Argyll Light Infantry

The Argyll Light Infantry
Active	1863–1954
Country	Province of Canada (1863–1867) Canada (1867–1954)
Branch	Canadian Militia (1863–1940) Canadian Army (1940–1954)
Type	Light infantry
Role	Infantry (1863–1936) Armoured (1936–46) Artillery (1946–1954)
Size	One regiment
Part of	Non-Permanent Active Militia (1871–1940) Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (1940–1946) Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (1946–1954)
Garrison/HQ	Belleville, Ontario
Motto(s)	Latin: nulli secundus, lit. 'second to none'
March	Quick: "The Campbells are Coming”
Engagements	Fenian Raids North-West Rebellion Second Boer War First World War
Battle honours	See #Battle honours

The Argyll Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was converted from infantry to form one of the Canadian Army's first tank units, and then in 1946 was converted to anti-tank artillery. In 1954, the regiment was converted back to infantry and amalgamated along with The Midland Regiment into The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Lineage

• Originated on 16 January 1863, in Belleville, Ontario, as the 15th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Canada.
• Redesignated on 2 June 1871, as the 15th Battalion or the Argyll Light Infantry.
• Redesignated on 8 May 1900, as the 15th Regiment Argyll Light Infantry.
• Redesignated on 12 March 1920, The Argyll Light Infantry.
• Redesignated on 15 December 1936, as The Argyll Light Infantry (Tank).
• Redesignated on 7 November 1940, as The (Reserve) Argyll Light Infantry (Tank).
• Converted to artillery and amalgamated on 1 April 1946, with the 44th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA, and redesignated as the 9th Anti-Tank Regiment (Self-Propelled) (Argyll Light Infantry), RCA.
• Converted to infantry and amalgamated on 1 September 1954, with the 34th Anti-Tank Battery (Self Propelled), RCA, The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and The Midland Regiment, and redesignated as The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.^[1][2][3][5]

Perpetuations

• 155th (Quinte) Battalion, CEF^[1][6]

History

Early history

On 16 January 1863, the 15th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Canada was authorized. It had its regimental headquarters and companies in Belleville, Ontario.^[1]

Fenian Raids

On 8 March 1866, the 15th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry) Canada was called out on active service. On 27 March 1866, the battalion was stood down from active service.^[2]

North West Rebellion

On 10 April 1885, the 15th Battalion Argyll Light Infantry mobilized a company for active service with The Midland Battalion where it served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force. On 24 July 1885, the company was removed from active service.^[2]

South African War and early 1900s

During the Boer War, the 15th Argyll Light Infantry contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents, most notably for the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.^[3][7]

On 8 May 1900, the 15th Battalion Argyll Light Infantry was redesignated as the 15th Regiment Argyll Light Infantry.^[3][8]

Great War

While the 15th Regiment Argyll Light Infantry did not mobilize for the First World War, they contributed volunteers for various units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including the 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF; the 21st Battalion (Eastern Ontario), CEF; the 39th Battalion, CEF; the 77th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF; the 80th Battalion, CEF; the 136th (Durham) Battalion, CEF; the 155th (Quinte) Battalion, CEF, and the 245th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF.^{[3][7][9][10]}

On 22 December 1915, the 155th Battalion, CEF, was authorized and on 17 October 1916, embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in the UK, the battalion provided reinforcements in the field to the Canadian Corps until 8 December 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 154th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF. On 17 July 1917, the 155th Battalion was disbanded.^[2]

1920s–1930s

As a result of the Otter Commission, the 15th Regiment Argyll Light Infantry was redesignated as The Argyll Light Infantry and was reorganized with two battalions (one of them a paper-only reserve battalion) to perpetuate the assigned war-raised battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.^[11]

As a result of the 1936 Canadian Militia reorganization, The Argyll Light Infantry was one of a number of infantry regiments to become tank units. These were known as infantry (tank) battalions. As a result of this, the regiment was redesignated as The Argyll Light Infantry (Tank).^{[3][4][12][13][14]}

Second World War

With the formation of the Canadian Armoured Corps (later the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps), The Argyll Light Infantry (Tank) was transferred from the infantry to the RCAC.^[3]

Post war and amalgamation

9th Anti-Tank Regiment (Self-Propelled) (Argyll Light Infantry), RCA

On 1 April 1946, The Argyll Light Infantry were converted to artillery and amalgamated with 44th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA. They were subsequently redesignated as 9th Anti-Tank Regiment (Self-Propelled) (Argyll Light Infantry), RCA.^{[1][2][4][5][6]}

On 1 September 1954, as a result of the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, The Argyll Light Infantry were converted back to infantry and amalgamated into The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment along with the 34th Anti-Tank Battery (Self Propelled), RCA and The Midland Regiment.^{[1][2][6][15]}

Organization

15th Belleville Battalion Volunteer Militia (16 January 1863)

• Regimental Headquarters (Belleville, Ontario)
• No. 1 Company
• No. 2 Company
• No. 3 Company
• No. 4 Company
• No. 5 Company
• No. 6 Company^[4]

The Argyll Light Infantry (20 March 1920)

• 1st Battalion (perpetuating the 155th Battalion, CEF)
• 2nd (Reserve) Battalion^[4]

The Argyll Light Infantry (Tank) (15 December 1936)

• Regimental Headquarters (Belleville, Ontario)
• A Company
• B Company
• C Company
• D Company^[4]

Battle honours

• Arras, 1917, '18^[16][17]
• Hill 70^[18]
• Ypres, 1917^[19]
• Amiens^[20]

Notable members

• Sir Mackenzie Bowell PC KCMG: Fifth Prime Minister of Canada (1894–1896)^[21]
• Major-General James Lyons Biggar, CMG
• Assistant Commissioner Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier

See also

• Canadian-Scottish regiment

References

1. "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.^: 678
2. National Defence (25 October 2018). "The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
3. "The Argyll Light Infantry". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
4. "The Argyll Light Infantry [Canada]". 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
5. "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Artillery)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada.
6. Barnes, Major R.M. (1972). The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments. London: Sphere Books Limited.
7. "15th Regiment "Argyll Light Infantry"". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
8. Luscombe, Stephen. "The British Empire, Imperialism, Colonialism, Colonies". www.britishempire.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
9. "1st Canadian Division". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
10. "2nd Canadian Division". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
11. "Otter Committee". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
12. "1936 Reorganization of the Militia". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
13. "Infantry Battalion". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
14. "A Dicey Situation – Headdress for the Argyll Light Infantry". MilArt. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
15. "Kennedy Board". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
16. National Defence (22 July 2019). "WWI - Arras, 1917". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
17. National Defence (22 July 2019). "WWI - Arras, 1918". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
18. National Defence (22 July 2019). "WWI - Hill 70". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
19. National Defence (23 July 2019). "WWI - Ypres, 1917". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
20. National Defence (22 July 2019). "WWI - Amiens". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
21. "Biography – Bowell, Sir MacKenzie – Volume XIV (1911–1920) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". www.biographi.ca. Retrieved 11 February 2022.

• Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.