The Royal Regina Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Prior to 1982 the regiment was known as The Regina Rifle Regiment. The Royal Regina Rifles are part of 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.
The regiment was nicknamed "The Johns" during World War II because of the high proportion of "Farmer Johns" in its ranks.
Lineage
The Royal Regina Rifles
Originated 3 July 1905 in Regina, Saskatchewan when a "regiment of infantry in the districts of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan" was authorized Redesignated 2 April 1907 as the 95th Regiment Redesignated 1 May 1908 as a rifle regiment Redesignated 1 June 1909 as two separate regiments, designated the 105th Regiment (now The North Saskatchewan Regiment) and the 95th Regiment Redesignated 16 September 1913 as the 95th "Saskatchewan Rifles" Amalgamated 15 March 1920 with the 60th Rifles of Canada and redesignated as The South Saskatchewan Regiment Reorganized 15 May 1924 into five separate regiments: The Weyburn Regiment (now The South Saskatchewan Regiment); The Saskatchewan Border Regiment (now The South Saskatchewan Regiment); The South Saskatchewan Regiment (now The Saskatchewan Dragoons); The Assiniboia Regiment (now the 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA); and The Regina Rifle Regiment Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with the 'Headquarters' and 'A Company' of the 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and retaining the designation as The Regina Rifle Regiment Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment Redesignated 4 April 1946 as The Regina Rifle Regiment Redesignated 5 July 1982 as The Royal Regina Rifle Regiment Redesignated 24 October 1984 as The Royal Regina Rifles
The 60th Rifles of Canada
Originated 2 January 1913 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan as the 60th Rifles of Canada Amalgamated 15 March 1920 with the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles
The 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC
Originated 1 June 1919 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as the 12th Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC Redesignated 15 September 1924 as the 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with The Regina Rifle Regiment
Operational history
The Great War
Details of the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty.
The 28th Battalion (Northwest), CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 29 May 1915 and arrived in France on 18 September 1915. The 28th Battalion fought as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The 28th Battalion disbanded on 30 August 1920.
The 68th Battalion (Regina), CEF, was authorized on 20 April 1915 and embarked for Britain on 28 April 1916, where it provided reinforcements for units in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 32nd Reserve Battalion, CEF.
The 195th Battalion (City of Regina), CEF, was authorized on 15 July 1916. Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city. It embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916, where its personnel were absorbed by the 32nd Reserve Battalion, on 11 or 12 November 1916, to provide reinforcements for units the field. Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Garner commanded the battalion throughout its existence.
Between the Wars
On 15 May 1924, following extensive reorganizations of the Canadian Militia, each of the South Saskatchewan Regiment's battalions became a distinct regiment, and the Regina Rifle Regiment was created from the 1st Battalion. In the 1936 reorganization of the Militia, the Headquarters and A Company of the 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, merged into the Regina Rifles, which existed as a single battalion militia regiment until 1939.
The Second World War
Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939 as The Regina Rifle Regiment, CASF (Canadian Active Service Force), for local protection duties. The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940. The regiment subsequently mobilized The Regina Rifle Regiment, CASF, for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940 and embarked for Britain on 24 August 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The 1st Battalion was disbanded on 15 January 1946.