The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC)

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The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), marching in New Westminster, 1940. As a rifle regiment, weapons are carried "at the trail" rather than at the slope.

The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance (recce) regiment of the Canadian Forces which is part of 39 Canadian Brigade Group of Land Force Western Area. Established in 1883, it is the oldest military unit in Vancouver, British Columbia. It parades at the Beatty Street Drill Hall at the corner of Dunsmuir and Beatty in Downtown Vancouver. The regiment has been variously designated as garrison artillery, rifles, infantry, and armoured, but has been reconnaissance since 1965. It has received 34 battle honours in its history, and has been a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps since 1942.

[edit] Origins

On 1 June 1866, the Seymour Artillery Company was formed at New Westminster, British Columbia in preparation for Fenian raids. Irish nationalists had landed in San Francisco and were attempting to sail north to launch an attack on the British Empire. Many of the recruits had been members of the Royal Engineers detachment that established New Westminster as the capital of the new colony and built roads and surveyed the area under Captain Richard Moody. That detachment was disbanded in 1863, but most chose to stay and settle in the area, and subsequently enlisted when the call was made. The Fenian raid on BC never happened, but the nucleus of the British Columbia Regiment was in place.^[1]

[edit] Second World War

In a single battle, The British Columbia Regiment had nearly 100 percent vehicle casualties at Hill 195 in Normandy during August 1944. Operating in darkness, the regiment navigated to the wrong hill and found itself surrounded by German armoured units on adjacent hilltops and were subsequently wiped out during the next morning's fighting.^[2]

[edit] Cadet units

There are several Royal Canadian Army Cadets units spread across British Columbia that are affiliated to the British Columbia Regiment (DCO). Cadet units affiliated to the BCR (DCO) receive support and also are entitled to wear traditional regimental accoutrements on their uniforms.

[edit] Alliances

•  United Kingdom—The Rifles

[edit] Order of precedence

[edit] References

1. ^ "A Proud History," The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) Official Website.
2. ^ Reassessing Operation Totalize by Terry Copp Legion Magazine, September/October 1999

[edit] External links

• Official Web Site
• regiments.org

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