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87-498: The Essex and Kent Scottish is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army . The regiment was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of The Essex Scottish Regiment and The Kent Regiment . Its colonel-in-chief is Prince Michael of Kent . The current commanding officer is Lieutenant-Colonel Gord Prentice (from Sep 2019). The regimental sergeant major is CWO Jeremy Clark. There are two standing platoons within

174-587: A blended crew model, skewing more heavily to being primarily manned by Regular Force (RegF) members. This change was due to the loss of seagoing billets on larger ships typically manned primarily by RegF members. As of 2012, the Naval Reserve had a funded manning level of approximately 4,000 members. . It has since grown, in accordance with the Justin Trudeau Liberal government's 'Strong, Secure, Engaged' defence policy unveiled in 2017. The Army Reserve of

261-502: A combat engineer troop. These combat arms troops will be supported by signals, service, medical and military police combat support sub-units. The brigades are commanded by a colonel and provide a garrison for the reserve units; however, they are usually ready to contribute a battle group to the Division's Task Force and battle school candidates to the Division's Training Centre. The June 30, 2016 / Project number: 16-0209 article published in

348-511: A deep-rooted community tie and focus on Canada's proud military tradition. The true strength of the Army Reserve is the strong connection that the extended regimental family fosters with the community. From coast to coast, regimental depots support Regimental Bands, sponsor Army Cadet Corps, participate in ceremonial duties and parades with some even operating old comrade associations from non-public funds. Many of these activities are overseen by

435-417: A drop had been spilt, if never a life had been lost in defence of Ypres still would Ypres have been hallowed, if only for the hopes and the courage it has inspired and the scenes of valour and sacrifice it has witnessed. Ypres became a pilgrimage destination for Britons to imagine and share the sufferings of their men and gain a spiritual benefit. After the war, Winston Churchill proposed to leave Ypres as

522-403: A few miles of ground won by Allied forces. During the course of the war the town was all but obliterated by the artillery fire. English-speaking soldiers often referred to Ieper/Ypres by the deliberate mispronunciation "Wipers". British soldiers even published a wartime newspaper called The Wipers Times . The same style of deliberate mispronunciation was applied to other Flemish place names in

609-444: A headquarters staff and headquarters company with an administrative and logistical element directed by a small regular force support staff. The regiment's subordinate units consist of one training company that may include a platoon devoted to inducting recruits and another platoon conducting recruit training. The Training Company provides candidates for basic courses run at the brigade's Battle School and combat arms training conducted at

696-399: A lieutenant-colonel selected on a rotational basis from one of the brigade units. The order of battle will vary depending on the task and the available manpower but generally includes an artillery battery with 105 mm C3 Close Support Guns, several companies of truck-mounted light infantry with support weapons, an armoured reconnaissance squadron with G-Wagons equipped with GPMGs/LAW, and

783-562: A mausoleum, with the rightful owners to be deprived from regaining their land. By early March 1919, the Belgian scheme was to leave the Cathedral and Cloth Hall and the buildings around them in ruins. By November 1919, the Belgian government was seriously considering two schemes, both of which would have kept the Cloth Hall and the Cathedral in ruins, but one scheme would allow rebuilding houses around

870-624: A spiritual quest in which British and imperial troops were purified by their sacrifice. In 1920, Lieutenant-Colonel Beckles Willson 's guide book, The Holy Ground of British Arms captured the mood of the Ypres League: There is not a single half-acre in Ypres that is not sacred. There is not a single stone which has not sheltered scores of loyal young hearts, whose one impulse and desire was to fight and, if need be, to die for England. Their blood has drenched its cloisters and its cellars, but if never

957-401: A third platoon that is involved with retention duties such as refresher training of mature soldiers (this was once known as warrior training) and holding the non-effective strength, with the goal of returning troops back into the line. Traditionally the militia has been subdivided into district garrisons, and this system is still used as units are grouped along geographic lines into brigades for

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1044-566: A threat to national security. Examples include: Overseas deployment on operations is voluntary. Members of the Primary Reserve are required to be selected after volunteering and must undergo workup training before being deployed overseas on operations. In case of a severe national emergency, an Order in Council may be signed by the Governor General of Canada acting under the advice of

1131-628: A three-storey tower, centrally located in the city. It housed The Essex and Kent Scottish until 2004, when the new location was opened on Sandwich St. The building is now owned by the University of Windsor . Primary Reserve The reserve force is represented, though not commanded, at the national level by the chief of reserves and employer support. This is usually a major-general or rear-admiral . The Primary Reserve consists of sailors, soldiers, and aviators who may augment or operate alongside their Regular Force counterparts. Each reserve force

1218-414: A week for administration purposes. Reservists are obliged to accumulate a minimum of 14 full days of service per year and may not exceed 30 days of unauthorized absence during which no fewer than 3 duty periods were conducted by the reservist's unit. Those failing to adhere to these requirements can be deemed to be Non-Effective Strength and can be subject to administrative action. This class of service

1305-557: Is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders . Though the Dutch name Ieper is the official one, the city's French name Ypres is most commonly used in English. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres/Ieper and the villages of Boezinge , Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge , Hollebeke , Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge , Voormezele, Zillebeke , and Zuidschote. Together, they are home to about 34,900 inhabitants. During

1392-518: Is a small city in the very western part of Belgium, the so-called Westhoek . Ypres these days has the title of "city of peace" and maintains a close friendship with another town on which war had a profound impact: Hiroshima . Both towns witnessed warfare at its worst: Ypres was one of the first places where chemical warfare was employed , while Hiroshima suffered the debut of nuclear warfare . The city governments of Ypres and Hiroshima advocate that cities should never be targets again and campaign for

1479-470: Is an historic city, and generates significant income from tourism, it also has a number of industrial areas. The biggest one is along the Ieperlee canal, which hosts room for around 120 companies and a wind farm in the north of Ypres. The office area known as Ieper Business Park is connected to the industrial area. That office area started as the site of speech recognition company Lernout & Hauspie , and

1566-495: Is conducted year round with regular force counterparts at the three Canadian Forces Fleet Schools and reservists frequently deploy on regular force ships to augment ships' companies. Traditionally, the Naval Reserve supplied all personnel (except two regular forces electricians and one marine engineer) for the 12 Kingston -class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), which are used for patrol , minesweeping and bottom-inspection operations. However in 2017, MCDVs were shifted to

1653-597: Is for Reservists employed full-time in a non-operational capacity. The length of service is dependent on the reservist's availability and the needs of the Canadian Forces. Reservists on Class B service receive many of the same benefits as members of the Regular Force, and for members on terms of service longer than six months duration, almost exactly the same benefits aside from pay. Members on Class A and B service are paid 92.8% of their counterparts on Class C service and in

1740-422: Is normally in excess of one year. Typically, a reservist in a Class C term of service fills the role of a Regular Force member and is accordingly paid from the Regular Force budget. Members of the Primary Reserve may serve in routine domestic operations, or be called up in cases of national emergency as an aid to civil power. This may include rescue operations, disaster management, additional security operations or

1827-539: Is operationally and administratively responsible to its corresponding environmental command; those being the Royal Canadian Navy , the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force . Primary reservists number approximately 27,000 (all ranks, all services). The reserves are important to sustaining CF operations, particularly following the defence budget cuts of the 90s. The Naval Reserve (NAVRES)

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1914-485: Is tasked with providing subordinate units (like platoons and companies) and complete units (battalions). It forms the framework needed to raise a national army during wartime and or insurrection. This fighting mission has not changed much since the Second World War, when the majority of combat units overseas were mobilized reserve battalions detached from their home regiments. In keeping with this mission, regiments of

2001-399: Is the reserve formation of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). It is organized into 24  Naval Reserve Divisions (NRDs), shore-based training facilities in communities across the country. Each NRD has a small cadre of full-time reservists and regular force members to coordinate training and administration, but is for the most part directed by the division's part-time leadership. Training

2088-682: The Australian War Memorial in Canberra . In 2017, for the 100th anniversary memorial services of the Third Battle of Ypres, or Passendale , in a joint effort by the Belgian, Flemish and Australian governments, the lions were temporarily returned to the Menin Gate. Exact replicas are now installed, in their original position, guarding the approach to Menin Gate on its eastern side. War graves, both of

2175-603: The First World War , Ypres (or "Wipers" as it was commonly known by the British troops ) was the centre of the Battles of Ypres between German and Allied forces. Ypres is an ancient town, known to have been raided by the Romans in the first century BC. It is first mentioned by name in 1066 and is probably named after the river Ieperlee on the banks of which it was founded. During

2262-645: The Middle Ages , Ypres was a prosperous Flemish city with a population of 40,000 in 1200 AD, renowned for its linen trade with England, which was mentioned in the Canterbury Tales . As the third largest city in the County of Flanders (after Ghent and Bruges ), Ypres played an important role in the history of the textile industry. Textiles from Ypres could be found in the markets of Novgorod in Kievan Rus' in

2349-804: The Ypres Salient into the German lines on the surrounding hills. In the First Battle of Ypres (19 October to 22 November 1914), the Allies captured the town from the Germans. The Germans had used tear gas at the Battle of Bolimov on 3 January 1915. Their use of poison gas for the first time on 22 April 1915 marked the beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres , which continued until 25 May 1915. They captured high ground east of

2436-470: The '35th Reserve Battalion, CEF' to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field on 6 July 1916. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917. The 186th Battalion was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 28 March 1917 where on 7 April 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 4th Reserve Battalion, CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field, with

2523-591: The 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa. Core tasks assigned to the field ambulances include force-generating trained personnel to support, augment and sustain Canadian Forces Health Services Group 's domestic and expeditionary commitments, to provide health services support to their affiliated Canadian brigade groups and to conduct community outreach activities. The members of the 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa include specialist clinicians and provide depth and breadth to

2610-702: The 70th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid with the regiment in Dieppe, France , in August 2012. Michael's father, Prince George, Duke of Kent , served as colonel-in-chief from 1937 to his death in 1942, after which Michael's mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent , took on the role, from 1942 to 1968. In the list below, battle honours in small capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles. Battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on

2697-629: The Allied retreat to Dunkirk. Adolf Hitler (later Chancellor of Germany ) fought at Ypres in the First World War and later visited the town during the Battle of France . On 12 February 1920, King George V awarded the Military Cross to the City of Ypres, one of only two awards of this decoration to a municipality during World War I, the other being to Verdun . In May 1920 Field Marshal French presented

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2784-561: The Allied side and the Central Powers, cover the landscape around Ypres. The largest number of dead are at Langemark German war cemetery and Tyne Cot Commonwealth war cemetery . The countryside around Ypres is featured in the famous poem by John McCrae , In Flanders Fields . Saint George's Memorial Church commemorates the British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the five battles fought for Ypres during First World War. Though Ypres

2871-422: The Army Reserve exist at cadre strength and have a theoretical administrative capacity to support a full battalion upon mobilization, although they maintain a standing force that can typically deploy the manpower of a reduced company. This perpetuates the regimental system in the reserve army so that it is available as such for the timely absorption of recruits in case of war or in aid of the civil power. Such as when

2958-783: The Canadian 1st Army including the liberation of Dieppe. The division saw heavy action in the Netherlands in late 1944 and took part in the final offensives in 1945. Some of the engagements the Essex Scottish were a part of were; Bourguebus Ridge ; St. André-sur-Orne ; Falaise ; Falaise Roa; Clair Tizon; Forêt de la Londe; The Scheldt ; Woensdrecht ; South Beveland ; The Rhineland; Goch-Calcar Road; The Hochwald; Xanten ; Twente Canal; Groningen ; Oldenburg ; North-West Europe 1942 , 1944-1945 . The Kent Regiment (Machine Gun) mobilized The Kent Regiment, CASF, for active service on 24 May 1940 and

3045-532: The Canadian Army News stated that the Canadian Army trains 11,000 reservists annually on courses from private to lieutenant colonel. The number of courses increased in 2014/15 from the previous year and will see a steady state in 2015/16. The CA continues to generate and train ten Territorial Battalion Groups and four Arctic Company Response Groups each year. The Army Reserve is a true force multiplier, and

3132-452: The Canadian Army is the largest part of the Primary Reserve, with an authorized strength of over 18,000 troops. It is sometimes referred to by its original and historic name, the "Militia". During operations the Army Reserve is tasked to provide fully trained and equipped troops to augment the regular army. It is the time-tested backbone of the Canadian Army and perpetuates the historic force generation mission. In times of national emergency, it

3219-516: The Canadian Army over the last decades. In some cases the Army Reserve has contributed as much as 40 percent of the personnel in each deployment in the form of individual augmentation and occasionally formed sub-units (companies). At the peak of the fighting during the War in Afghanistan, almost a quarter of the troops came from the Army Reserve, thus earning new battle honours for Reserve units. While not

3306-590: The Cross in a special ceremony in the city, and in 1925 it was added to the city's coat of arms, along with the French Croix de Guerre . Historian Mark Connelly states that in the 1920s, British veterans set up the Ypres League and made the city the symbol of all that they believed Britain was fighting for and gave it a holy aura in their minds. The Ypres League sought to transform the horrors of trench warfare into

3393-494: The Divisional Training Centre. Once the soldiers are trade-qualified, they return to their units to serve in the line company (or operational sub-unit) that is ready and equipped to deploy when called to do so. Each unit will usually deploy a reduced company of two platoons, one of these usually consisting of younger soldiers who have just passed through qualification training. The line company may be rounded out with

3480-554: The Essex Scottish Regiment , CASF, for active service on 1 September 1939. It embarked for Great Britain on 16 July 1940 and was re-designated the 1st Battalion, The Essex Scottish Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940. The battalion took part in the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942. The Essex Scottish Regiment left France for the attack with 553 men all ranks. At the end of the battle the Essex Scottish had suffered 530 casualties including 6 officers and 108 other ranks killed,

3567-551: The First World War heritage in and around Ypres. On September 6, 1944, the 1st Polish Armoured Division liberated the town of Ypres after four years of occupation, and the nightly ' Last Post ' ceremony was resumed at the Menin Gate ; the Germans had forbidden the ceremony when they occupied Ypres in 1940; from January 1941 until the liberation, the daily commemoration took place in Brookwood Military Cemetery . After

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3654-722: The French to capture the city in the 1794 Siege of Ypres during the War of the First Coalition . In 1850, the Ypresian Age of the Eocene Epoch was named on the basis of geology in the region by Belgian geologist André Hubert Dumont . Ypres had long been fortified to keep out invaders. Parts of the early ramparts, dating from 1385, still survive near the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate). Over time,

3741-492: The Gate. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick , was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. It was built and is maintained by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission . The memorial's location is especially poignant, as it lies on the eastward route from the town, which Entente soldiers would have taken heading towards the fighting – many never to return. Every evening since 1929, at precisely eight o'clock, traffic around

3828-624: The Grand Place, whereas the other would have created a belt of trees surrounding the Hall and Cathedral. By early September 1920, the decision had been made by the British Government that the Menin Gate and its immediate surroundings would be used as a memorial, by which time, the Belgians had already begun to rebuild the area. In the 100th anniversary period more attempts were being made to preserve

3915-600: The Health Services Group on international operations and in military clinics within Canada. The level of activity associated with being a reservist varies from formation to formation. There are three classes of service available to Reservists: The most common form of employment for reservists; members are employed on a part-time basis within their unit. This form of employment is entirely voluntary, provides no job security and fewer benefits (e.g., medical and dental) than

4002-455: The Regular force. This is the operational level of service. Reservists on Class C service receive an increase in pay to the level that a Regular Force member in the same position would be expected to receive (Reservists employed in either of the other classes of service earn 92.8% of the amount their Regular Force counterparts receive). There is no maximum length of a Class C term of service and it

4089-695: The Second Boer War, that the regiment was created permanently, with its headquarters in Chatham, Ontario. Seven of its men went to fight in the Boer War, of whom one did not return. Like the Essex Fusiliers, the Kent Regiment was also renamed several times. In December 1936, it was re-designated as the Kent Regiment (MG), which meant it was now a machine gun regiment, and not a light infantry regiment. Eventually, it

4176-553: The Ypres area for the benefit of British troops, such as Wytschaete becoming "White Sheet" and Ploegsteert becoming "Plug Street". Ypres was one of the sites that hosted an unofficial Christmas Truce in 1914 between German and British soldiers. During World War Two, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) would fight the Germans in a delaying action at the Ypres-Comines Canal , one of the actions that allowed

4263-453: The abolition of nuclear weapons. Ypres hosts the international campaign secretariat of Mayors for Peace , an international Mayoral organization mobilizing cities and citizens worldwide to abolish and eliminate nuclear weapons by 2020. The imposing Cloth Hall was built in the 13th century and was one of the largest commercial buildings of the Middle Ages. The structure which stands today is

4350-560: The battalion sisbanding on 15 September 1917. The 241st Battalion was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 29 April 1917 where on 7 May 1917 its personnel were absorbed by the 5th Reserve Battalion, CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 1 September 1917. The timeline for these battalions are as follows; Canada: October 1, 1914 - April 18, 1915, England: April 29, 1915 - September 14, 1915, France: September 15, 1915 - April 3, 1919, Canada: returned May 14, 1919. Some of

4437-474: The belief that this would get rid of evil demons. Today, this act is commemorated with a triennial Cat Parade through town. During the Norwich Crusade , led by the English bishop Henry le Despenser , Ypres was besieged from May to August 1383, until French relief forces arrived. After the destruction of Thérouanne , Ypres became the seat of the new Diocese of Ypres in 1561, and Saint Martin's Church

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4524-593: The early 12th century. In 1241, a major fire ruined much of the old city. The powerful city was involved in important treaties and battles, including the Battle of the Golden Spurs , the Battle at Mons-en-Pévèle, the Peace of Melun , and the Battle of Cassel . The famous Cloth Hall was built in the 13th century. Also during this time cats, then the symbol of the devil and witchcraft, were thrown off Cloth Hall, possibly because of

4611-473: The earthworks were replaced by sturdier masonry and earth structures and a partial moat . Ypres was further fortified in the 17th and 18th centuries while under the occupation of the Habsburgs and the French. Major works were completed at the end of the 17th century by the French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban . Ypres occupied a strategic position during the First World War because it stood in

4698-424: The exact copy of the original medieval building, rebuilt after the war. The belfry that surmounts the hall houses a 49-bell carillon . The whole complex was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The Gothic -style Saint Martin's Cathedral , built in 1221, was also completely reconstructed after the war, but now with a higher spire. It houses the tombs of Jansenius , bishop of Ypres and father of

4785-726: The federal cabinet to call reserve members of the Canadian Forces into active service. Members of the reserve have not been called to involuntary active service in foreign operations since the Second World War . The 400 , 402 and 438 squadrons are the only air reserve units that operate aircraft. The 400 and 438 squadrons both operate 5 Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters, while the 402 squadron operates 4 CT-142 Dash 8 trainers. Ypres Ypres ( / ˈ iː p r ə / EE -prə , French: [ipʁ] ; Dutch : Ieper [ˈipər] ; West Flemish : Yper ; German : Ypern [ˈyːpɐn] )

4872-467: The heavy fighting still underway in other parts of the town. The Last Post ceremony was, instead, hosted daily at Brookwood Military Cemetery in England for the duration of that period. The stone lions bearing the Ypres coat-of-arms, which once flanked the original gate , were presented to Australia in 1936 by the people of Belgium, as acknowledgement of Australia's sacrifice during the war. They now reside in

4959-540: The imposing arches of the Menin Gate Memorial has been stopped while the " Last Post " is sounded beneath the gate by the buglers of the Last Post Association in honour of the memory of British Empire soldiers who fought and died there. During the Second World War the ceremony was prohibited by the occupying German forces, but was resumed on the very evening of liberation – 6 September 1944 – notwithstanding

5046-474: The largest, best-known, and most costly in human suffering was the Third Battle of Ypres (31 July to 10 November 1917, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele ), in which the British, Canadian, ANZAC , and French forces recaptured the Passchendaele Ridge east of the city at a terrible cost of lives. After months of fighting, this battle resulted in nearly half a million casualties to all sides, and only

5133-608: The long time and effort it had taken him to capture Tournai and apprehension of disease spreading in his army in the poorly drained land around Ypres (see Battle of Malplaquet ). In 1713 it was handed over to the Habsburgs, and became part of the Austrian Netherlands . In 1782 the Habsburg Emperor Joseph II ordered parts of the walls torn down. This destruction, which was only partly repaired, made it easier for

5220-412: The major battles these battalions took part in were; Ypres 1915, 1917; Festubert 1915; Mount Sorrel ; Somme 1916; Flers Courcelette; Thiepval ; Ancre Heights ; Arras 1917; Vimy 1917; Hill 70 : Passchendaele ; Amiens ; Scarpe 1918; Hindenburg Line ; Canal du Nord ; Cambrai 1918 ; Pursuit to Mons ; France and Flanders 1915-1918 During the Second World War, The Essex Scottish mobilized

5307-420: The memorial at Tyne Cot , a site which marks the farthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. Other New Zealand casualties are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery . The Menin Gate records only soldiers for whom there is no known grave. As graves are identified, the names of those buried in them are removed from

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5394-419: The need may one day arise, to call out more than 27,000 supplementary reservists and cadet instructors (who are also subjected to provide general service), to reinforce the order of battle, bringing it up to war establishment. However, in practice the regimental system exists as an important military institution for Canada. In addition to the tactical contribution provided for today's Total Force they also provide

5481-615: The official name, the Army Reserves are often referred to as the Milita based on their historical name. The Air Reserve is the reserve element of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). 2,600 air reservists are organized into flights and squadrons that are attached to Regular Force RCAF wings at various bases. Air Reserve personnel conduct training to support wing operations. Air Reserve units are specialized in various areas of surveillance, engineering, and airfield construction. Personnel also conduct further training at Canadian Forces bases and can deploy with Regular Force RCAF crews around

5568-399: The other classes of service. The Class A contract covers training or employment up to 12 consecutive days. Class A reservists are generally limited to a certain number of paid days per year. Most units provide employment for training in the form of one evening per week or two full days a month during the training year (September – April). Units also normally provide one additional evening

5655-465: The path of Germany's planned sweep across the rest of Belgium and into France from the north (the Schlieffen Plan ). The neutrality of Belgium, established by the First Treaty of London , was guaranteed by Britain; Germany's invasion of Belgium brought the British Empire into the war. The German army surrounded the city on three sides, bombarding it throughout much of the war. To counterattack, British, French, and allied forces made costly advances from

5742-403: The purposes of administration, training and operations. The deployable sub unit from each regiment are often operationally tasked and grouped together by the brigade to form a composite all-arms battle group of battalion strength known as Territorial Battalion Groups for combined arms training or defence of Canada tasks in the brigade area of operations. The battle group is usually commanded by

5829-455: The regiment, which were the first to include battle honours for the War of 1812 and Afghanistan. On 14 May, Prince Michael was in attendance as the old colours were laid up in Christ Church in Chatham. Prince Michael of Kent is the present colonel-in-chief of The Essex and Kent Scottish, beginning on 14 November 2001. His first visit to his regiment was in March 2002, with subsequent visits in October 2007, June 2009, and May 2023. He also marked

5916-443: The regiment. This small group of men was to serve with the 2nd Special Service Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry . Of the sixteen men sent to Africa, two did not return. The regiment in Kent County was known as the 24th Kent Regiment . Prior to 1901, this regiment had been created and disbanded several times. It was not until 1 January 1901, with the increasing number of troops being sent to South Africa to fight in

6003-408: The regiment: 1 Platoon based in Windsor, Ontario ; and 2 Platoon, based in Chatham-Kent , Ontario. On June 12, 1885, The Essex Scottish Regiment was created as a part of the Canadian militia, then named the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry. It would be composed of five infantry companies, which were formed between the years 1860 and 1885 in Essex County. Major John Richardson of Leamington Ontario

6090-531: The regimental colour. The non-emblazonable honorary distinction Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada There are four cadet corps affiliated to the regiment Housing The Essex and Kent Scottish (A COY, 1 PL), 31 Service Battalion, the Windsor Regiment and the Windsor Police Training Det. The building is complemented with a live fire shoot house, outdoor firing range, rappel tower, K-9 training site and indoor small arms trainer (S.A.T) range. A two-storey, red brick Baronial style structure with

6177-422: The regimental honorary colonel and honorary lieutenant-colonel. Although the vast Canadian geography and demographic factors impact unit composition they mostly functions in much the same way. During peacetime the Regimental establishment will only be the equivalent of a much reduced battalion of a couple hundred troops and less in some cases. Normally regiments are commanded by a lieutenant-colonel and consist of

6264-695: The religious movement known as Jansenism , and of Robert of Bethune , nicknamed "The Lion of Flanders", who was Count of Nevers (1273–1322) and Count of Flanders (1305–1322). The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing commemorates those soldiers of the British Commonwealth – with the exception of Newfoundland and New Zealand – who fell in the Ypres Salient during the First World War before 16 August 1917 and who have no known grave. United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on

6351-521: The reservists are always very active preparing for battle and training for war. They are continuously exercised, particularly in the summer months when combined arms field exercises up to the brigade group level are conducted, and also during the wintertime, when the troops must qualify in winter indoctrination and winter warfare exercise. A high degree of winter training is expected as the Army Reserve provides Arctic Response Companies for Northern service. They have participated heavily in all deployments of

6438-467: The rest being taken prisoner. After the battle the Essex Scottish spent a lot of time rebuilding the regiment so they could continue fighting throughout the war. The unit returned to France on 5 July 1944, as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade , 2nd Canadian Infantry Division . They moved to Normandy in time to serve with the British 2nd Army . It then participated in the advance along the Channel coast with

6525-399: The town. The first gas attack occurred against Canadian, British, and French soldiers, including both metropolitan French soldiers as well as Senegalese and Algerian tirailleurs (light infantry) from French Africa. The gas used was chlorine . Mustard gas , also called Yperite from the name of this town, was also used for the first time near Ypres, in the autumn of 1917. Of the battles,

6612-399: The two battalions of the regiment amalgamated on March 31, 1965. This is the current structure of the regiment. When the two units first amalgamated there were several small issues which had to be resolved. First of all there were too many members in the unit by one full company. This meant that several of the officers and senior NCOs had to transfer to different units. One of the other problems

6699-826: The two units together was the trooping of their first colours. This happened in Jackson Park in Windsor Ontario on 5 June 1955. Today the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment remains an active service unit in the Canadian army. It has sent many of its troops on United Nations peacekeeping missions, as well as over forty members to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. Members have also seen deployments to Lebanon (Operation Jade), Ukraine ( Operation Unifier ), Poland and Latvia ( Operation Reassurance ). On 13 May 2023 in Windsor, Prince Michael of Kent , Colonel-in-Chief, presented new colours to

6786-430: The war the town was extensively rebuilt using money paid by Germany in reparations , with the main square, including the Cloth Hall and town hall, being rebuilt as close to the original designs as possible (the rest of the rebuilt town is more modern in appearance). The Cloth Hall today is home to In Flanders Fields Museum , dedicated to Ypres's role in the First World War and named for the poem by John McCrae . Ypres

6873-473: The world in support of RCAF missions. Unlike the Naval Reserve and Army Reserve, the Air Reserve is composed principally of former members of the Regular Force and members with civilian qualifications that equate to Air Reserve occupation qualifications. The Health Services Reserve, with approximately 1,700 members, is organized into two functional groups: Primary Reserve units known as field ambulances , and

6960-481: Was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 April 1915 and arrived in France on 15 September 1915. The battalion fought as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war and was disbanded on 15 September 1920. The 99th Battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 31 May 1916 where its personnel were absorbed by

7047-568: Was elevated to cathedral. On 25 March 1678, Ypres was conquered by the forces of Louis XIV of France . It remained French under the Treaty of Nijmegen , and Vauban constructed his typical fortifications that can still be seen today. During the War of the Spanish Succession , the Duke of Marlborough in 1709 intended to capture Ypres, at the time a major French fortress, but changed his mind owing to

7134-576: Was formed. The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment were to have two battalions. The 1st Battalions Headquarters was in Windsor, while 2nd Battalion was stationed in Chatham. In 1964, The Canadian Forces Headquarters decided to make certain reductions and amalgamations within the Canadian Military structure. Many units in the Province of Ontario were affected by this decision, including The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment. So, following new orders and protocol,

7221-644: Was re-designated the 1st Battalion, The Kent Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940. It served in Canada as part of the 14th Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Infantry Division, which was part of Pacific Command. The battalion was disbanded on 30 March 1946. On 8 July 1954 while the Essex Scottish Regiment and the Kent Regiment were on a training exercise in Niagara on the Lake the two units found out that they were going to be joined as one unit. However it would not become official until 1 October 1954 and The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment

7308-562: Was renamed as The Kent Regiment on 1 April 1941. The Essex and Kent Scottish perpetuate the following units: Further discussion of perpetuated units see: Canadian Units of the War of 1812 The Essex and Kent Scottish perpetuate the following units: During the Great War details of the 21st Regiment Essex Fusiliers and 24th Kent Regiment , which included hundreds of men, were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties. The 18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF

7395-585: Was the Essex Scottish Regiment, which took effect on 15 July 1927. Before the First World War, the regiment did not see combat as a whole. Although it did not see any real action, it trained hard to go to war during the North-West Rebellion led by Louis Riel in 1885, and in 1900 during the Second Boer War it also sent men to South Africa . Over 100 men of the 21st Battalion Essex Fusiliers volunteered to serve there, but only 16 positions were given to

7482-407: Was the first commanding officer of this regiment. It is from this date that the unbroken lineage of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment begins. Over the following decades, the name of this regiment changed several times. On 4 February 1887 it was renamed the 21st battalion Essex Fusiliers. On 8 May 1900, the name was changed again to the 21st Regiment Essex Fusiliers. The final name for this regiment

7569-457: Was who would the commanding officer be for this new unit; however, it was soon made clear that even though the Kent Regiment had several qualified officers all of the future Commanding officers would be from Windsor because that is where the Regimental HQ would be located. One major event that happened in the first few years form the newly formed Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment which helped bring

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