| West Nova Scotia Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1717 - Present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army-Primary Reserves |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Light Role |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | Royal Canadian Infantry Corps |
| Motto | Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) |
| March | Quick - God Bless the Prince of Wales Slow - Garb of Auld Gaul |
| Engagements | Great War World War II |
The West Nova Scotia Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces, twenty fourth in the order of precedence. It has seen active service in both the Great War and World War II. The regiment recruits volunteers from all over the province of Nova Scotia and has its headquarters at LFAATC Aldershot, near the community of Aldershot, Nova Scotia.
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The regiment was formed in 1936 by a merger of the 69th (Annapolis) Regiment, formed in 1717, and the 75th (Lunenburg) Regiment, formed in 1870. Both of these descend from the 40th Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales Volunteers), raised in 1717 at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.[1]
It also perpetuates the 112th and 219th Battalions of Infantry of the World War I Canadian Expeditionary Force. It can claim to be one of the oldest elements of the Canadian Forces.[1]
The regiment was mobilized for service immediately at the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. It had however virtually no equipment or transport, and though numerous volunteers rallied to its colours, it was some time before it was an effective fighting unit. Although the regiment soon transferred to Gourock in Scotland and then to Aldershot in England, it did not see active service until the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, Operation Husky.[1]
It was then involved in the battle for Italy for most of the rest of the war, until February 9, 1945, when they received orders informing them that the 1st Canadian Corps would be transferred from Italy to Northwest Europe. The regiment moved to Marseilles, France, by sea and arrived in the Netherlands where they remained until the German surrender on May 5, 1945.[1]
The regiment has not been on active service since the Second World War, though units of it have served in United Nations peacekeeping forces, in countries such as the former Yugoslavia, Cyprus and the Middle East.[1]
First World War
Second World War
| Preceded by The Royal New Brunswick Regiment |
The West Nova Scotia Regiment | Succeeded by The Nova Scotia Highlanders |
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