Les Voltigeurs de Québec
Encyclopedia
Les Voltigeurs de Québec is a Primary Reserve infantry
regiment
of the Canadian Forces
. The name of the regiment commemorates another older French-Canadian militia light infantry
unit, the Canadian Voltigeurs
(raised in 1812 and disbanded in 1815). The founder of the Canadian Voltigeurs, lieutenant-colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, was the father of the two men who raised Les Voltigeurs de Québec. The regiment was formed in March 1862, with its headquarters in Quebec City, by the amalgamation into a regiment of eight independent Volunteer Militia Rifle companies. The first of these companies was originally raised in December 1861. Between 1862 and 1867 these companies were frequently disbanded, reformed and renumbered. In 1942 it provided an armoured regiment.
The regiment has provided soldiers for service with the United Nations
and NATO in places like the Golan Heights, Cyprus
, the former Yugoslavia
, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Haiti
.
, for damages, blaming negligence on the part of the government for failing to let the insurance firm personnel inspect the site after the fire.
cap badge. Authorized to commemorate the invaluable contribution of Les Voltigeurs de Québec to the R22eR during the Italian Campaign. Although authorized, this cap badge is not yet painted on the regimental drums as of January 2009.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. The name of the regiment commemorates another older French-Canadian militia light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
unit, the Canadian Voltigeurs
Canadian Voltigeurs
The Canadian Voltigeurs were a light infantry unit, raised in Lower Canada in 1812, that fought in the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States.-Formation:...
(raised in 1812 and disbanded in 1815). The founder of the Canadian Voltigeurs, lieutenant-colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, was the father of the two men who raised Les Voltigeurs de Québec. The regiment was formed in March 1862, with its headquarters in Quebec City, by the amalgamation into a regiment of eight independent Volunteer Militia Rifle companies. The first of these companies was originally raised in December 1861. Between 1862 and 1867 these companies were frequently disbanded, reformed and renumbered. In 1942 it provided an armoured regiment.
The regiment has provided soldiers for service with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and NATO in places like the Golan Heights, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
.
Cap badge
An annulet vert edged and inscribed with the words "VOLTIGEURS DE QUEBEC" argent, centred upon the cross of the Order of St. Louis. Within the annulet, a representation of the Salaberry Arms. Touching the lower three arms of the cross, a ribbon argent bearing the motto FORCE A SUPERBE MERCY A FOIBLE gules. The whole is ensigned by the Royal Crown proper.Fire
During the night of April 4, 2008, the Manège Militaire de Québec (built 1887) was destroyed during a fire. In October 2008, regimental institutions and their insurance firm started a lawsuit against the Department of National DefenceDepartment of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
, for damages, blaming negligence on the part of the government for failing to let the insurance firm personnel inspect the site after the fire.
Battle honours
- Early history
- Nord-Ouest du Canada, 1885North-West RebellionThe North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
(This date was incorporated into the regiment's cap badge from 1928 to 1984)
- Nord-Ouest du Canada, 1885
- World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
:- Mont-Sorrel, Cote 70Battle of Hill 70The Battle of Hill 70 was a localized battle of World War I between the Canadian Corps and five divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France between 15 August 1917 and 25 August 1917.The primary...
, Somme, 1916, Ypres, 1917, Arras, 1917Battle of Arras (1917)The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, Amiens
- Mont-Sorrel, Cote 70
Honorary distinction
The World War II–era Royal 22e RégimentRoyal 22e Régiment
The Royal 22nd Regiment is an infantry regiment and the most famous francophone organization of the Canadian Forces. The regiment comprises three Regular Force battalions, two Primary Reserve battalions, and a band, making it the largest regiment in the Canadian Army...
cap badge. Authorized to commemorate the invaluable contribution of Les Voltigeurs de Québec to the R22eR during the Italian Campaign. Although authorized, this cap badge is not yet painted on the regimental drums as of January 2009.