The Winnipeg Grenadiers

Perpetuations

The Winnipeg Grenadiers perpetuate the 11th Battalion, CEF, the 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF, and the 100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF.^[1]

Operational History

The Great War

Details from the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^[1]

The 11th Battalion, CEF was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 30 September 1914, where it was redesignated as the 11th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF, on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. On 4 January 1917, its personnel, along with the personnel of the 100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF, were absorbed by a new 11th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 12 October 1917.^[1]

The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF, was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1916, disembarking in France on 13 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.^[1]

The 100th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 September 1916, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 20 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 11th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^[1]

Ethelbert "Curley" Christian" (-March 15, 1954) of the 78th Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers was wounded at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and was the only quadruple amputee of either World War to survive.

Second World War

The regiment mobilized The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF, on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers (Machine Gun), CASF, on 7 November 1940, and as the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, CASF, on 15 March 1941. It served in Jamaica and Bermuda on garrison duty from May 1940 to October 1941. On 27 October 1941 it embarked for Hong Kong, where it was destroyed while fighting in defence of the colony during the Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941).^[1]

Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn, VC

Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn, VC (2 January 1899 – 19 December 1941) was a 42-year-old Warrant Officer Second Class, and the CSM of A Company. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the fighting for Hong Kong on 19 December 1941.

His Victoria Cross citation reads, in part: "The enemy threw a grenade which landed in a position where it was impossible to pick it up and return it in time. Shouting a warning to his comrades this gallant Warrant Officer threw himself on the grenade which exploded killing him instantly. His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many others.

Company Sergeant-Major Osborn was an inspiring example to all throughout the defence which he assisted so magnificently in maintaining against an overwhelming enemy force for over eight and a half hours and in his death he displayed the highest quality of heroism and self-sacrifice."

The 1st Battalion was reconstituted on 10 January 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the Prince Rupert Defences, 8th Canadian Division and took part in the expedition to Kiska, Alaska as a component of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, serving there from 16 August 1943 to 22 December 1943. It embarked for Great Britain on 25 May 1944, where on 1 November 1944, it was absorbed by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, CASF, and designated as the 3rd Canadian Infantry Training Battalion, Type A (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CASF. On 5 July 1945, it was converted and redesignated the No. 10 Canadian Repatriation Depot, Type "T". The depot was disbanded on 28 January 1946.^[1]

Winnipeg Grenadiers Camp

Battle honours

The regimental colour of the Winnipeg Grenadiers.

Statue dedicated to the Winnipeg Grenadiers and other defenders of Hong Kong in December 1941 which stands in Hong Kong Park.

Battle honours in small capitals are for large operations and campaigns and those in lowercase are for more specific battles. Bold type indicates honours authorized to be emblazoned on regimental colours.

The Great War

The Second World War

• Hong Kong
• South-East Asia, 1941^[1]

Cadet Corps

The cadet corps was originally formed on 15 February 1917 and named 526 100th Grenadiers Cadet Corps (Militia Order No. 118, 30 April 1917). It was disbanded 13 November 1931 (Militia Order No. 512, 25 November 1931). Its affiliation was 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers.

In 1946 members of the Regiment through the Grenadiers Winnipeg Incorporated took the steps to reform the Cadet Corps. On 1 October 1946 the cadet corps was authorized under the title 526 The Winnipeg Grenadiers Cadet Corps (Canadian Army Order 110-4, Issue No. 12, 1946). The Cadet Corps parades at Minto Armoury in Winnipeg, Canada. The cadet corps in 2012 is still up and running strong.

Alliances

On 15 August 1914, an alliance was authorized with the Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians). This Regiment, raised in Canada in 1858 as the 100th (or Prince of Wales Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot, was disbanded (with four other Irish regiments) in July 1922 as a consequence of the division of Ireland. The Regiment's present alliance, which dates from 6 November 1933, is The Scots Guards, Brigade of Guards, British Army.

References

External links

• www.regiments.org - The Winnipeg Grenadiers

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