Le Régiment de Maisonneuve

Le Régiment de Maisonneuve is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment is Canada's twenty-sixth most senior reserve infantry regiment, and comprises one battalion serving as part of the Canadian Army Reserves

History

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Montreal, Quebec on 4 June 1880, when the 85th Battalion of Infantry was authorized to be formed. Lieutenant-Colonel Julien Brosseau, VD, was the first Commanding Officer. It was redesignated as the 85th Regiment on 8 May 1900, as Le Régiment de Maisonneuve on 29 March 1920, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve on 7 November 1940 and finally Le Régiment de Maisonneuve on 15 December 1945.^[1]

The Great War

During the Great War, details of the 85th Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties. The 41st Battalion, CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 October 1915, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 13 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 69th Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920. The 206th Battalion, CEF, was authorized on 15 July 1916 and sent two reinforcing drafts to Bermuda. On 17 August 1916, its remaining personnel were absorbed, in Canada, by the 167th Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 1 August 1918.^[1]

In 1920, as part of the Otter Committee's reforms, the 85th Infantry Regiment was restructured and renamed the Régiment de Maisonneuve, in memory of the founder of Montreal, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve.

Second World War

Canadian Infantry of the Régiment de Maisonneuve, moving through Holten to Rijssen, Netherlands, 9 April 1945.

The regiment mobilized Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, CASF, on 1 September 1939. It embarked for Great Britain on 24 August 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, CASF, on 7 November 1940. 17 On 7 July 1944, the battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. It suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of the Scheldt, and was notably depleted by the time of the Battle of Walcheren Causeway. The unit recovered during the winter and was again in action during the Rhineland fighting and the final weeks of the war, taking part in the final campaigns in northern Netherlands, the Battle of Groningen, and the final attacks on German soil. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 December 1945.

The regiment subsequently mobilized the 3rd Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, CASF, on 12 May 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 21st Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Division. The 3rd Battalion was disbanded on 15 October 1943.^[1]

Postwar

In 1940 the regiment formed an alliance with The King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

In 1962 the city of Montreal accorded the regiment Freedom of the City as well as the right to bear the coat of arms of Montreal on its regimental colour.

The unit celebrated its centennial in 1980 and published a history. In 1983, the unit moved from District Number 1 to District Number 2 in Quebec. On 1 September 1991, the regiment transferred to the new district Number 1.

1994: The regiment was affiliated in July to HMCS Montréal, a new frigate of the Canadian Navy. 1997: The regiment was consolidated under the restructuring of 34 Canadian Brigade Group.^[2][3]

Armoury

Site	Date(s)	Designated	Location	Description	Image
Victoria Rifles Armoury, 691 Cathcart Street	1933	Canada's Register of Historic Places; Recognized - 1984 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings	Montreal, Quebec	Housing Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, this armoury`s two-dimensional façade with a low-pitched gable roof is pressed up against its urban streetscape

Battle honours

The regimental colour of Le Régiment de Maisonneuve.

In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles. Battle honours in bold type are authorized to be emblazoned on regimental colours.

The Great War

The Second World War

War in Afghanistan

• AFGHANISTAN^[4]

Alliances

•  United Kingdom: The Rifles
• Royal Canadian Navy: HMCS Montréal

See also

• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Forces
• List of armouries in Canada

Media

• Le Régiment de Maisonneuve vers la victoire 1944-1945 by Gérard Marchand (Apr 22 1997)
• Bon coeur et Bon bras, Histoire du Régiment de Maisonneuve 1880-1980 by Jacques Gouin (1980)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Le Régiment de Maisonneuve.

External links

• Official Website - Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
• Regiments.org

Order of precedence

Canadian Army infantry regiments in order of precedence Canadian Forces Regular Force The Royal Canadian Regiment Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Forces Primary Reserve 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 Canadian Regiment The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada The Grey and Simcoe Foresters The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) The Brockville Rifles The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent Le Régiment de la Chaudière Royal 22e Régiment The Princess Louise Fusiliers Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal The Royal New Brunswick Regiment The West Nova Scotia Regiment The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment The Nova Scotia Highlanders Le Régiment de Maisonneuve The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) 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) Royal Newfoundland Regiment

Canadian Army  History History of the Canadian Army Canadian Corps First Canadian Army Military History of Canada Fort Frontenac Library Structure Structure of the Canadian Army 2nd Canadian Division 3rd Canadian Division 4th Canadian Division 5th Canadian Division List of Units Mechanized brigade groups 1 CMBG 2 CMBG 5 CMBG Brigade groups 31 CBG 32 CBG 33 CBG 34 CBG 35 CBG 36 CBG 37 CBG 38 CBG 39 CBG 41 CBG Small arms C9 machine-gun C7A1 rifle/C8A1 carbine/C7A2 rifle C6 machine-gun Browning .50 calibre heavy machine gun Browning-HP 9 mm pistol P225, 226 C15 Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW) C3A1 sniper rifle C14 Timberwolf C13 fragmentation grenade M203 grenade launcher M72 SRAAW(L) Crewed weapons Carl Gustav SRAAW(M) ERYX SRAAW(H) TOW LRAAW(H) 81 mm mortar 60 mm mortar Javelin short-range air defence missile Skyguard C1 close support howitzer C3 close support howitzer LG1 Mark II 105 mm towed howitzer M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer C16 CASW Armoured fighting vehicles LAV III Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle ADATS Leopard C2 Leopard 2 Bison APC M113A3 and MTVL RG-31 Textron TAPV Schools Canadian Army Command and Staff College Peace Support Training Centre Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre Category Portal WikiProject