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The Calgary Highlanders



 
 
The Calgary Highlanders is a 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." This singular institution consists of thre...
 Land Force
Canadian Forces Land Force Command

Land Force Command , often also called the Canada Army, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces.The current size of Land Force Command is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers....
 Primary Reserve infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
 regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
, headquartered at Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armouries

Mewata Armoury is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta.The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for an original cost of $282,051 Canadian dollars....
 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
. The regiment is a part-time reserve unit, under the command of 41 Canadian Brigade Group
41 Canadian Brigade Group

41 Canadian Brigade Group is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of Land Forces Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is a reserve formation, and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta at the former location of CFB Calgary....
, itself part of Land Force Western Area
Land Force Western Area

Land Force Western Area is responsible for all Canada army operations and administration in western Canada from the northern Thunder Bay region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean....
 (LFWA), one of four land force areas in Canada.

badge is based on that worn by the 10th Battalion, CEF, which the regiment perpetuates.






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Encyclopedia


The Calgary Highlanders is a 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." This singular institution consists of thre...
 Land Force
Canadian Forces Land Force Command

Land Force Command , often also called the Canada Army, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces.The current size of Land Force Command is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers....
 Primary Reserve infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
 regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
, headquartered at Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armouries

Mewata Armoury is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta.The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for an original cost of $282,051 Canadian dollars....
 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
. The regiment is a part-time reserve unit, under the command of 41 Canadian Brigade Group
41 Canadian Brigade Group

41 Canadian Brigade Group is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of Land Forces Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is a reserve formation, and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta at the former location of CFB Calgary....
, itself part of Land Force Western Area
Land Force Western Area

Land Force Western Area is responsible for all Canada army operations and administration in western Canada from the northern Thunder Bay region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean....
 (LFWA), one of four land force areas in Canada.

Armourial description

Calghighrs2004
The badge is based on that worn by the 10th Battalion, CEF, which the regiment perpetuates. Significantly, a St. Andrew's Cross
Saltire

A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross, or crux decussata , is a Heraldry symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter X. Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred on such a cross....
 has been added to the design (this is not a representation of the Roman Numeral ten as is often erroneously reported). The crown is of the reigning monarch; a Tudor Crown was used from the introduction of this badge until 1953, and the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Elizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known as the Commonwealth realms: Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, Monarchy of Australia, Monarchy of New Zealand, Monarchy of Jamaica, Monarchy of Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Monarchy of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Sain...
. The crown was then changed to a St. Edward's Crown. These are sometimes referred to as "King's" and "Queen's" Crowns. The beaver and maple leaves are representative of Canada and the scrolls bearing thistles are representative of Scotland. The City of Calgary grew out of Fort Calgary
Fort Calgary

Fort Calgary was established in 1875 as Fort Brisebois by the North-West Mounted Police, located at the confluence of the Bow River and Elbow River rivers in what is now Calgary, Alberta....
, established in 1875 and so named by Colonel James Macleod
James Macleod

Lieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod , born in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was a militia officer, lawyer, NWMP officer, magistrate, judge, and politician in Alberta....
 after Calgary, Scotland
Calgary, Mull

The wide sand beach at Calgary is possibly the best in Isle of Mull, and its idyllic location makes it one of the finest in Scotland. Calgary Bay is located on the north west of Mull about 8 km past Dervaig, 12 miles from the island's capital Tobermory, Mull, and is framed by low hills, partly wooded....
, a location near his sister's home.

The badge appears not only as a cap badge
Cap badge

A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation....
, but is also seen on the regiment's drums, as well as the Drum Major's Sash and Regimental Pipe Banners.

Regimental names

  • 1910: Raised as the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles)
  • 1914: contributed men to several battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
    Canadian Expeditionary Force

    For the organisation that fought in Europe, see Canadian Corps.The Canadian Expeditionary warfare was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War....
    , most notably the 10th Battalion, CEF
    10th Battalion, CEF

    The 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a Canada field force unit created during the First World War. Technically distinct from the Militia from which its soldiers were drawn the unit served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, specifically in the 1st Canadian Division from 1914 to 1919....
    , whom they perpetuate.
  • 1920: 103rd reorganized into The Calgary Regiment
  • 1921: The Calgary Regiment divided into six battalions, the 1st Battalion became The Calgary Highlanders and 2nd Battalion became The Calgary Regiment (later King's Own Calgary Regiment). The 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th battalions were paper units that were never formed; they likely disappeared after the 1936 reorganizations of the Militia.


Battle honours

The process for awarding Battle Honours for World War One took over a decade, and The Calgary Highlanders were first awarded Battle Honours for the actions of the 10th Battalion, CEF, on 15 September 1929.

Oddly, the official granting of Battle Honours to the Tenth Battalion was not done until 15 October of the same year. There was also one minor change; while the Calgary Highlanders were granted "Arras, 1917, '18" as a Battle Honour, the 10th Battalion's Honour read only "Arras, 1917." While the overall battle of Saint-Julien was considered worthy of a Battle Honour, to the dismay of those regiments perpetuating the units involved, the counter-attack at Kitcheners' Wood
Battle of Kitcheners' Wood

The Battle of Kitcheners' Wood was fought during World War I during the Second Battle of Ypres....
 was not. This counter attack, 22 April 1915, was thrown into the first German gas attack of the war. In recognition of this gallant effort and the persistence of the Winnipeg Light Infantry, the Calgary Highlanders and the Canadian Scottish, a special 'Honorary Distinction' was granted by Orders in Council no. 10, 1934 of a special Oak Leaf shoulder badge now unique in the Canadian armed forces, and worn only by those three regiments at the time of adoption in 1938, and today by only two units, The Calgary Highlanders and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)

The Canadian Scottish Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based on Vancouver Island British Columbia.The regiment located in Victoria, British Columbia, Nanaimo, and Courtenay, British Columbia....
.

Battle Honours - First World War

for complete descriptions Ypres, 1915–17
Gravenstafel
Saint-Julien
Festubert, 1915
Mount Sorrel
Somme, 1916
Thiepval
Ancre Heights
Arras, 1917, '18
Vimy, 1917
Arleux
Hill 70
Passchendaele
Amiens
Scarpe, 1918
Drocourt-Quéant
Hindenburg Line
Canal du Nord
Pursuit to Mons
France and Flanders, 1915–18

Battle Honour Descriptions – Second World War

Bourguebus Ridge — located to the south of Caen, the capital of lower Normandy and one of the original D-Day objectives, this ridge was the dominating feature crucial to the success of any further movements beyond the city. When Caen finally fell one month after D-Day, this ridge, and the adjacent Verrières Ridge, became the scene of much fighting. The Calgary Highlanders launched two attacks on the Bourguebus Ridge, a failed attempt on 25 July 1944 to secure the heights, and a successful action from 7-9 August. The cost of these actions was very high.

Fauborg de Vaucelles — A suburb of Caen, south of the city and the Orne River. During Operation Atlantic and Operation Goodwood, the Highlanders launched successful attacks south of the city during the period 18-21 July 1944, notably at Hill 67.

Verrières Ridge, Tilly-la-Campagne
Operation Spring

Operation Spring was an offensive operation conducted by II Canadian Corps during the Normandy campaign. The plan was intended to create pressure on the German forces operating on the British and Canadian front simultaneously to American offensive operations in their sector known as Operation Cobra, an attempt to break out from the Normandy...
 — Adjacent to the Bourgeubus Ridge, Verrières Ridge was another dominating feature of which German possession ensured the British and Canadians in Normandy would be pinned against the sea. On 25 July, 5th Brigade assaults on this feature proved costly for the Calgary Highlanders, and especially for the Black Watch who lost over 300 men in the course of a few hours, making their attack the costliest single day of battle for a single battalion, not counting Dieppe.

Falaise
Falaise pocket

The Falaise pocket or Falaise gap was the encirclement and destruction of German forces in the Normandy area of France during August 1944 by the Allies of World War II armies, as part of the larger Battle of Normandy, during World War II....
 — The next significant feature after the Verrières Ridge was the town of Falaise; a German pocket was created when they counterattacked towards Mortain—the American Armies, moving fast from the south under the command of General George S. Patton Jr., threatened to cut off this pocket of Germans and trap an entire Army. The northern shoulder of the "Falaise Gap" was the scene of much fighting, and the Battle Honour covers all the fighting from the eventual breakout at Verrières and Bourgebus ridges, to the final collapse of German resistance on 16 August 1944.

Falaise Road — Operations Tractable
Operation Tractable

Operation Tractable was the final Canada in World War II–Polish contribution to World War II offensive to take place during the Battle of Normandy....
 and Totalize
Operation Totalise

Operation Totalize was an offensive launched by Allied troops of the First Canadian Army during the later stages of the Operation Overlord, from August 8 to August 13, 1944....
 were conducted in the period 7 – 16 August 1944, and The Calgary Highlanders were involved in fighting along the road to Falaise during this period. Clair Tison — Located near the Falaise Road, this surprise attack by The Calgary Highlanders on the night of 12-13 August 1944 forced a German abandonment of positions during the Falaise Road fighting, and was executed with very few casualties. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel DG MacLauchlan, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his handling of this battle.

Foret de la Londe — This forest, located on the Bourgtheroulde-Rouen Highway, was nestled in a bend of the Seine River and was an excellent defensive position for German forces retreating to the other side of the river. A blocking position here was assaulted and overwhelmed during a series of actions from 28-30 August 1944, with moderate losses to the unit.

Dunkirk, 1944 — Allied supplies were being sent to France mainly via the open beaches in Normandy; the need to secure a sizeable port facility was thus acute. The port of Dunkirk was put under siege, and the Highlanders joined these actions from 6 to 18 September 1944. The action here was mainly patrol work, though a successful battle to liberate the town of Loon Plage stands out from this otherwise dreary episode. The port never fell, and like many of the French Channel ports, it remained in German hands until May 1945. Wyneghem — In September 1944, the acute need for a port promised to be alleviated by the capture of Antwerp, with its large port facilities intact. However, the British failed to act quickly to secure the Scheldt Estuary, the waterway leading into Antwerp. No Allied ship could come within miles of Antwerp until the large number of coastal guns lining the Scheldt were silenced. The Germans were aware of the importance of the Scheldt, and hastily organized an amalgam of veteran parachute units and low grade infantry units. The Canadian Army moved to clear the lands east of Antwerp, and south of the Albert Canal. Wyneghem was one of the towns in this area, and was cleared of Germans by the Highlanders in September.

Sgthamarshall
Antwerp-Turnhout Canal — This canal was one of the waterworks connecting with the city and its badly needed port facilities. The Calgary Highlanders arrived in this area on 18 September 1944, and on the 21st a bridgehead over the Albert Canal was created by Sergeant Ken Crockett and a handpicked section of ten men. His brave foray into enemy territory was soon expanded to a company sized bridgehead, after which the entire Fifth Brigade was able to follow. His nomination for a Victoria Cross was turned down at the highest levels of command for a very well deserved Distinguished Conduct Medal instead. The Scheldt — The Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt

The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the First Canadian Army, led by Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from October 2, 1944 to November 8, 1944...
 battles were fought on both sides of this waterway during September, October and the early part of November 1944. All three Canadian divisions in North-West Europe took part in these actions, as well as several other divisions under the command of First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army

The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps , as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps....
. Major features north of the Scheldt Estuary included, from west to east, Walcheren Island, North Beveland, and the South Beveland Peninsula. To the south of the Estuary was the area known as "The Breskens Pocket". The Calgary Highlanders fought many actions in the Scheldt battles, highlighted by the Battle Honours listed next.

Woensdrecht — a village at the base of the South Beveland Peninsula in the southwest of The Netherlands. Any units seeking to gain access to South Beveland had to clear a series of villages in this area of enemy soldiers. From 22-27 October, much mighting was seen in this area between the 5th Brigade and veteran German paratroops of Battle Group Chill. South Beveland — a long peninsula marking the northern boundary of the Scheldt Estuary, the waterway through which Allied ships would have to sail to reach Antwerp and shorten Allied supply lines, still being traced over land all the way back to Normandy. The failure to secure a port closer to the front line meant the expenditure of thousands of gallons of gasoline trucking supplies through France, Belgium and Holland. The Highlanders fought their way west down the Peninsula with the rest of the 2nd Canadian Division, in order to reach Walcheren Island and silence the many German coastal batteries there.

Walcheren Causeway
Battle of Walcheren Causeway

The Battle of Walcheren Causeway was an engagement of the Battle of the Scheldt between the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, elements of the British 52nd Division and troops of the German 15th Army in 1944....
 — After South Beveland was secured, the only land route to Walcheren Island—last holdouts on the Scheldt Estuary—was a long causeway just 40 metres wide and over 1000 metres long. The Slooe Channel through which the Causeway ran was too shallow for assault boats, and the salt marshes and mud made the way impassable to land vehicles or marching infantry. On Hallowe'en Night, the Calgary Highlanders followed up a disastrous attack by the Black Watch on the Causeway, and managed to force a shallow bridgehead on the far end. Fierce fighting ensued, and the Highlanders were relieved by Le Régiment de Maisonneuve on 1 November. Sixty-four Highlanders were killed or wounded in the action; the ferocity of the fighting was testified to by the actions of Sergeant Emil Laloge, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for, among other things, picking up German grenades and throwing them back at the enemy before they could explode among his men. This battle is commemorated each year by the Regiment with a drumhead ceremony and visit from the Dutch community.

The Rhineland — After the Battle of the Scheldt, the Canadian Army spent the winter of 1944-45 in static positions in the Nijmegen Salient. The next big offensive action was in February and Operation Veritable, when all remaining land west of the River Rhine—the last great barrier between the Allies and the heart of Germany—was to be cleared in anticipation of a massive assault crossing of the great obstacle itself. The fighting in the Rhineland was fought in terrible conditions of terrain and weather, and the Calgary Highlanders' part in that fighting is exemplified by the other Battle Honours, listed below, earned in that campaign.

The Reichswald — a small forest by the Hochwald which needed to be cleared to make possession of the Hochwald possible. The fighting here was part of Operation Blockbuster
Operation Blockbuster

After World War II's Battle of the Scheldt, the First Canadian Army prepared to winter. For three months, between November 8, 1944 and February 8, 1945, Canadians were not involved in any large-scale operation, and some rest was more than welcome....
.

The Hochwald — A small national forest just east of the Dutch border, south of the River Rhine. This forest blocked access to the town of Xanten, which was a key German defensive position on the Allied side of the river. Several difficult and costly actions were fought here, also as part of Operation Blockbuster, which commenced 26 February 1945 and ended with the capture of Xanten on 7 March.

Xanten — Key defensive position defending the approaches to the River Rhine, and ultimate objective of Operation Blockbuster. Xanten was completely ruined in the bitter fighting there.

The Rhine — The bitter fighting in the Rhineland paved the way for the much anticipated assault crossing of the Rhine which went ahead on 23 March 1945. Units of the Third Canadian Division participated in the earliest battles on the far side of the Rhine, with units of the Second Canadian Division crossing over after the bridgehead was formed. One of the major battles of this phase was in Doetinchem in which the Calgary Highlanders played a major part.

Groningen — Capital city of the province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands, this city was held by a mixed force of Germans, stiffened with Dutch SS who felt compelled to fight to the death. The Calgary Highlanders participated in the assault on the city, attacking from the west on 14 April 1945, penetrating the Oranje Kwartier (Orange Quarter) and paving the way for the Black Watch and Régiment de Maisonneuve to advance into the inner city.

Oldenburg — Final battle fought by The Calgary Highlanders in the Second World War, on German soil once again just east of the Dutch border, on 3-4 May 1945. The Regiment was in place in Oldenburg on VE Day, 8 May 1945. "Betsy', the only surviving 6-pounder gun of the original 6-gun platoon, fired the last shot of the Regiment in World War Two here. During the approach to Oldenburg, heavy fighting took place at Gruppenbühren, for which several awards for valour were made.

North-West Europe, 1944–45 — An all encompassing Battle Honour reflecting the long march of the Regiment from the initial landing in Normandy on 6 July 1944 to the final shots in May 1945. Over 400 Calgary Highlanders sacrificed their lives during this campaign.

Basic Facts

Sgtkencrockett
Sergeant Clarence "Ken" Crockett, DCM of the 1st Battalion, Calgary Highlanders was nominated for the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth of Nations countries, and previous British Empire territories....
 and instead received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The Calgary Highlanders adopted many dress distinctions of the allied regiment in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 in the 1920s and continue to cherish those distinctions into the 21st Century, including the red and white diced glengarry worn by all ranks (except pipers), the badger head sporran worn by officers, warrant officers, and senior NCOs, the six point horsehair sporran worn by junior NCOs (except pipers), and the striped necktie of the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, also worn by officers, warrant officers, senior NCOs, pipers and drummers of The Calgary Highlanders. It is unclear if any of these dress distinctions will continue to be worn in Scotland now that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. In 2004, as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World, it was announced that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders would be amalgamated with the other Scottish infantry regiments into the single Royal Regiment of Scotla...
 (Princess Louise's) have been amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

History


History 1910-1938

The regiment dates back to 1 April 1910 and the creation of the 103rd Regiment, Calgary Rifles, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel WCG Armstrong. The regiment did not mobilize for the First World War
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
; however, the 103rd Regiment contributed men to several overseas battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force

For the organisation that fought in Europe, see Canadian Corps.The Canadian Expeditionary warfare was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War....
 beginning in 1914, including the 10th Battalion.

In 1921, the Canadian Militia was reorganized and the 103rd Regiment became simply "The Calgary Regiment". The 1st Battalion of this new unit became known as the Calgary Highlanders. The regiment was permitted to perpetuate the history of the 10th Battalion, CEF, and inherited that units battle honour
Battle honour

A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or Military operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
s (granted in 1929) as well as inheriting the memory of two Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth of Nations countries, and previous British Empire territories....
 holders, Acting Sergeant Arthur George Knight
Arthur George Knight

Arthur George Knight Victoria Cross , was a Canada recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations forces....
 and Private Harry Brown
Harry Brown (VC)

Harry W. Brown, Victoria Cross was a Canada recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War....
, both of whom were awarded the VC posthumously in the last year and a half of the Great War.

In the mid 1920s, the regiment formed an official alliance with The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) of the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
. In 2006, that affiliation will officially end as the Imperial Argylls are absorbed into the Royal Regiment of Scotland. It is unclear if previous affiliations will be permissible between single battalions of the new Regiment, or if any future affiliations will be with the Regiment as a whole. In either event, all Canadian regiments now affiliated with British regiments scheduled for amalgamation will need to be renewed separately.

In the late 1930s, a special oakleaf shoulder badge was bestowed to the regiment in honour of the first combat action of the 10th Battalion, at Kitcheners' Wood during the Battle of St. Julien, part of the Second Battle of Ypres
Battle of Ypres

There were five Battles of Ypres during World War I:*First Battle of Ypres *Second Battle of Ypres *Third Battle of Ypres *Battle of the Lys 9 - 29 April 1918, also called the Battle of Estaires and informally the Fourth Battle of Ypres...
 fought in April 1915 in the area of Belgium
Belgium

* A small German-speaking Community of Belgium exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the history of Belgium and a complex Communities and regions of Belgium....
 known as Flanders
Flanders

Flanders is a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Over the course of history, the geographical territory that was called "Flanders" has varied....
.

History 1939-1945

On 1 September 1939, the Calgary Highlanders were ordered to mobilize for the Second World War. The regiment trained in Calgary until the summer of 1940 when it departed for CFB Shilo
CFB Shilo

Canadian Forces Base Shilo is an Operations and Training base of the Canadian Forces, located 35 km east of Brandon, Manitoba. During the 1990s, Canadian Forces Base Shilo was also designated as an Area Support Unit, which acts as a local base of operations for south-west Manitoba in times of Military and Civil Emergency....
, Manitoba
Manitoba

Manitoba is a prairie provinces in Canada, which has an area of 647,797 square kilometres and a population of 1,207,959 , with more than half located within the Winnipeg Capital Region ....
. The Calgary Highlanders, CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) joined the Second Canadian Division there, and the 2nd Battalion was raised in Calgary for part time service.

In September 1940, the 1st Battalion arrived in England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
.

During the Dieppe Raid
Dieppe Raid

The Dieppe Raid, also known as The Battle of Dieppe or Operation Jubilee, during the World War II, was an Allies of World War II attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime on the Northern coast of France on 19 August 1942....
 of August 1942, the commanded by Lt. FJ Reynolds was attached to the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade but stayed offshore during the raid. Sergeants were decorated with a Mention in Despatches for their part in shooting down two German aircraft during the raid, and one officer of the regiment was killed while ashore with a brigade headquarters.

The Calgary Highlanders pioneered battle drill
Battle drill

An Infantry battle drill describes how platoons and squads apply fire and maneuver to commonly encountered situations. They require leaders to make decisions rapidly and to issue brief oral orders quickly....
 for the Canadian Army, which was a realistic system of training infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
 for the hardships of modern war. They themselves learned battle drill from the British 47th Division.

On 6 July 1944, one month after the Normandy
Operation Overlord

Operation Overlord was the code name for the invasion of Western Front during World War II by Western Allies forces. The operation began with the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 , among the largest amphibious warfares ever conducted....
 landings, the regiment landed in France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
. In Operation Spring, the Calgary Highlanders were part of the Battle of Verrières Ridge
Battle of Verrières Ridge

The Battle of Verri?res Ridge was a series of engagements fought as part of the Invasion of Normandy, in Calvados, during the Second World War. The main combatants were two Canada infantry divisions, with additional support from the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, against elements of three Germany Schutzstaffel Panzer divisions....
, along with the Black Watch
Black Watch

The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Black Watch was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Black Watch from 1931 to 2006, and The Royal Highland Regiment from 1881 to 1931....
, in which the regiment took heavy casualties. The unit saw extensive action in Normandy, marched through Dieppe with the 2nd Division in September 1944 as liberators, then moved on to the fighting for the Channel Ports. By the end of September the regiment was in Belgium and forced a crossing of the Albert Canal
Albert Canal

The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, named after Albert I of Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Li?ge and the Meuse River and Scheldt rivers....
, northeast of Antwerp
Antwerp

||-||-||-||}Antwerp is a city and municipality in Belgium and the capital of the Antwerp in Flanders, one of Belgium's three regions....
.

The regiment saw extensive fighting in the Netherlands in October 1944, opening the way to South Beveland, and then west to the Walcheren Island Causeway
Battle of Walcheren Causeway

The Battle of Walcheren Causeway was an engagement of the Battle of the Scheldt between the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, elements of the British 52nd Division and troops of the German 15th Army in 1944....
 where the brigade fought an extended battle beginning on Hallowe'en night.

From November to February 1945 the regiment wintered in the Nijmegen Salient, then was back in action in the Rhineland
Rhineland

The Rhineland is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. After the collapse of the First French Empire in the early 19th century, the German-speaking regions at the middle and lower course of the Rhine were annexed to the kingdom of Prussia....
 fighting, clearing the last approaches to the River Rhine itself. Fighting resumed on the far bank in March, and city fighting in Doetinchem
Doetinchem

Media:Nl-Doetinchem.ogg is a city and Municipalities in the Netherlands in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the IJssel river in a part of the Provinces of the Netherlands of Gelderland called the Achterhoek ....
 and Groningen
Groningen (city)

||-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |}Groningen is the capital city of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. With a population of 185,000, it is by far the largest city in the north of the Netherlands....
 followed. The regiment ended the war on VE Day on German soil.

The Victory Campaign had cost The Calgary Highlanders over 400 men killed, from a war establishment of just over 800 men. Several times that many were wounded in action.



History 1945-Present

The Calgary Highlanders continued to train infantry soldiers in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, with some soldiers volunteering on an individual basis for service in Korea. The Regiment was not asked to contribute subunits to the brigades serving in West Germany. In the 1960s, as nuclear détente between the US and the USSR mounted, Militia units in Canada moved away from warfighting roles into national disaster training, a role not very well liked. By the 1970s, the Militia had once again focussed its training activities on war fighting.

In the 1980s, the Regiment trained as Mechanized Infantry using the Grizzly Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Militiamen and even Army Cadets were routinely flown to NATO exercises in Germany, Norway and Alaska to participate in realistic training, as the perceived threat of Warsaw Pact military aggression was felt to be high. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, the emphasis on training throughout Force Mobile Command moved away from large scale armoured formations fighting Soviet tank formations in central Europe. The Grizzlies were withdrawn by the mid 1990s and the Regiment resumed training in a Light Infantry role.

Most significantly, The Calgary Highlanders have contributed hundreds of soldiers to peacekeeping missions in the years since 1945, including peacekeeping, peace enforcing, and observation missions in Cambodia, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East, the former Yugoslavia, and Sudan. Recently, they have contributed soldiers to the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, including the deployment in early 2008 of 55 soldiers.

Uniform Distinctions

In addition to the cap badge and oak leaf shoulder titles mentioned above, the Regiment wears several other notable distinctions of dress.

Headdress

The red and white diced glengarry
Glengarry

Glengarry is a boat-shaped cap without a peak made of thick-milled woollen material with a toorie or bobble on top and ribbons hanging down behind....
 of the Aryglls is worn by all ranks (except pipers, who wear black). In combat dress, the khaki tam o'shanter
Tam o'shanter (hat)

A tam o'shanter is a Scotland Bonnet worn by men which was named after the character Tam o' Shanter in the poem of that name by Robert Burns....
 is worn by Junior NCMs with the balmoral
Balmoral bonnet

The Balmoral Bonnet is a traditional Scottish bonnet or cap that can be worn with Scottish Highland Dress. It is named after Balmoral Castle, a Royal residence in Scotland....
 worn by Senior NCMs and Officers. A cap badge in yellow metal is worn by trained privates who are not yet infantry qualified. Infantry qualified Junior NCMs wear a bronze cap badge, Senior NCMs, Officers, and pipe band musicians all wear a nickel plated cap badge. Tradesmen wear the badge of their branch, as appropriate.

Ceremonial Dress

The theoretical full dress uniform for the Regiment would be a scarlet jacket and feather bonnet; this uniform has never been worn in actuality. The Regiment did adopt a green coatee in the 1950s, and has retained it as the standard ceremonial uniform; they are worn only by the Regimental Colour Party or by small parties for special occasions (such as weddings, etc.). The Pipes and Drums have always retained full ceremonial band dress, consisting of green doublets for pipers and red doublets with crown lace for drummers. Pipers wear a blackcock feather in their glengarries in full dress, with drummers wearing the feather bonnet.

Highland Dress

The Government tartan kilt is worn, with pleats arranged in box style according to the pattern worn by the Argylls. Several types of sporran are worn. All ranks wear a brown leather purse when in Walking Out Dress (ie with green Lovat Hose); NCMs wear a simpler version with brass stud closure, officers wear a separate pattern with hidden snap fastener. For dress parades (CO's Parade Dress), corporals and master corporals wear the 6-point horsehair sporran while Senior NCMs and Officers wear a badger head sporran. Pipers wear three point horsehair sporrans while the Pipe Major and Drum Major wear a separate pattern of 3 point sporran. Hose tops and diced hose are in red/white dice, with pipers wearing Rob Roy tartan (red/black dice).

Honorary Colonel Richard Bennett originally outfitted the Pipes and Drums with Royal Stewart tartan kilts and plaids in the 1920s; when the band of the 1st Battalion arrived in England in 1940 they were very quickly informed that Royal Stewart was the prerogative of Royal Regiments only and they were to cease wear of that tartan at once. Pipers in the 2nd Battalion (Calgary) continued to wear Royal Stewart tartan until 1947.

Mess Dress

Mess Dress for Officers and Senior NCMs is based closely on that worn by the Argylls; Honorary Colonel Mannix approved a new distinctive pattern officers' mess jacket in the 1980s which featured buttons on a turn back cuff which differed from the Argylls pattern.

Combat Dress

Other than regimental headdress (when not wearing the CADPAT field cap or helmet), the only distinction a Calgary Highlander has in combat dress are the CALG HIGHRS titles on his slip-ons.

Regimental Order

The Regiment created its own Order
Order (decoration)

An order is a decoration, awarded by a government, a Dynasty, or a religious body to an individual, usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity....
, the Clan of the Gallant Canadians
Clan of the Gallant Canadians

The Clan of the Gallant Canadians is an unofficial Order created by The Calgary Highlanders of the Canadian Forces and the first such regimental order to be approved by the Monarchy of Canada, and the first in the British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations since the time of Oliver Cromwell....
, in 1992.

Regimental Association

The 10th Battalion Association was merged with The Calgary Highlanders Association in 1956 to become the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association.

During the Second World War, "The Glen" was the regimental newspaper of the overseas battalion beginning in September 1939, and "The Glen" continues to be the Regimental Journal of the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association. "The Glen" is published semi-regularly.

Cdsdechastelain

Notable Personalities

  • Lieutenant Colonel J.G. McQueen was the first commander of the Canadian contingent of the First Special Service Force
    Devil's Brigade

    Properly designated as the 1st Special Service Force, The Devil's Brigade was a joint World War II United States-Canada commando unit organised in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana, Montana in the United States....
     (The Devil's Brigade).
  • Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tennant
    Mark Tennant

    Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tennant, Order of Canada, Efficiency Decoration, Canadian Forces Decoration was an alderman of the City of Calgary.Mark Tennant was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba....
     rose from the rank of private in 1939 to the rank of Major in 1944, and commanded the peacetime regiment after the Second World War. He was also appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel. In civilian life he served for many years as an Alderman of the City of Calgary.
  • Sergeants were decorated with a Mention in Despatches for their part in shooting down two German aircraft during the Dieppe Raid
    Dieppe Raid

    The Dieppe Raid, also known as The Battle of Dieppe or Operation Jubilee, during the World War II, was an Allies of World War II attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime on the Northern coast of France on 19 August 1942....
    .
  • Four Calgary Highlanders officers served in the CANLOAN project during the Second World War, two were captured at Arnhem, one was killed in Normandy with the Royal Scots, and one became the last CANLOAN to die in action when he was killed with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in April 1945.
  • General John de Chastelain
    John de Chastelain

    Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, Order of Canada, Order of the Companions of Honour, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a retired Canada soldier and diplomat....
    , who served two terms as Chief of the Defence Staff
    Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

    The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, after the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, who appoints the CDS and from whom the CDS receives his or her orders....
    , began his military career as a private in the Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders. On 30 June 1990, while serving as CDS, he paraded as a piper with the band during the Presentation of Queen's Colour at McMahon Stadium
    McMahon Stadium

    McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
    .
Marktennant

Regimental Monuments

Tennantplantsoen
As part of the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of VE Day, a special celebrations committee in the City of Doetinchem, The Netherlands, recommended that the City Park be renamed in honour of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tennant
Mark Tennant

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tennant, Order of Canada, Efficiency Decoration, Canadian Forces Decoration was an alderman of the City of Calgary.Mark Tennant was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba....
 and that a monument for the Calgary Highlanders who were killed in the fighting there be established. Tennant distinguished himself during the battle for Doetinchem where the Highlanders fought to clear the city between 1 and 3 April 1945.

As a measure of thanks on the fiftieth anniversary of Holland's liberation, the City of Doetinchem named the park "Mark Tennantplantsoen – Een Canadese bevrijder" – "Mark Tennant Park, A Canadian Liberator." Trees in the park still contained shrapnel; mute evidence of the fighting that raged there in April 1945.

Alliances

  • – The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders


Order of Precedence


Contact information

The Calgary Highlanders Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armouries

Mewata Armoury is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta.The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for an original cost of $282,051 Canadian dollars....

801, 11th Street SW Calgary, AB T2P 2C4

Regimental Museum

The Military Museums
The Military Museums

The Military Museums is a reorganization of the former Museum of the Regiments in Calgary, Alberta, announced by the Sophie, Countess of Wessex on June 3, 2006....


Published Histories and Memoirs

  • The History of The Calgary Highlanders 1921- 1954 by Major Roy Farran, DSO, MC (Bryant Press, 1954) 221 pages, no ISBN, now out of print
  • Battalion of Heroes: The Calgary Highlanders in World War Two by Doctor David Jay Bercuson (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1994) 297 pages, 48 pages of illustrations and maps. ISBN 0-9694616-1-5
  • Gallant Calgarians: The Story of the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section, 1995-2006 (Published by the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section) 98 pages, illustrated with 200 colour photographs ISBN 978-0-9782646-6-6
  • Gallant Canadians: The Story of the Tenth Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1914-1919 by Daniel G. Dancocks (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1990) 251 pages, lavishly illustrated throughout with photos and maps ISBN 0-9694616-0-7
  • The Brigade: The Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1939-1945 by Dr. Terry Copp (Fortress Publications, Stoney Creek, ON, 1992 ISBN 0-919195-16-4
  • Far From Home: A Memoir of a 20th Century Soldier by Jeffery Williams. (University of Calgary Press, 2003) 374 pages, many illustrations. ISBN 1-55238-119-6
  • A Backward Glance: The Personal Story of an Infantry Signaller with the Calgary Highlanders in World War Two by Frank Holm (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario: Self Published, 1989)
  • A Bloody Miracle: A Calgary Highlander Mortar Platoon at the Dieppe Raid by Eswyn Lyster (Legion Magazine 1989, also in True Canadian War Stories, Jane Dewar, ed., Lester, Orpen and Denny 2002 : ISBN-13: 978-0886191405)


Film Portrayals

  • The Devil's Brigade (1968). Two main characters can be seen wearing the insignia of the Calgary Highlanders, Corporal Peacock and Private MacDonald (Richard Dawson).
  • Legends of the Fall
    Legends of the Fall

    Legends of the Fall is an Academy Award-Winning, 1994 in film drama film based on the 1979 novella of the same title by Jim Harrison. It was directed by Edward Zwick and stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Aidan Quinn....
     (1994). The character of Samuel Ludlow (Henry Thomas) very clearly wears the insignia of the 10th Battalion, CEF. It is presumed that Tristan Ludlow (Brad Pitt) and Alfred Ludlow (Aidan Quinn) also belong to the same battalion, but neither costume nor dialogue confirm this though a voiceover
    VoiceOver

    VoiceOver is a feature built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X operating system since version Mac OS X v10.4. By using VoiceOver, the user can access his or her Apple Macintosh by using speech and the Computer keyboard....
     indicates that all three enlisted together in Calgary.
  • Passchendaele
    Passchendaele (film)

    Passchendaele is a 2008 in film Cinema of Canada war film from Alliance Films, written, directed by and starring Paul Gross. The film, which was shot in Calgary, Alberta, Fort Macleod, Alberta, CFB Suffield, and in Belgium, focuses on the experiences of Gross's grandfather, Michael Dunne, a soldier who served in the 10th Battalion, CEF in...
     (2008). This film project, announced by Paul Gross
    Paul Gross

    Paul Michael Gross , is a Canada actor, Television producer, film director, singer and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Benton Fraser in the television series Due South as well as his acting and directing role in the Canada war film Passchendaele_....
    , filmed in Alberta in the autumn of 2007; Gross depicts his grandfather, Sergeant Michael Dunne, who served in the 10th Battalion, CEF. The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival
    Toronto International Film Festival

    The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario. The festival begins the Thursday night after Labour Day#Labour Day in Canada and lasts for ten days....
     on September 4, 2008 and was released in Canada on October 17, 2008.


See also

  • Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders
    Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders

    The Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders is an authorized volunteer pipe band associated with The Calgary Highlanders of the Canadian Forces....


External links