Queen's Own Rifles of Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada |
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Badge of the regiment
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| Active | 26 April 1860 – present |
| Country |
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| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Rifle regiment |
| Role | Light infantry Parachute infantry |
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of | 32 Canadian Brigade Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Moss Park Armoury, Toronto (HQ)/Scarborough |
| Motto(s) | In pace paratus (Latin for 'in peace prepared') |
| Colours | None (rifle regiments have no colours) |
| March |
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| Anniversaries | 150th Anniversary on 26 April 2010 |
| Engagements |
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| Battle honours | See #Battle honours § Notes |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Boileau, CD |
| Colonel-in-Chief | The Queen |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | QOR of C |
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (QOR) is a special army unit in Toronto, Canada. It's part of the Canadian Armed Forces and is known for its unique role. This unit is the only reserve regiment in Canada that trains its soldiers to jump out of planes!
The QOR is made up of a reserve battalion, a group for former members, and a band that plays music. You'll often hear it called "The QOR of C" or just "QOR." Their main base is the Moss Park Armoury in downtown Toronto. Their motto is in Latin: in pace paratus, which means "in peace prepared."
Contents
- How the Regiment is Organized
- A Quick Look at Their History
- What They Do: Parachuting and More
- A Journey Through Time: QOR's History
- Friends Around the World: Alliances
- Battle Honours: A Mark of Bravery
- Heroes of the Regiment: Victoria Cross Recipients
- Important People from the QOR
- The QOR Museum and Archives
- Regimental Church
- Memorials
- See also
How the Regiment is Organized
The QOR has different groups, called companies, that work together. Each company has a special job:
- Battalion Headquarters & Signals Company: This is like the main office, handling plans and communications.
- 60th Company and Buffs Company: These are regular infantry companies.
- Parachute Company: These soldiers are trained to jump from airplanes.
- Victoria Company: This group helps support the soldiers in combat.
- Normandy Company: This company trains new soldiers and teaches advanced skills.
- Regimental Band & Bugles: They play music for parades and ceremonies.
- Ghurka Company: This company focuses on training and finding new recruits.
A Quick Look at Their History
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada started way back on April 26, 1860. Over the years, its name changed a few times:
- In 1860, it was the Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada.
- In 1863, it became the Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada or Queen's Own Rifles of Toronto.
- In 1882, it was named 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.
- In 1900, it changed to 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.
- In 1920, it got its current name: The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.
In 1953, the QOR joined with other army battalions. For a while, it had two regular army battalions and one reserve battalion. Later, in 1970, the regular army battalions were changed, and the reserve battalion in Toronto became the main part of the regiment.
What They Do: Parachuting and More
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is special because it's the only reserve unit in Canada that trains its soldiers to be paratroopers. This means they learn to jump out of planes!
Soldiers in the QOR can become:
- Parachute Instructors: They teach others how to jump safely.
- Drop Zone/Landing Zone Controllers: They manage where paratroopers land.
- Jumpmasters: They are in charge of paratroopers during a jump.
Members also learn about helicopter operations and how to deliver supplies from the air. Some even become instructors for advanced mountain operations. Soldiers who are qualified to jump wear a special maroon beret. All trained soldiers in the QOR are called Riflemen.
The QOR also helps the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre by providing instructors for parachuting courses. They often send paratroopers to support other units when needed. Throughout the year, the battalion practices parachute jumps during training exercises. Some members have even joined the Canadian Forces SkyHawks Parachute Demonstration Team, which performs amazing parachute stunts.
A Journey Through Time: QOR's History
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The QOR started in 1860, even before Canada became a country. Its first leader was Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie. The name "Queen's Own Rifles" was chosen to honor Queen Victoria.
The Fenian Raids
The QOR first saw combat in 1866 during the Fenian Raids. They fought on the Niagara frontier against a group of Irish-American soldiers. In the Battle of Ridgeway, nine QOR soldiers were killed.
North-West Rebellion
In 1885, the QOR sent soldiers to help during the North-West Rebellion in western Canada. They were part of the Battleford Column.
The South African War
The QOR sent volunteers to fight in the Second Boer War in South Africa (1899-1900). This was the first time QOR soldiers fought in a foreign country. They earned a special honor for their bravery.
The First World War
During the First World War (1914-1918), the QOR formed the 3rd Canadian Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF. This battalion fought bravely in France and Belgium, including famous battles like Ypres and Passchendaele.
The QOR also helped create other battalions, like the 83rd, 95th, 166th, 198th, and 255th Battalions. These units sent many soldiers to reinforce the Canadian forces fighting overseas.
The Second World War
The QOR played a very important role in the Second World War (1939-1945). On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, the QOR landed on Juno Beach in Normandy, France. They were the only Canadian regiment to reach their assigned objective that day, capturing the town of Bernières-sur-Mer. However, they suffered many casualties, with 143 soldiers killed, wounded, or captured.
The QOR continued to fight through Normandy, northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They helped liberate important port cities. During the war, 463 QOR riflemen were killed in action, and nearly 900 were wounded.
Korea and the Cold War
After World War II, the QOR became part of the Regular Force. The 2nd Battalion served in Korea after the armistice from 1954 to 1955. Several QOR members died during this time.
During the Cold War, QOR battalions served with NATO in Germany and with the United Nations in Cyprus, helping to keep peace.
Recent Missions
Since 1983, the QOR has provided an airborne company to the Canadian Airborne Regiment. QOR members have also served in many recent overseas missions, including Namibia, Cambodia, Cyprus, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.
In 2005, the QOR helped buy the Victoria Cross medal of Corporal Frederick George Topham and donated it to the Canadian War Museum. In 2006, the QOR opened a new base called Dalton Armoury in Scarborough, Toronto.
Friends Around the World: Alliances
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada has special friendships, called alliances, with other military units:
- United Kingdom – The Rifles (since 2007)
- United Kingdom – The Royal Gurkha Rifles (since 1994)
- United Kingdom – The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) (since 1992)
They also had alliances with other British regiments in the past, like The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and The Royal Green Jackets.
Battle Honours: A Mark of Bravery
battle honours are special awards given to military units for their bravery in battles. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada has earned 47 of these honors throughout its history. These honors are proudly displayed on the regiment's drums.
Here are some of the important battles where the QOR earned honors:
North West Rebellion
The South African War
The First World War
- Ypres, 1915
- Festubert, 1915
- Mount Sorrel
- Somme, 1916
- Vimy, 1917
- Passchendaele
- Amiens
- Canal du Nord
- Pursuit to Mons
- France and Flanders, 1915–18
The Second World War
- Normandy Landing
- Caen
- Bourguébus Ridge
- Falaise
- Boulogne, 1944
- The Scheldt
- The Rhineland
- The Hochwald
- The Rhine
- North-West Europe, 1944–45
War in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan
Heroes of the Regiment: Victoria Cross Recipients
Seven members of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada have received the Victoria Cross. This is Canada's highest award for bravery in battle. These heroes include:
- Captain Thain Wendell MacDowell, VC, DSO (1917)
- Corporal Colin Fraser Barron, VC (1917)
- Second Lieutenant Edmund De Wind, VC (killed in action 1918)
- Lieutenant Charles Smith Rutherford, VC, MC, MM (1918)
- Lieutenant Wallace Lloyd Algie, VC (killed in action 1918)
- Lieutenant George Fraser Kerr, VC, MC & Bar, MM (1918)
- Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, VC (killed in action 1945)
Important People from the QOR
Many notable Canadians have been part of the Queen's Own Rifles:
- Vincent Massey was the first Canadian to become Governor General of Canada in 1952.
- General William Dillon Otter was the first Canadian-born head of the Canadian Army.
- Lieutenant-General Charles H. Belzile was also a former head of the Canadian Army.
- Major-General Lewis MacKenzie commanded a UN force in Yugoslavia.
- Major-General Sir Henry Pellatt was a famous financier who built Casa Loma in Toronto.
- Brigadier General John "Jock" Spragge was the commanding officer of the QOR on D-Day.
- Major Ben Dunkelman fought in many key battles during the Second World War.
- Alexander Muir, who wrote the famous song "The Maple Leaf Forever", fought at the Battle of Ridgeway.
- Frederick J. Conboy was Mayor of Toronto from 1941 to 1944.
The QOR Museum and Archives
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives is located on the third floor of Casa Loma in Toronto. Sir Henry Pellatt, who built Casa Loma, was a big supporter of the regiment. The museum tells the story of the QOR and keeps its historical records.
Regimental Church
St. Paul's, Bloor Street, an Anglican Church in Toronto, has been the official church of the QOR since 1910. Outside the church, there is a Cross of Sacrifice dedicated to QOR members who died in combat. Inside, the Books of Remembrance list the names of the QOR dead. These books are displayed every year on Remembrance Day Sunday.
Memorials
There are many memorials that honor the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada:
- A carving of the regimental badge is at the Royal Memorial Chapel at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
- The oldest memorial is the Ridgeway tablet at the Memorial United Church in Ridgeway, Ontario, remembering the Fenian Raids.
- Monuments in Queen's Park and inside Moss Park Armoury remember the North-West Rebellion.
- A memorial on University Avenue and a tablet inside Denison Armoury honor those who served in the South African War.
- The Cross of Sacrifice and the Books of Remembrance at St. Paul's Anglican Church commemorate the First World War.
- A plaque in Bernières-sur-Mer, France, marks the QOR's D-Day landing site.
- Other memorials are found in France and the Netherlands, remembering the QOR's actions in the Second World War.
See also
- The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces
- Canadian Airborne Forces Association
- Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Band & Bugles
- Military history of Canada
- Parachute rigger
- Pathfinders (military)
- Toronto Armories
