The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Army, based in Windsor, Ontario, and is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 31 Canadian Brigade Group.[1][2]

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)
Regimental badge
Active1936–present
CountryCanada
BranchPrimary Reserve
TypeArmoured cavalry
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeOne regiment
Part of31 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQWindsor, Ontario
Nickname(s)Windsors
Motto(s)Semper paratus (Latin for 'always prepared')
March"My Boy Willie"
Anniversaries15 December 1936
Engagements
Battle honoursAfghanistan
Commanders
Commanding OfficerLCol J Hancock
Regimental Sergeant MajorCWO Wilson
Honorary ColonelElizabeth Bainbridge (Col Rtd)
PatronMr Don Hearn Snr
Insignia
NATO Map Symbol
AbbreviationWINDSOR R

Lineage

edit

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)

edit

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) originated in Windsor, Ontario, on 15 December 1936 as The Essex Regiment (Tank), named after Essex County. It was redesignated as the 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion (Essex Regiment) on 27 January 1942; as the 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment), CAC on 8 June 1942; as the 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment), RCAC on 2 August 1945; as the 22nd Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment), RCAC on 1 April 1946; as The Windsor Regiment (22nd Reconnaissance Regiment) on 4 February 1949; as The Windsor Regiment (22nd Armoured Regiment) on 1 October 1954; as The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) on 19 May 1958; as The Windsor Regiment on 19 September 1985. On 14 August 1997 the regiment reverted to its previous designation as The Windsor Regiment (RCAC).[1][2]

Lineage chart

edit
Lineage chart[3]
1936The Essex Regt (Tank)
194230th Recce Bn (The Essex Regt), CAC, CASF30th (Reserve) Recce Bn (Essex Regt)
194230th Recce Regt (The Essex Regt), CAC, CASF30th (Reserve) Recce Regt (Essex Regt), CAC
1944Disbanded
194530th (Reserve) Recce Regt (Essex Regt), RCAC
194622nd Recce Regt (Essex Regt), RCAC
1949The Windsor Regt (22nd Recce Regt)
1954The Windsor Regt (22nd Armd Regt)
1958The Windsor Regt (RCAC)
1985The Windsor Regt
1997The Windsor Regt (RCAC)

Operational history

edit

Second World War

edit
 
The camp flag of The Windsor Regiment (RCAC).

Details from the regiment were called out on active service for local protection duties on 28 May 1940 as The Essex Regiment (Tank), CASF (Details).

The regiment subsequently mobilized an armour regiment designated the 30th Reconnaissance Battalion (The Essex Regiment), CAC, CASF for active service on 12 May 1942. It was redesignated the 30th Reconnaissance Regiment (The Essex Regiment), CAC, CASF on 8 June 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence and training role as part of Military District No. 12. On 23 July 1943 it embarked for Britain where its soldiers were employed as assembly workers for unassembled vehicles arriving from Canada. The regiment was subsequently disbanded on 31 March 1944.[2]

Alliances

edit

Battle honours

edit
 
Pre-2022 guidon

The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) was awarded its first battle honour on 9 May 2014: the theatre honour AFGHANISTAN.[4] Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented the regiment with a new guidon that includes this battle honour on 24 September 2022.[5]

Media

edit
  • Black Beret: A History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC), 1936-2006 by Michael R. McNorgan (Jan 2006)

Order of precedence

edit
Preceded by The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) Succeeded by
Last in precedence of armoured regiments

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
  2. ^ a b c d Defence, National (2018-11-29). "The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  3. ^ Defence, National (2018-11-29). "The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  4. ^ "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "PHOTOS: Windsor Regiment (RCAC) Change Of Guidon Parade | windsoriteDOTca News - windsor ontario's neighbourhood newspaper windsoriteDOTca News". Retrieved 2022-09-26.
edit