Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment)

The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment) was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It was placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1965. In 2002, it was taken off the Supplementary Order of Battle and amalgamated with The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own).

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The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment)

The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment) was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia on 15 August 1913 as the 11th Regiment Irish Fusiliers of Canada. The regiment was redesignated The Irish Fusiliers of Canada on 12 March 1920 and reorganized as a two-battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion perpetuating the 121st Battalion (Western Irish), CEF and a 2nd Battalion on the Reserve order of battle. The reserve unit was disbanded on 14 December 1936.

On 1 June 1936 the Irish Fusiliers of Canada were amalgamated with The Vancouver Regiment and were redesignated the Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment). It was redesignated as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment) on 1 January 1941 and the Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment) on 1 June 1945. The regiment was converted to artillery and redesignated the 65th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Irish Fusiliers), Royal Canadian Artillery on 1 April 1946. On 1 September 1958 the regiment amalgamated with the 120th Independent Field Battery, RCA, converted to infantry and redesignated The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment).

120th Independent Field Battery, RCA / The North British Columbia Regiment

The 120th Independent Field Battery, RCA originated in Prince Rupert, British Columbia on 1 May 1914 as the Earl Grey's Own Rifles. It was redesignated as the 68th Regiment (Earl Grey's Own Rifles) on 2 November 1914 and as The North British Columbia Regiment on 12 March 1920. Upon redesignation as The North British Columbia Regiment it was organized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion perpetuating the 102nd Battalion, CEF and the 2nd Battalion, perpetuating the 30th Battalion, CEF, on the Reserve order of battle. The reserve unit was disbanded on 14 December 1936.

On 15 December 1936 the North British Columbia Regiment was converted to artillery and redesignated as the 102nd (North British Columbia) Heavy Battery, RCA. During the Second World War it was redesignated as the 102nd (Reserve) (North British Columbia) Heavy Battery, RCA on 1 January 1941 and as the 120th Coast Battery, RCA on 1 April 1946. Following the Second World War, the unit was redesignated again as the 120th Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery, RCA on 5 February 1948, as the 120th Harbour Defence Troop, RCA on 17 October 1954 and the 120th Independent Field Battery, RCA on 25 October 1956. On 1 September 1958, it was amalgamated with the 65th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Irish Fusiliers), RCA.

The North British Columbia Regiment was awarded the following battle honours in 1929. After conversion to artillery, these honours became dormant, being replaced by the RCA's honorary distinction .

The Vancouver Regiment

The Vancouver Regiment originated in Vancouver, British Columbia on 15 May 1924 when the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) was reorganized into three separate regiments designated the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), The Westminster Regiment and The Vancouver Regiment. On 1 June 1936, it was amalgamated with The Irish Fusiliers of Canada.

Perpetuations

The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment) perpetuated the following units:

29th Battalion (Vancouver), CEF

30th Battalion, CEF

102nd Battalion, CEF

121st Battalion (Western Irish), CEF

158th Battalion (The Duke of Connaught's Own), CEF

After amalgamation in 2002, these perpetuations are continued on by The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own).

History

First World War

On 6 August 1914, the 11th Regiment Irish Fusiliers of Canada was placed on active service for local protection duties.

On 7 November 1914, the 29th Battalion, CEF was authorized for service and on 20 May 1915, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. On 17 September 1915, the 29th Battalion disembarked in France where it fought as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. On 30 August 1920, the 29th Battalion was disbanded after its return to Canada.