In 1838, the Third Regiment of Huron was organized in the territory which is now the south part of Perth County, Ontario. This was a paper organization of the compulsory militia, to which every able-bodied male citizen in theory belonged. It did not have equipment, did not train, and while it continued to exist after the voluntary militia was formed, it was distinct from the volunteers.
The Stratford Volunteer Rifle Company was formed in 1856, elected its own officers, and carried on entirely at the expense of its members for two years, before it was officially recognized in 1858.
A general order of the Militia Department of the Province of Canada, dated 14 September 1866 authorized a regimental headquarters. Robert Service of Stratford was promoted to Lt Col and appointed to command. The Stratford Volunteer Rifle Company became No. 1 Company of the regiment. Other companies were in Listowel and St. Marys
The principle of Militia units was voluntary service and year-round training while carrying on with civilian life. The Perth Regiment maintained this principle throughout its peacetime service.
First World War
On 6 August 1914, during events which led to the First World War, details of the regiment were placed on active service for local protection duties.
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was organized in 1914 and 1915 using numbered battalions, which had little connection with the existing militia regiments. The 110th Battalion (Perth), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915. The Perth Regiment recruited the 110th Battalion from Perth county.
The 110th Battalion embarked for Great Britain on 31 October 1916 with a strength of 679 all ranks. On 2 January 1917, personnel of the 110th Battalion were absorbed by the 8th Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The 110th Battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.
Second World War
The 1st Battalion, The Perth Regiment, was mobilized 1 September 1939 for service in World War II. The 1st Battalion embarked for Great Britain on 9 October 1941. It landed in Italy on 8 November 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Division. The 1st Battalion transferred with the I Canadian Corps to North-West Europe in March 1945, where it fought until the end of the war. It returned home under command of a Perth militia officer, Lt Col MW Andrew and was disbanded on January 31, 1946.
The 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, headquartered in Stratford, was authorized in 1940 and trained recruits for the 1st Battalion.
Post War
In 1954, as a result of the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, this regiment was amalgamated with The Highland Light Infantry of Canada to form The Perth and Waterloo Regiment (Highland Light Infantry of Canada). This was not a successful amalgamation, and in 1957 the two units reverted to their former designations.
In June 1964, The Commission on the Reorganization of the Canadian Army (Militia), commonly called the Suttie Commission, issued its report.[3] The Commission proposed the Supplementary Order of Battle to maintain the name of deactivated units and to facilitate reactivation.[3]: Part II, p.26 The commission further recommended that the Perth Regiment be transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle and that the regiment's personnel be absorbed by 3 RCR (now 4 RCR).[3]: Part II, Appendix A, Annex 2
On 28 February 1965, The Perth Regiment was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle.[1] At the time it was inactivated, The Perth Regiment consisted of a company in Stratford and a support platoon in St Marys.[3]: Part II, Appendix A, Annex 1
Before being moved to the Supplementary Order of Battle, The Perth Regiment its final Order of Precedence as 16.[1][2]
They wore Douglas kilt, green glengarry with green & white diced border, grey sporran with three black points, Douglas hose, and green garter flashes.[2]
Battle Honours
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. The battle honours written in bold are emblazoned on the regimental colour.[1]
^ abcde"The Perth Regiment". Official Lineages Volume 3, Part 2: Infantry Regiments. Directorate of History and Heritage. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
^ abcdBarnes, Major R.M. (1972). The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments. London: Sphere Books Limited.
^ abcdThe Commission on the Reorganization of the Canadian Army (Militia). Ottawa: Department of National Defence. 1964.
^ abcPresentation of new colours to the Perth Regiment by Lt.-Col. the Honourable John Keiller Mackay, DSO, VD, QC, LLD, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Saturday June 30, 1962 at Queen's Park, Stratford, Ontario and laying up of old colours Sunday July 1, 1962 at St. James' Church, Stratford, Ontario. Department of National Defence.
Barnes, R. Money (Major) (1972). The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments. London: Sphere Books Limited.
Johnston, Stafford (1964). The Fighting Perths: The Story of the First Century in the Life of a Canadian County Regiment. Stratford: B-H Press.
Scislowski, Stanley & Watt, Gavin K. (1997). Not All of Us Were Brave: Perth Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN978-1550022988.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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