THE ALGONQUIN REGIMENT

" ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SERVICE"

The Early Days

The Algonquin Regiment traces its roots back to 1865 with the formation of a Volunteer Infantry Company in Sault-Ste-Marie. Some members of this company served with distinction in the Red River Expedition of 1870, earning a personal commendation from the commander, Colonel Wolseley. These troubled times in the Northwest, along with the threat of the Fenian raids on Canada, convinced the government to maintain a militia force in the Lakehead area. Therefore, in 1886, a Battalion was authorized in the Algoma District with companies from Rat Portage (Kenora) in the west, to Gore Bay in the east and, in 1889 a company was added in Sault-Ste-Marie. Another company, formed in Sudbury in 1896, was to later become the nucleus of the 97 th Regiment of Rifles, and the start of a long and proud history for The Algonquin Regiment.

On July 01, 1900 the 97 th Regiment of Rifles was formed and authorized from four independent companies of militia. Company Headquarters were established in Sault-Ste-Marie, Sudbury, Thessalon, and Sturgeon Falls. On the 23 rd of June, 1903 the regiment was re-designated the 97 th Regiment "Algonquin" Rifles. On occasion, they were called out in Sault-Ste-Marie to conduct defence of property and maintenance of peace in the face of rioting strikers. The situation was well handled without the bitterness usually associated with this type of duty. The Sault-Ste-Marie company went on to become the 51 st Soo Rifles in 1913, and The Sault-Ste-Marie Regiment in 1923.

World War 1

When the call came the men of the north were ready as usual. The 97 th recruited to its full active strength in a matter of hours. It supplied 12 officers and 251 other ranks to the 15 th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, organized in Valcartier. As the demand for soldiers grew, the north decided to increase its commitment. Captain E.F. Armstrong of Cobalt volunteered to organize a Battalion from the Nipissing and Sudbury Districts. Authorized on December 1 st, 1915 "temporary" Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong took command of the 159 th Battalion "1 st Algonquins Overseas", with its headquarters in Haileybury. The Battalion was mobilized on July 5 th, 1916, trained at Camp Borden during that summer and early fall, and embarked for overseas on November 1 st of that same year with a strength of 1,004 men. Also sailing with the battalion was a cow moose named Bessie and a bear named Kitchener. The moose did not survive the trip, and the bear was later donated to the London zoo. The battalion remained intact until February of 1917, when it was broken up to reinforce units already in France. As the result of not having enough men at any particular battle to claim a battle honour, the unit received only the general honor The Great War 1916-1917.

Post World War 1

After World War 1, the Canadian Militia was re-organized. The 159 th (1 st Algonquins, Haileybury), 228 th (Northern Fusiliers, North Bay), and the 256th( Toronto) Battalions, were perpetuated in The Algonquin Rifles. Other areas involved included Sudbury, and up the TNO line to the Porcupine Gold Camps. In 1933, the unit was renamed The Algonquin Regiment. The regiment decided to keep the original 97 th symbol of the bull moose on the redesigned cap badge. In 1936 more changes came. "A" Company in Sudbury was cut out and amalgamated with the Sault-Ste-Marie Regiment to become the Sault-Ste-Marie/Sudbury Regiment, and the Northern Pioneers (23 rd Battalion), who perpetuated the 122 nd, and the 162 nd World War 1 Battalions from the Huntsville, Parry Sound, and Muskoka areas, were amalgamated with The Algonquin Regiment. As a result, the regiment covered a wide area from Bracebridge and Parry Sound in the south, to Timmins and Cochrane in the north.

World War II

The Algonquin Regiment began this era with some severe setbacks when three of their best officers, Major N. Envoy, Captain G. Ellsmere, and Captain A.K. Stirling took on the task of Northern Area Recruiting. Also, a complete company of men and officers were transferred, on request, to the Grey and Simcoe Foresters on their mobilization. Many felt that this, once again, would be the end of any chance for the unit to serve as a regiment, until mobilization orders came on May 24 th, 1940. The recruiting program showed an overwhelming response, as usual, from the men of the north. Farmers, bushmen, trappers, guides, and miners were ready and eager to share their expertise in the service of our country. On the 6 th of September 1940, the First Battalion, The Algonquin Regiment (Active Force), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Stewart, ED, entrained in order from Timmins to Huntsville, arriving in Camp Borden on the morning of the 7 th. Once the regiment was settled in, the 1 st Reinforcement Company, commanded by Lieutenant S.J. Mason was formed to train recruits for future replacements in the Battalion. The commander originally slated for this company was Captain A.R. Bertrand, but on his way to report for this duty was killed in a canoeing accident. On the 5 th of October, a Warning Order was received for the move to Port Arthur. Upon their arrival they witnessed the local population saying goodbye to the Lake Superior Regiment, and shortly after, the Algonquins marched to their new home in Current River Camp. Morale was certainly given a boost by the good cooking facilities, beautiful surroundings, and a considerable amount of social reconnaissance was carried out with favorable results. Training continued, however, somewhat hampered by a lack of equipment and inexperienced instructors. This problem was eventually overcome and the desired standard was achieved. On the 10 th of January 1941, a move under heavy security saw "A" Company relieve the Veteran's Guard at the Espanola POW Camp, and "C" Company doing the same at Monteith and Gravenhurst. Another company was on standby to assist the guards at the German POW Camps near Schreiber and Red Rock, where highly dangerous prisoners were held. On the 19 th two officers and 51 other ranks from "B" Company were called out on pursuit duty at Internment Camp "X" where 28 prisoners had escaped. By the 25 th, all escapees had been recaptured. For their reward, "B" Company was quarantined at the camp for two weeks due to a breakout of measles. On June 4 th, 1941, the Regiment boarded the train for Shilo. Group training advanced from section and platoon to company level, and "D" and "A" Companies respectively, distinguished themselves while assisting in the Victory Loan campaign in Winnipeg.

Special equipment started arriving in July, sending the training to a new level. The Algonquin ball teams played in many Manitoba towns and the most popular spot in camp was the canteen. As the 1 st anniversary of active service approached, gala events were planned. On the morning of the anniversary Lieutenent Maurice Belanger, accidentally and with a shaky hand, started the "mustache removal" tradition. By parade time that day all officers, except for two, had shaved off their mustache. By September, training had reached battalion level. On the 19 th of November, the battalion entrained for Niagara-on-the-Lake. (For some time now the regiment has been part of the 14 th Infantry Brigade). This trip saw a stopover in North Bay, with a parade to Chippawa Barracks to meet with friends and relatives. This new task at Niagara-on-the-Lake was a welcomed change from the training grind to an actual operational role of carrying out guard duty on the Niagara and Welland power canals. On the 14 th of January 1942, the Regiment was asked for their first draft for overseas enforcements. The fact that every soldier volunteered showed their dismay that perhaps the regiment would, once again, be broken up as reinforcements.

On the 2 nd of February, the Regiment started yet another move, and by the 15 th was well established in its new home, Newfoundland. Their task here was to have one company responsible for ground protection at Torbay airport, one company to guard a tongue of land called Cape Spear. Another company was to be on 15 minutes notice to provide a counter attack force. Training was nonexistent due to lack of space, and the social life in St-John's was at a riotous level as it was frequented by sailors, soldiers, airmen, and merchant seamen. Within a month, the Regiment was moved to the harbour of Botwood, where they found upon their arrival the contractors still working on the camp. The task given here was to supply counter attacks on any possible landing party, and to keep strict lookouts on all possible observation posts. Summer came with some changes, as a post was established at Hall's Bay, and by the fall, the Lewisporte garrison was increased to a whole company with an outpost at salt creek. That fall came the first casualties due to enemy action. The "Caribou", a small vessel was attacked and sunk by a submarine, there were many fatalities. On the lighter side, two Algonquins were sent to trial for stealing a railway engine, when one of them had challenged the other regarding his driving abilities. The bell from this engine, known as the "Botwood Bell", is still with the regiment and its "raison d'etre" is read every Christmas Dinner. In January, 1943, the regiment had come of age and was chosen for operations overseas. The regiment was moved to Debert Camp ( Nova Scotia), and for administration purposes only, was assigned to the 20 th Brigade, 7 th Division. Company level training continued, and small arms skills were polished up due to better range facilities.

Embarkation leaves started in March and April and the issue of pay books and ID tags gave a sense of imminence to all. On the 25 th of March Lt. Col. Stewart sadly (known as Uncle Jimmy in private) announced that, because of his age, he would not be accompanying the regiment overseas, and Major M.L. Troy took over command. The regiment embarked on the Empress of Scotland in Halifax Harbour on the 10 th of June 1943, and sailed on the 11 th to England with a complement of 4500 troops. The ship docked in Liverpool on the 18 th, and the Regiment left the ship and proceeded to Heathfield on the 19 th. Disembarkation leaves came through and Algonquins were quickly scattered around Scotland and Cornwall. The Battalion was now part of the 10 th Infantry Brigade of the 4 th Canadian Armoured Division. On the 23 rd of August, Lt. Col. G.P. Henderson took over the regiment and as his first task got the unit prepared for divisional maneuvers in Norfolk. While waiting for the big exercise Grizzly II, the unit underwent a series of minor exercises such as Takex II, which brought out weaknesses in appreciations, orders, and fieldcraft. Shortly after this another change took place, as Lt. Col. W.E. Megill took over as Commanding Officer. On a sad note, Sgt. Michael Cassidy, the Regimental Mascot, (a huge St-Bernard) died suddenly on the 3 rd of January 1944. Yet another change of Commanding Officer took place in early March as Lt. Col. A.J. Hay, formally from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, stepped in. Work up training for our next task intensified with exercises and Tactical Exercises Without Troops for commanders at all levels. On the 16 th of July 1944, an advance party left for Normandy. The Regiment embarked on three separate ships on June 20 th, weighed anchor on the 21 st and started down the estuary. Due to inclement weather, the ships were forced to drop anchor and stay the night at the mouth of the estuary. The next morning being the anniversary of mobilization date, moustache removal began on all ships. This ceremony spread to other units and as a result the RSM of the Grenadier Guards lost what must have been a lifetime achievement, eight-inch, handlebar soup strainer. On July 25 th, 1944, the regiment settled down to their first night in France.

The Algonquins were used mainly as shock troops to lead the advance and break enemy resistance. They were in the vanguard breaking out of Caen, and on pursuit through France. In September the Regiment entered Belgium, the Leopold Canal being its first major operation, followed by assaults on enemy held towns. They continued into Holland where the fighting along the dikes was very strenuous. Patrols were carried out during the winter months, then the Regiment moved to the Hochwald Forest Area Crossing, on the Dutch-German border on February 22 nd, 1945. From here it took part in the assault on the Siegfried Line. In the north of Holland, the Regiment forced the enemy out of Wierden, opening a supply line deep into Germany. It was at their last major battle of the crossing of the Kusten Canal and the advance to Oldenberg when news of the armistice was received.

On the 26 th of January 1946, the Regiment reached Halifax, and on Tuesday the 29 th was met by a deliriously happy crowd in North Bay.

The total World War II casualties to The Algonquin Regiment were: Killed or died of wounds: 341

Missing: 278

Wounded: 646

Total: 1300

The active unit was disbanded on February 15 th, 1946, while the 2 nd Battalion served in the reserve army.

The Algonquin Regiment resumed its role as a militia unit with companies in North Bay, Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Timmins, and Kapuskasing. The Regiment provided one volunteer company, "C" Company, for service in the 1 st Canadian Infantry Battalion with NATO in the 27 th Canadian Brigade Group in Germany. This battalion later became the nucleus for the Regiment of Canadian Guards in 1954. That same year the regiment was redesignated The Algonquin Regiment (26 th Armoured Regiment), and became the only Armoured unit in the Commonwealth to carry infantry Colours. On the 19 th of May 1958, the Regiment was renamed "The Algonquin Regiment (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps)". When it was re-roled back to infantry on the 10 th of October 1965, and presented with the Armoured Guidon, it was the only infantry unit in the Commonwealth to carry an Armoured Guidon. The Algonquin Regiment has been awarded 28 Battle Honours, 13 from World War I and 15 from World War II.

The Regiment trooped the Guidon for the last time on December 8 th, 1984, before being presented with Infantry Colours by the Right Honourable John Black Aird, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

The Algonquin Regiment is still very active as a Reserve unit with companies in North Bay and Timmins. Many of its members have participated in United Nations peacekeeping duties around the globe. There are nine Cadet Corps affiliated with The Algonquin Regiment spread out along 800 kilometers of the Highway 11 corridor. The Regiment has a strong footprint in the community and is also honoured by numerous memorials across Northern Ontario, and overseas. In 1978 the Companies in Haileybury, Kirkland Lake and Kapuskasing were disbanded.

On July 1 st, 2000, The Algonquin Regiment celebrated its 100 th Anniversary. Special events such as "open houses" and "dinning ins" took place in both company locations. "B" Company in Timmins, celebrated on 26, 27, 28 May, and "A" Company in North Bay, on 15, 16, 17 September, 2000.