Early Days in Elgin County
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In the first days of the Talbot Settlement, military forces consisted of British soldiers augmented by local settlers and First Nations peoples. Under Colonel Thomas Talbot, the early settlers dealt with the American incursion during the War of 1812. Talbot’s own home at Port Talbot was burned by the invaders but, the Colonel managed to escape.
The Rebellion of 1837 saw a small garrison of British troops established in St. Thomas and the town itself raised a troop known as the St. Thomas Cavalry (later to form the base of the 1st Hussars). Another locally organized unit was the 1st Volunteer Rifle Company, formed in St. Thomas in 1856. This was followed in 1862 by units in Port Stanley and Vienna, and in 1866 these were consolidated into 25th Battalion of Infantry - the Elgin County Regiment. |
The Boer War
While the regiment did not see service in the Boer War, several of its members did join the forces sent to South Africa, and served with distinction. John Edgerton Farley, a member of the First Canadian Contingent, died of Enteric Fever February 3rd, 1900 in hospital in Orange River, South Africa. For some, such as Percy Ermatinger, South Africa had a special calling and they stayed and or returned to serve in the local constabulary. Two officers, W.J. Green and G.A. Stanbury were later to serve as Commanding Officers of the Elgin Regiment. |
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25th Elgin Regiment
In 1903, the 25th Elgin Regiment, as it had become in 1900, moved into the just completed armouries on Wilson Avenue in St. Thomas, only to disband the unit in August of that year. However, by May of 1904, it was reformed.
91st Battalion - The Elgin Regiment
The Elgins & the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
As is customary in the Canadian military, the Elgin Regiment developed an affiliation with a British unit, and in 1929, approval was received to officially authorize the affiliation of the Elgin Regiment with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, a very distinguished regiment of the British Army. This was followed in 1931 with authorization for the Elgin Regiment to incorporate the image of St. George and the Dragon, Patron Saint of the Fusiliers, into their cap badge below the beaver.
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Infantry Regiment to Armoured Regiment
The "Elgins", as they were known, became active with the outbreak of World War II, and in 1940, the Regiment was brought up to strength as a member of the Canadian Active Service Force with the addition of companies from the Middlesex and Huron Regiment and the Oxford Rifles. In July 1941, the Second Battalion of the Elgin Regiment was formed in St. Thomas to act as a training unit preparing men for overseas service.
During 1942, the 1st Battalion (CASF) changed from an infantry unit to a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps and took its place in 3rd Armoured Brigade of 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The Regiment went overseas September 29, 1942 as the 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment). The bracketed (The Elgin Regiment) is not entirely descriptive; it is official terminology utilized in recognition of its long service- predating Confederation.
During 1942, the 1st Battalion (CASF) changed from an infantry unit to a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps and took its place in 3rd Armoured Brigade of 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The Regiment went overseas September 29, 1942 as the 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment). The bracketed (The Elgin Regiment) is not entirely descriptive; it is official terminology utilized in recognition of its long service- predating Confederation.
25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)
In 1943, they were re-tasked again as the 25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment, and then in March 1944, the Regiment was re-designated 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment). They were an Army level unit as in the British system whereby a crack unit is tasked to serve all the other units utilizing their skills and with the knowledge of the bigger picture of the vital role of the armoured field regiments.
Under this system, tanks were retrieved and then forwarded back to the front lines in good to go condition. This was a role they would continue until the end of the war. Despite the long designation, the soldiers were always known by their contemporaries as the "Elgins." The nature of their tasking resulted in a complicated distribution of their resources. Front and rear squadrons were required to deal with the distances involved in servicing and replacing equipment along the fronts in Italy and Northwest Europe. The little known Kangaroo Regiment was designated for administrative purposes to come under the Elgin Regiment. The first modern armoured personnel carrier was invented by this branch and named after the wife of a member of the Elgins. The 1st Battalion returned to Canada in 1946, and was disbanded, and the 2nd Battalion was reorganized as an Infantry Regiment. |
WW II uniform with patch showing it was Army level in the order of battle.
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Cold War Years
In September, 1954, the regiment was again reorganized as the 27th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, a role it continued for many years. To those steeped in the regimental numbers of WW II, who might think that this is a typo and the 27th should be the 25th, you are correct to be confused. During WW II, the 27th was the number of the distinguished Sherbrooke Fusiliers and 25th belonged to The Elgins. Ours not to wonder why, but in 1954 the Elgins did become the 27th. With tongue firmly in cheek we wonder who had the contract for cap badges!
The Elgin Regiment
In 1997, the Regiment became a unit of the Canadian Engineers, designated as " 31 Combat Engineer Regiment." However, in recognition of the long and distinguished service of the regiment, special allowances were made, and the Regiment continues to be known throughout the Canadian military as "The Elgins."
The Regiment forms up for its 150th Anniversary Parade in April 2016. The Elgin Military Museum forms the backdrop.
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