Pork, Beans and Hard Tack (Old Solomon Levi)" and the double quick march is "Keel Row".

Battle honours

Battle honours in CAPITALS are displayed on the cap badge

Pre-1914

*FISH CREEK
*NORTH WEST CANADA 1885
*BATOCHE
*SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900

World War I

*YPRES 1915, 17
*St. Julien
*MOUNT SORREL
*Flers – Courcelette
*Ancre Heights
*ARRAS 1917-1918
*Arleux
*PASSCHENDAELE
*Scarpe 1917-1918
*Hindenburg Line
*Cambrai 1918
*FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915, 18
*Gravenstafel
*FESTUBERT 1915
*SOMME 1916-1918
*Thiepval
*Ancre 1916
*Vimy 1917
*HILL 70
*AMIENS
*DROCOURT – QUEANT
*CANAL DU NORD
*VALENCIENNES

World War II

*NORMANDY LANDING
*Caen
*The Orne
*FALAISE
*The Seine
*THE SCHELDT
*Breskens Pocket
*Waal Flats
*THE RHINE
*Deventer
*Putot-en-bessin
*Carpiquet
*Bourquebus Ridge
*The Laison
*CALAIS 1944
*LEOPOLD CANAL
*The Rhineland
*MOYLAND WOOD
*Emmerich-Hoch Elten
*NORTH WEST EUROPE 1944-1945

Alliances

*GBR - The Rifles

Victoria Cross holders

*Alexander Picton Brereton
*Frederick George Coppins
*Frederick William Hall

ee also

* The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces

Order of precedence

References

External links

* [http://www.mts.net/~rwpgrif/ The Royal Winnipeg Rifles site (unofficial)]
* [http://www.army.dnd.ca/ROYAL_WINNIPEG_RIFLES/ The Royal Winnipeg Rifles (army site)]
* [http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/juno-4-5.htm Juno Beach - The Winnipeg Rifles on D-Day]