Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
Cap badge of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
Active	1912–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Light Infantry
Role	To close with and destroy the enemy
Size	One battalion
Part of	39 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQ	Victoria Nanaimo Courtenay
Patron	Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
Motto(s)	Scottish Gaelic: Deas gu cath ("Ready for the fray" or "ready to sting" – see §Motto)
Colours	Red, blue, and green
March	Blue Bonnets Are over the Border
Mascot(s)	Wallace VII, a Šarplaninac−Great Pyrenees cross
Equipment	Small arms including the C7 rifle, C9 light machine-gun, C6 machine gun, and M203 grenade launcher, C13 fragmentation grenade, browning Hi power, 84mm Carl gustav.
Engagements	First World War Second World War War in Afghanistan
Battle honours	See #Battle honours
Commanders
Colonel-in-chief	HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Insignia
Tartan	Hunting Stewart
Abbreviation	C Scot R

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) is a special group of soldiers in the Canadian Army. They are part of the Primary Reserve, which means they are trained soldiers who can be called upon when needed. Their home base is on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

You can find members of the regiment in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Courtenay, British Columbia. They are part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which looks after all army reserve units in British Columbia. The Canadian Scottish is one of the biggest reserve units in Western Canada.

As a light infantry regiment, these soldiers learn many skills. They train for quick attacks (raids), scouting missions (reconnaissance patrolling), surprise attacks (ambushes), and operations that involve boats (amphibious) or aircraft (airmobile). They also prepare for different kinds of missions, like helping in conflicts, keeping peace, and giving humanitarian aid.

What Does the Regiment Do?

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) actively sends its soldiers to help with Canadian missions around the world.

For example, in 2012, all members who were serving in Afghanistan returned home. They had been part of important combat operations there.

Soldiers from the regiment have also helped with peacekeeping missions. These include places like Egypt, Golan Heights, Cyprus, Croatia, Bosnia, and Sierra Leone.

A Look Back: How the Regiment Started

The regiment began on 3 September 1912. It was first known as the 88th Regiment, Victoria Fusiliers.

During the First World War, a new group called the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF was formed in 1914. It brought together soldiers from different regiments. This new battalion was simply called "Canadian Scottish."

The 16th Battalion was known for its high standards and strong leaders. One famous leader was Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Currie. He became the commander of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. Currie was a brilliant planner who helped Canadians win important battles. These included the Vimy Ridge and the Amiens.

Heroes of the 16th Battalion

Four soldiers from the 16th Battalion earned the Victoria Cross, which is a very brave award.

• Private William Milne bravely attacked two enemy machine gun nests by himself at Vimy Ridge in 1917. He was killed that same day.
• Lance Corporal William Henry Metcalf and Lieutenant Colonel Cyrus Peck won their Victoria Crosses on the same day in 1918. This was during the capture of the Drocourt-Quéant Line.
• Piper James Richardson was only 18 when he joined. He was killed in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He had played his bagpipes to lead his company through a dangerous area called "No Man's Land." He disappeared after going back to get his bagpipes, which he had put down to help a wounded friend. His pipes were later found in Scotland and returned to the regiment in the 2000s. They are now on display at the Canadian Scottish Regimental Museum.

After the First World War, the battalion was reorganized. In 1920, the 50th Regiment and the 88th Regiment Victoria Fusiliers joined together. They were named "The Canadian Scottish Regiment." In 1948, King George VI allowed them to add "(Princess Mary's)" to their name. This was because Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood had become their special patron in 1930.

The Second World War Efforts

In 1939, the Canadian Scottish Regiment had two battalions. The 1st Battalion went overseas in 1940. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, C Company was among the first to land in Normandy, France, on Juno Beach. The rest of the battalion followed soon after. They pushed six miles inland, further than any other British unit that day.

The regiment earned 17 battle honours for their bravery in the Second World War. One of these was for freeing the Dutch village of Wagenborgen. This special honour was given to them much later, in the 1990s.

What Does the Motto Mean?

Badge of the Canadian-Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). Museum of the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) and the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

The regiment's motto is in Scottish Gaelic: Deas gu cath. There are two ways to translate it into English. Many people connected to the regiment say it means "Ready for the Fray." However, official Canadian government sources translate it as "Ready to sting."

Regimental Museum: A Place to Learn

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) Regimental Museum is a great place to visit. It collects and keeps important historical items related to the regiment. These artifacts help historians and teach new soldiers about the regiment's past.

The museum has displays of weapons, uniforms, medals, and other interesting items. You can see a collection of small arms and other regimental artifacts. The museum is located in the Bay Street Armoury in Victoria, British Columbia.

It is open in June, July, and August from Tuesdays to Fridays (10am to 4pm). From September to May, it's open on Tuesdays (10am to 2pm).

Freedom of the City: A Special Honour

The "Freedom of the City" is a special honour given to military units. It means they have the right to march through the city with their weapons and flags. The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) has received this honour in Victoria, British Columbia several times, including in 1964 and 2012. A plaque in Victoria remembers this honour.

They also exercised this freedom in Nanaimo, British Columbia in 1974, 1990, and 2012.

Cadet Corps: Future Leaders

Four Royal Canadian Army Cadets corps on Vancouver Island are connected to The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). These are youth programs that help young people develop leadership skills and learn about the military.

Cadet Corps linked to the Canadian Scottish can wear special parts of the regiment's uniform. They also get some support from the regiment itself.

Alliances: Strong Connections

The Canadian Scottish Regiment has a special alliance with a British regiment:

•  United Kingdom - The Royal Scots Borderers

This alliance started in 1927. It connects the Canadian Scottish Regiment to The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), which is a very old and important infantry regiment in the British Army.

Battle Honours: A Legacy of Courage

The regimental colour of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's).

Battle honours are special awards given to military units for their bravery and success in battles. In the list below, battle honours in capital letters are for big operations or campaigns. Those in smaller letters are for more specific battles. The honours in bold are proudly displayed on the regiment's flag, called the regimental colour.

The old flags of the 88th Regiment Victoria Fusiliers are kept in St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in Oak Bay. The retired regimental colours of the 16th Battalion CEF and the 1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment are kept in Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. The retired regimental colours of the 2nd Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment are in St. Paul's Anglican Church, Nanaimo.

First World War

• Ypres, 1915, '17
• Gravenstafel
• St. Julien
• Festubert, 1915
• Mount Sorrel
• Somme, 1916
• Pozières
• Flers–Courcelette
• Thiepval
• Ancre Heights
• Ancre, 1916
• Arras, 1917, '18
• Vimy, 1917
• Arleux
• Scarpe, 1917, '18
• Hill 70
• Passchendaele
• Amiens
• Drocourt–Quéant
• Hindenburg Line
• Canal du Nord
• Pursuit to Mons
• France and Flanders, 1915–18

A special honour: an oak leaf shoulder badge for the brave actions of the 16th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF, at Kitcheners' Wood on 22/23 April 1915.

Second World War

• Normandy Landing
• Putot-en-Bessin
• Caen
• The Orne
• Falaise
• The Laison
• Calais, 1944
• The Scheldt
• Leopold Canal
• Breskens Pocket
• The Rhineland
• Waal Flats
• Moyland Wood
• The Rhine
• Emmerich–Hoch Elten
• Deventer
• Wagenborgen
• North-West Europe, 1944–1945

South-West Asia

Afghanistan

Images for kids

• 

  Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Currie in Highlands dress of the 50th Regiment

• 

  William Henry Metcalf, VC

• 

  William Johnstone Milne, VC

• 

  Cyrus Wesley Peck, VC

• 

  Piper James Cleland Richardson, VC, c. 1914–15. (Photo from Library and Archives Canada.)

• 

  Photograph by Private Floyd Watkins, Canadian Scottish Regiment. cc-zero. World War II forces of Canada 1940

• 

  Photograph by Private Floyd Watkins, Canadian Scottish Regiment, Nijmegen, Fall 1945

• 

  Photograph by Private Floyd Watkins, Canadian Scottish Regiment 1945 the Netherlands

• 

  Photograph by Private Floyd Watkins, Canadian Scottish Regiment, Nijmegen, Fall 1945

• 

  Photograph taken by Private Floyd Watkins, Canadian Scottish Regiment; leaving Europe c. 1945 on board RMS Queen Elizabeth

• 

  The camp flag of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's).

• 

  A company sergeant major of the 16th Battalion, in full marching order during World War I

• 

  The distinguishing patch of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF.

• 

  Bay Street Armoury

See also

• Canadian-Scottish regiment
• The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces
• List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Forces
• List of armouries in Canada

Order of precedence