The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada


caption=Cap Badge of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
dates=April 26 1860 - Present
country=Canada
branch= Army Reserves
type=Rifles
role= Infantry
size= One battalion
command_structure= Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
current_commander= LCol Delaney
garrison= Toronto/Scarborough
ceremonial_chief= HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel in Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
motto= "In Pace Paratus" (In Peace Prepared)
colors=
march= Quick: "The Buffs / The Maple Leaf Forever"
Double Past: "Money Musk"
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries= 150th Anniversary on April 26, 2010
identification_symbol_4=QOR of C
identification_symbol_4_label=Abbreviation

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada are a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only Primary Reserve regiment in Canada to have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the Reserve Battalion, the Regimental Association [http://www.qor.com/association.html] and The Regimental Band. [http://www.qor.com/band/band.html] The official abbreviation is QOR of C, but the name is often abbreviated to QOR.

The QOR of C parade out of Moss Park Armoury in downtown Toronto and Dalton Armoury in Scarborough every Wednesday night. The unit motto is "In Pace Paratus" - In Peace Prepared.

Regimental structure

The Reserve Battalion is made up of the following companies:
* Battalion Headquarters
* 60th Company
* Buffs Company (Dalton Armoury)
* Victoria Company (Combat Service Support)
* Para Company

Role

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada are the only militia regiment in Canada that participates in parachuting exercises. The unit has qualified Parachute Instructors and jumpmasters. Members also take courses in helicopter operations, aerial delivery, and as LZ/DZ (landing zone/drop zone) controllers. Members of the QOR have also been sent on the arduous Patrol Pathfinder Course. Qualified personnel in jump positions are allowed the honour of wearing the maroon beret. Trained soldiers are addressed as Riflemen.

The Queen's Own Rifles have had a long standing support role with the Canadian Parachute Centre, recently incorporated into the new Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre. Several reserve units have soldiers who have completed the Canadian Army's Basic Parachutist Course, but none can bring Parachute Instructors, jumpmasters, parachute riggers, LZ/DZ controllers, and aerial delivery specialists together like the QOR. They also send many parachute instructors and jumpmasters to assist with parachuting courses. Most members of Para Company jump several times a year, as opposed to parachutists in other reserve units who do not have the option to jump with their units.

The Canadian Forces SkyHawks Parachute Demonstration Team has also had support from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, with several members joining the elite demonstration team.

Many current and former members of the QOR are also members of the Canadian Airborne Forces Association.

Members of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada have served on recent overseas tours including: UNTAG (United Nations Transition Assistance Group) Namibia 1989 -1990, Cambodia, Cyprus, Somalia (for Operation Deliverance 1992-1993 members were attached to 1,2 and 3 Commando of the Canadian Airborne Regiment), Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and the Sudan.

History

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (originally named 2nd Battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada) was formed on April 26, 1860, predating the Confederation of Canada. It is Canada's oldest continuously-serving infantry regiment.

The Queen's Own Rifles first saw combat during the Battle of Ridgeway. The Second Boer War was the first time that soldiers from the Queen's Own Rifles 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 regiment also saw combat in both World Wars and the Korean War, as well as during conflicts after these wars.

From 1983 to 1995, the regiment was operationally tasked to provide an airborne company to the Canadian Airborne Regiment.

The unit played a large role in securing the Victoria Cross of Corporal Frederick George Topham in 2005.

On April 22, 2006, the QOR opened Dalton Armoury in Scarborough as part of the Land Force Reserve Restructure expansion. Buffs Company parades out of Dalton Armoury. In September 1910, the QOR went on a 13 mile route march with The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment of the British Army. It was noted that the Buffs and QOR used the same regimental march, a tune known as "The Regimental Quick Step of the Buffs" composed for The Buffs by Handel. A regimental alliance was made official in 1914.

Battle Honours

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada have earned 46 battle honours during its history. The battle honours in bold are approved to be emblazoned on the Regimental Drums (Rifle Regiments do not carry "Colours").

Early Years

*North West Canada 1885
*South Africa 1899-1900

First World War

*Ypres, 1915
*Gravenstafel Ridge
*St. Julien
*Festubert, 1915
*Mount Sorrel
*Somme, 1916
*Pozières Ridge
*Flers-Courcelette
*Ancre Heights
*Arras, 1917
*Vimy, 1917
*Arleux
*Scarpe, 1917
*Hill 70
*Ypres, 1917
*Passchendaele
*Amiens
*Arras, 1918
*Scarpe, 1918
*Drocourt-Queant Line
*Hindenburg Line, Battles of
*Canal du Nord
*Pursuit to Mons
*FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18

econd World War

*Normandy Landing
*Le Mesnil-Patry
*Caen
*Carpiquet
*Bourguebus Ridge
*Faubourg de Vaucelles
*Falaise
*Quesnay Wood
*The Laison
*Boulogne 1944
*Calais 1944
*The Scheldt
*Breskens Pocket
*The Rhineland
*Waal Flats
*The Hochwald
*The Rhine
*Emmerich – Hoch Elten
*Deventer
*NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45

Important engagements

* Battle of Ridgeway, Fenian Raids, 1866
* Battle of Cut Knife, North-West Rebellion, 1885
*First World War
**St Julien
**Hill 70
**Passchendaele
**Mount Sorrel
**Amiens
**Somme, 1916
**Fleurs-Courcelette
**Canal du Nord
**Pursuit to Mons
**Vimy, 1917
* Second World War
**Normandy Landing
**Le Mesnil-Patry
**The Scheldt
**Caen
**The Rhineland
**Bourguebus Ridge
**The Hochwald
**Falaise
**The Rhine
**Boulogne, 1944

Victoria Cross recipients

Seven members of the Regiment have been awarded the VC, the last was *Sgt Aubrey Cosens, VC (May 21, 1921 - February 26, 1945)

Colonels-in-chief

*HM Queen Mary (1928-1953)
*HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (1960- )

Notable members

*The Right Honourable Vincent Massey was appointed Governor General of Canada in 1952. He was the first Canadian appointed to the post, and since then the Governor General has always been a Canadian citizen. Massey Hall in Toronto was named for his family.
*General Sir William Dillon Otter (3 December 1843 – 6 May 1929) KCB, CVO, VD was the first Canadian-born Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army.
*Lieutenant-General Charles H. Belzile, CM, CMM, CD was a former head of the Canadian Army.
*Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, C.M., CMM, MSC (and bar), O.Ont , CD, (born 30 April 1940) is a retired Canadian general and writer. MacKenzie is most famous for establishing and commanding Sector Sarajevo as part of the United Nations Protection Force or UNPROFOR in Yugoslavia in 1992.In 1970, the 1st Battalion of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada was rebadged to reform the 3rd Battalion of the PPCLI.
*Major-General Malcolm Mercer, CB, was a barrister and art patron who practiced law in Toronto. He led the 3rd Canadian Division during the first two years of the First World War before he was killed in action at Mount Sorrel in Belgium.
*Major-General Sir Henry Pellatt, C.V.O., D.C.L.,(6 January 1859, Kingston, Ontario, Canada - 8 March 1939) was a well-known Canadian financier and soldier
* Lieutenant Colonel The Honourable Barney Danson, PC, OC, served with the regiment in Normandy and later served as Minister of National Defence.
*Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Godfrey Peuchen was an ill fated businessman and RMS "Titanic" survivor. He commanded the Home Battalion of the QOR during World War I.
*Ben Dunkelman - Promoted through the ranks from Private to Major during the Second World War.
*Major Edward Arunah Dunlop, Jr. CM, OBE, was an MPP and first President of the Toronto Sun. He was blinded during the Second World War while trying to save a soldier from a grenade.
*Captain John McCrae is remembered for his poem "In Flanders Fields". He was a member of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada while studying at the University of Toronto, during which time he was promoted to Captain.
*Lieutenant Norm Gardner, former Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board.
*Frederick J. Conboy served as Mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1941 to 1944.
*Alexander Muir - author of "The Maple Leaf Forever," fought at the Battle of Ridgeway

Regimental museum

The Regimental Museum of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is located on the third floor of the historic Casa Loma building. Sir Henry Pellatt, who built Casa Loma, was an ardent supporter of the Regiment, and was knighted in 1905 for his service with the unit.

Regimental Church

St. Paul’s Bloor Street Anglican Church in Toronto has been the regimental church of the QOR since 1910. It is located at 227 Bloor Street between Church Street and Jarvis Street.

The Cross of Sacrifice located outside the Church is dedicated to the members of the QOR that have fallen. It was built and dedicated after the First World War.

The Books of Remembrance are a list of the names of the QOR fallen, and are located in the interior of the Cathedral. The Books are paraded annually on Remembrance Day Sunday, when the Regiment parades to St. Paul’s to attend services.

Memorials

The most recent is the regimental crest carved on the back of one of the pews of the Royal Memorial Chapel at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

The oldest memorial is the Ridgeway tablet at the Memorial United Church in Ridgeway, Ontario. Ridgeway is also commemorated in a stained glass window at University College, a tablet in the Ontario Provincial Parliament buildings, the Canadian Volunteers Monument in Queen’s Park (west side of Queen’s Park Crescent) and a cairn at Ridgeway.

The North-West Rebellion of 1885 is remembered by the North-West Rebellion Monument in Queen’s Park (east side of Queen’s park Crescent), the Battleford Column tablet in Moss Park Armoury and a cairn at Battleford, Saskatchewan. The South African War memorial is on University Avenue. An additional tablet is in Denison Armoury.

The First World War is commemorated by the Cross of Sacrifice and the Shrine containing the Book of Remembrance at St Paul’s Anglican Church. In addition, a tablet is mounted at Moss Park Armoury. The QOR fallen are also remembered in The Buffs Memorial window, Warrior’s Chapel, ofCanterbury Cathedral.

A plaque was erected to the fallen in the Second World War at the site of the D-Day landing, Bernières-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. A tablet was also placed of a farm building at Mooshof, Germany, where Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, VC, earned his decoration.

There are also significant memorials at Le Mesnil-Patry, Anguerny, Anisy (France) and Wons, Rha, Sneek, Doorn, Oostburg, Zutphen (Holland). Other lesser memorials also exist.

Alliances

Current Alliances

*GBR - The Rifles
*GBR - The Royal Gurkha Rifles
*GBR - The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)

Order of precedence

ee also

*The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces
*Canadian Airborne Forces Association
*Military history of Canada
*Riflemen
*Paratrooper
*Parachuting
*SkyHawks Parachute Team
*Maroon beret
*Parachute rigger
*Pathfinders

References

[http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/volmil/on-inf/002qor.htm Regiments.org page of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]

External links

* [http://www.militaryheritage.com/queensownrifles.htm History and Uniform of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, 1860 to 1970]
* [http://www.qor.com Official Website of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]
* [http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/juno-4-1.htm Juno Beach - The Queens Own Rifles on D-Day] Navbox
name = Canadian Army Infantry Regiments
title = Canadian Army Infantry Regiments


list1 =

The Royal Canadian Regiment • Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry • Royal 22e Régiment • Governor General's Foot Guards • The Canadian Grenadier Guards • The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada • The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada • Les Voltigeurs de Québec • The Royal Regiment of Canada • The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) • The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment • The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment • The Lincoln and Welland Regiment • The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada • The Grey and Simcoe Foresters • The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) • The Brockville Rifles • Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal• The Princess Louise Fusiliers • The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders • Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent • Le Régiment de la Chaudière • The Royal New Brunswick Regiment • The West Nova Scotia Regiment • The Nova Scotia Highlanders • Le Régiment de Maisonneuve • The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa • The Royal Winnipeg Rifles • The Essex and Kent Scottish • 48th Highlanders of Canada • Le Régiment du Saguenay • The Algonquin Regiment • The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) • The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment • The North Saskatchewan Regiment • The Royal Regina Rifles • The Rocky Mountain Rangers • The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) • The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada • Royal Westminster Regiment • The Calgary Highlanders • Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke • The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada • The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) • The Royal Montreal Regiment • The Irish Regiment of Canada • The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own) • The Royal Newfoundland Regiment