The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
(Duke of Edinburgh's Own)
Regimental badge
Active1866 - 1875
1881 – present
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Army
TypeInfantry
RoleLight infantry
Size300+(Battalion)
Part of33 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQOttawa
Nickname(s)Camerons
Motto(s)Advance
March"The March of the Cameron Men" and "Piobearached o' Donald Dubh"
EngagementsFenian Raids
North-West Rebellion
Low Rebellion
Second Boer War
First World War
Second World War
War in Afghanistan
Battle honoursSee #Battle honours
Websitearmy-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/cameron-highlanders-ottawa/index.page
Commanders
Current commanderLieutenant-Colonel Gord Scharf, CD
Regimental Sergeant MajorChief Warrant Officer Ian Port, CD
Honorary Colonel of the RegimentHonorary Colonel Dan MacKay, CD
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the RegimentHon Lieutenant-Colonel Barbara Farber
Insignia
TartanCameron of Erracht[1]

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry regiment.

Regimental badge

The regimental badge is laid out as follows: within a wreath of thistles and maple leaves, the figure of St Andrew with cross is shown standing on a mount charged with a plaque inscribed ADVANCE. On the lower bend of the wreath there are two rolls, the upper inscribed THE CAMERON HIGHLANDERS the lower OF OTTAWA (M.G.).

Lineage

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

  • Originated on 5 August 1881, in Ottawa, Ontario, as the 43rd Battalion of Infantry
  • Redesignated on 19 August 1881, as the 43rd Ottawa and Carleton Battalion of Rifles
  • Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the 43rd Regiment Ottawa and Carleton Rifles
  • Redesignated on 1 March 1902 as the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles
  • Redesignated on 12 March 1920, as The Ottawa Regiment (The Duke of Cornwall's Own)
  • Redesignated on 15 September 1922, as The Ottawa Highlanders
  • Redesignated on 10 August 1933, as The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
  • Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with B Company of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and Redesignated as The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
  • Redesignated on 7 November 1940, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
  • Redesignated on 1 April 1942, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
  • Redesignated on 18 May 1946, as The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
  • Redesignated on 1 September 1954, as The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
  • Redesignated on 1 August 1959, as The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

Lineage chart

Lineage chart[2]
188143rd Bn of Infy
188143rd "Ottawa and Carleton" Bn of Rifles
190043rd Regt "Ottawa and Carleton Rifles"
190243rd Regt, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles
191438th Bn, CEF
1916207th "Overseas" Bn, CEF
1917Absorbed by 7th Reserve Bn, CEF
1920Disbanded1st Bn (38th Bn, CEF), The Ottawa Regt (The Duke of Cornwall's Own)2nd Bn (207th Bn, CEF),[lower-alpha 1] The Ottawa Regt (The Duke of Cornwall's Own)
19221st Bn (38th Bn, CEF), The Ottawa Highlanders2nd Bn (207th Bn, CEF), The Ottawa Highlanders
19331st Bn (38th Bn, CEF), The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa2nd Bn (207th Bn, CEF), The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
B Coy, 4th MG Bn, CMGC
1936The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG)Disbanded
1939The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), CASF
19401st Bn, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), CASF2nd (Reserve) Bn, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG)
19422nd (Reserve) Bn, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
19433rd Infy Div. Support Bn (The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa), CIC, CASF
19441st Bn, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), CIC, CASF
1945Disbanded3rd Bn, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), CIC, CAOF
1946The Cameron Highlanders of OttawaDisbanded
1954The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG)
1959The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
2013The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own)

Perpetuations

History

Early years

The 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Ottawa was formed on April 3, 1856. At that time, the bulk of Canada's militia existed as small, independent companies scattered throughout the provinces. In 1866, the 43rd Battalion of Infantry (otherwise known as the Carleton Blazers) was formed in Bells Corners (now part of Ottawa) with companies in many of the surrounding communities and absorbed Ottawa's volunteer rifle company. This company is perpetuated to this day as "A" Company of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.

Defence of Canada

The 43rd Battalion's first call to service came in 1870 when they were deployed to the Prescott area to defend Canada against Fenian raids. They saw no action there and quickly returned to Ottawa. Because they were so spread out, maintaining troop strength was difficult and in 1875, the regiment was disbanded.

In 1881, the unit was stood up again but this time as the 43rd "Ottawa and Carleton" Battalion of Rifles with the Ottawa volunteer rifle company and a number of other companies located in communities on the Ontario and Quebec sides of the Ottawa River. No 2 Company, 43rd "Ottawa and Carleton" Battalion of Rifles, which was garrisoned in Hull is currently perpetuated by Le Régiment de Hull.

Boer War

Over the next 20 years, the 43rd's soldiers would see action in the North-West (Riel) Rebellion and in the Second Boer War. However, the battalion sent only volunteers to participate in these conflicts and never deployed formed units. They deployed against civil disturbances as well, such as the Low Rebellion.

During the Boer War, Private Richard Rowland Thompson, from Ottawa, was awarded the Queen's Scarf, a scarf crocheted by Queen Victoria, for bravery and his actions saving wounded soldiers.

In 1902, the regiment so impressed the Duke of Cornwall (later King George V) that he became the Camerons' first honorary colonel and allowed the regiment to bear his name. The regiment was then known 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles.

World War I

1914, when the First World War began, the unit was mobilized for action. However, once again, the unit did not go overseas as a formed unit. Instead, the unit was used to recruit and train soldiers mostly for the 2nd, 38th, and 207th battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Camerons perpetuate the 38th and 207th battalions. The 38th saw action in France from 1916 to 1918 and received many battle honours. The members who served were also well decorated. The 207th left in June 1917 for France and were used as a reserve force for many units.

Interwar

During the interwar years, the 43rd Regiment was reorganized and renamed on several occasions. In March 1920, it was converted from line infantry to a highland regiment and renamed The Ottawa Regiment (The Duke of Cornwall's Own). The regiment was allocated two battalions, the 1st Battalion (38th Battalion, CEF) and the 2nd Battalion (207th Battalion, CEF) (the 2nd Battalion existed only on paper), as a means of retaining the history and honours of the wartime Canadian Expeditionary Force battalions.[3] In 1922, the 43rd Regiment was renamed The Ottawa Highlanders and, in 1933, it was renamed The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. "(M.G.)" (for machine gun) was added to the regimental title in 1936. Since 1881, the unit has shared the City of Ottawa's motto, Advance.

The Cameron Highlanders supported its then-colonel-in-chief and the king of Canada, George VI, and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, during their royal tour of the country in 1939, including during the unveiling of the National War Memorial, and received, in recognition, the King's and regimental colours on Parliament Hill in October of that year.[4]

World War II

July 1940, the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa's active service battalion left for garrison duty in Iceland, which ended in April 1941 when they sailed to England. On 6 June 1944, the Camerons were the only Ottawa unit to land on D-Day at Juno Beach. The 1st Battalion consisted of three machine gun companies and one mortar company. Following the landing on D-Day, the battalion fought in almost every battle in the northwestern Europe campaign. However, the battalion's soldiers were often attached as platoons and companies in support of other units, so the battalion never fought as an entire entity. During this time, the 2nd Battalion recruited and trained soldiers in Canada for overseas duty. The 3rd Battalion was formed in July 1945 as a part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany.

Modern conflicts (NATO and United Nations missions)

Since the Second World War, the regiment has remained in Ottawa. It is now a light infantry regiment.

Since 1985, the regiment's soldiers have served as deployed members on NATO and United Nations missions across the world and as members of Canadian Forces peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, The Congo, Cyprus, Israel, Somalia, and Syria, among other deployments.

During the deployment of a Canadian troops to Afghanistan, a number of Camerons served as reserve augmentees to the regular force as part of the NATO ISAF force. Camerons served in nearly every element of the task force with an infantry presence. They were involved in a full spectrum of operations, from the intense close combat of Operation Medusa in September 2006 and mentoring and training the Afghan National Army, to less conventional infantry tasks including civil-military cooperation, psychological operations, escort of logistical convoys, and force-protection duties at ISAF installations. The regiment continues to actively encourage members to volunteer for operational deployments, resulting in more Camerons serving overseas in recent years than in any period since the Second World War.

In August 2013, the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa were granted the secondary title of Duke of Edinburgh's Own after its colonel-in-chief.[5] Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was colonel-in-chief from 1967 until his death in 2021.

Regimental identity

The 43rd Ottawa and Carleton Battalion of Rifles was first permitted to adopt the motto "Advance" and to bear the same upon its appointments in accordance with General Order 82 dated 13 January 1882. This motto has been continued by all successors to the 43rd, including the regiment today. It is also the motto of the City of Ottawa. The Camerons are proudly known as Ottawa's regiment, and they hold the freedom of the city of Ottawa.

A new recruit to the regiment is given their Balmoral bonnet headdress and their Camerons cap badge upon completion of their Soldier Qualification course. Following the completion of their DP1 Infantry course, they are given the blue hackle that sits between the tartan patch and the cap badge, and extends out the top of the badge.

As a Highland regiment, the dress uniform of the Camerons is very similar to other Canadian-Scottish regiments. The Camerons wear traditional Scottish kilts patterned off of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders' Cameron of Erracht. The green Canadian Forces jacket is cut in a manner that the skirts curve outwards and downwards above where a belt buckle would rest. In addition to the kilt, the soldiers of the Camerons wear a leather sporran, and oxford shoes and Lovat hose with red garter flashes in lieu of ankle boots. Higher orders of dress include white spats, a white sporran (hair sporran for officers and senior NCOs), and a white belt. The regiment also possesses traditional scarlet doublets and feather bonnets that are worn for ceremonial purpose such as guard formations and the annual Remembrance Day parade.

Regimental structure

The regiment is composed of 265 officer and non-commissioned members. The regimental structure is as follows:

  • Headquarters and Service Company (based out of Cartier Square Drill Hall)
    • Regimental Headquarters
    • Company Headquarters
    • Regimental Operations cell
    • Battalion Orderly Room
    • Regimental Quartermaster Stores
    • Pipes and Drums
  • A Company (based out of Cartier Square Drill Hall)
    • Composed of:
      • Company Headquarters
      • 4 Rifle Platoons
      • Company Weapons Det
  • B Company (based out of Lynwood Mall, Bells Corners)
    • Composed of:
      • Company Headquarters
      • Training Cadre that focus on
        • Preparatory training for the Infantry Junior Leadership Course
        • Preparatory training for the Infantry Platoon Commander Course
        • Basic Military Qualification Course
  • 33 Influence Activities Company (based out of Cartier Square Drill Hall)
    • The Influence Activities Company mission is to promote, enable, and synchronize Influence Activities (IA) capabilities in support of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) across the full spectrum of operations. The IA Coy trains for capability development and for the preparation of personnel in both Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and Psychological Operation (PSYOPS) training. It also ensures the presence of an operationally viable and relevant influence capability while ensuring that its personnel are ready to support CAF deployments at any time and in and anywhere.

Training

The Regiment's main effort is to recruit, train and prepare Infantry soldiers to deploy on operations, both domestically and abroad. To accomplish this, the Regiment conducts training every Thursday night from September through to June each year. Training consists of basic soldier skills, individual battle task standards, and more advanced training operations based on contemporary training doctrine focused on infantry small unit tactics at the Section (8 person) and Platoon (34 people) levels. The intent is to developing standard operating procedures and work up training to prepare for the conduct of Field Training Exercises which are typically conducted at CFB Petawawa or nearby at the Connaught Ranges. Field Training Exercises are usually conducted once per month from September to June each year.

During the summer months, the regiment is stood down for training in order to allow soldiers to attend nationally organized and conducted training in order to obtain necessary skills and qualification to proceed in rank. These courses vary in length and are typically conducted at bases throughout the country, with the majority at CFB Meaford, CFB Petawawa and CFB Gagetown.

In 2019 the regiment was assigned the Reconnaissance Mission Task by the Commander Canadian Army. This task is intended to have the Regiment recruit, train and prepare an Infantry Close Reconnaissance Platoon ready to deploy on operations as part of 3 RCR.

Domestic operations

Camerons have been extensively involved in Operations both domestically and abroad. At home Camerons were deployed as part of the relief efforts during the January 1998 North American ice storm. The Regiment was deployed to, and supported relief efforts in the town and vicinity of Maxville, Ontario.

The Regiment also supported flood relief efforts in the Ottawa-Gatineau area in 2017 (OPERATION LENTUS 17) and in Ottawa and Constance Bay area in 2019 (OPERATION LENTUS 2019).

Regimental affiliations

The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. It perpetuates the lineage of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, a former Scottish regiment of the British Army.

Battle honours

The regiment has been awarded 38 battle honours, of which 20 (denoted below in all caps) are emblazoned on the regimental colour.

South Africa

World War I

World War II

Afghanistan

Victoria Cross recipients

Claude Patrick Joseph Nunney

Claude Nunney

Claude Nunney was a member of the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force which is perpetuated by the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Nunney was a private in the First World War when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC:

For most conspicuous bravery during the operations against the Drocourt-Quéant Line on Sept. 1st and 2nd, 1918.

On Sept. 1st, when his battalion was in the vicinity of Vis-en-Artois, preparatory to the advance, the enemy laid down a heavy barrage and counter-attacked. Pte. Nunney, who was at this time at company headquarters, immediately on his own initiative proceeded through the barrage to the company outpost lines, going from post to post and encouraging the men by his own fearless example. The enemy were repulsed and a critical situation was saved.

During the attack on Sept. 2nd, his dash continually placed him in advance of his companions, and his fearless example undoubtedly helped greatly to carry the company forward to its objectives. When his battalion which was preparing to advance, and was heavily counter-attacked by the enemy, Private Nunney on his own initiative, went forward through the barrage to the company out-post lines, going from post to post and encouraging the men by his own fearless example.

– London Gazette 13 December 1918[7]

He died aged 25, 16 days after receiving what proved to be mortal wounds and was buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, near Aubigny-en-Artois (Grave reference number IV. B. 39).

Thain Wendell MacDowell

Thain MacDowell

Thain Wendell MacDowell was one of four soldiers to earn the Victoria Cross in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

On 9 April 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France, Captain MacDowell, with the assistance of two runners (company orderlies, Pvts. James T. Kobus and Arthur James Hay, both of whom were awarded the DCM for their part) reached the German position ahead of his company. After destroying one machine-gun nest he chased the crew from another. MacDowell then spotted one German going into a tunnel. At the base of the tunnel, MacDowell was able to bluff the Germans to think he was part of a much larger force, resulting in the surrendering of two German officers and 75 German soldiers. He sent the prisoners up out the tunnel in groups of 12 so that Kebus and Hay could take them back to the Canadian line. Seeing that he had been fooled, a German prisoner grabbed a rifle and tried to shoot one of the runners. The German was then shot and killed.

Although wounded in the hand, MacDowell continued for five days to hold the position gained, in spite of heavy shellfire, until eventually relieved by his battalion. He was promoted to the rank of Major following his actions at Vimy Ridge.[8]

Freedoms

The regiment has received the freedom of the city of several locations throughout its history. These include:

Drill hall

Site Date(s) Designated Location Description Image
Cartier Square Drill Hall 1879 Classified - 1985 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings On the bank of the Rideau Canal, just south of Laurier Avenue W.

Ottawa, Ontario

A large and centrally-located building with low-pitched gable roof houses The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own), the Governor General's Foot Guards and 2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Army Cadets

Museum

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Museum
LocationCartier Square Drill Hall, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2 Canada
TypeRegimental Museum

The museum serves as a training medium to teach Regimental history. It preserves Regimental history through the collection of documents, pictures, books, military artifacts, etc., with particular emphasis on the histories of The Ottawa and Carleton Rifles, The Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles, the 38th Battalion, CEF, 207th Battalion, CEF, The Ottawa Regiment and The Ottawa Highlanders. It provides research facilities for the study of Canadian military history dating from 1855 in so far as it affects The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and the regiments it perpetuates. The museum displays and illustrates in an appropriate manner the dress, weapons and customs of the Regiment's military heritage.[11]

Music

  • Canada: Far & Away (audio CD) by Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Pipes & Drums - Central Band of the Canadian Forces - Canadian Forces School of Music Band & Pipes - Air Command Band Canadian Forces - Stadacona Band of Maritime Forces Atlantic - Canadian Forces School of Music Band (Jul 21 2009)

Media

  • The History of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) by Lieutenant-Colonel Richard M. Ross (1946)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Reserve order of battle

References

  1. ↑ "Cameron of Erracht". Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own)". www.canada.ca. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Otter Committee". canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Camerons: Canada's Regiment. "History". The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Foundation. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Cameron Highlanders now the Duke of Edinburgh's Own regiment". www.ottawacitizen.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  6. ↑ http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/05/09/south-west-asia-theatre-honours Archived 12 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. pp. 14779–14780.
  8. ↑ "No. 30122". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1917. p. 5702.
  9. ↑ "Freedom of the City Parade". The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. September 2006. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "French town of Vis-en-Artois grants Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Freedom of the City".
  11. ↑ A-AD-266-000/AG-001 Canadian Forces Museums –Operations and Administration 2002-04-03
  • Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
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