{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2012}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = The Royal Rifles of Canada | image = Royal Rifles of Canada.jpg | image_size = 150px | caption = | dates = 28 February 1862 – 1 November 1966 | country = Canada | branch = {{ubl | Canadian Militia (1862–1940) | Canadian Army (1940–1966)}} | type = Rifle regiment | role = Infantry | size = One regiment | command_structure = {{plainlist| * Non-Permanent Active Militia (1871–1940) * Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1942–1966) }} | current_commander = | garrison = Quebec City | ceremonial_chief = | ceremonial_chief_label = | colonel_of_the_regiment = | nickname = | motto = {{langnf|la|Volens et valens|willing and capable}} | colors = | march = Quick march "I'm Ninety Five", double past "Money Musk" | mascot = | battles = {{ubl | South African War | First World War | Second World War}} | notable_commanders = Brigadier John K. Lawson | anniversaries = Battle of Hong Kong | battle_honours = See #Battle honours | identification_symbol_4 = | identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation }} '''The Royal Rifles of Canada''' was a rifle regiment in the Canadian Army and fought alongside The Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Battle of Hong Kong during World War II. In November 1966, it was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle. In February 2019, the dormant regiment was amalgamated with the Voltigeurs de Québec.
==Lineage==
=== The Royal Rifles of Canada === The Royal Rifles of Canada originated in Quebec City, Canada East, on 28 February 1862, when the 8th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada, was authorized. It was redesignated the 8th or Stadacona Volunteer Militia Rifles on 28 March 1862; the 8th Battalion "Royal Rifles" on 6 April 1877; the 8th Regiment "Royal Rifles" on 8 May 1900; The Royal Rifles of Canada on 29 March 1920; the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Rifles of Canada on 7 November 1940 and The Royal Rifles of Canada on 1 June 1945. On 22 February 1965, it was amalgamated with Les Voltigeurs de Québec. On 1 November 1966, these two regiments ceased to be amalgamated and the regiment was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.<ref>Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.</ref> After being a supplementary regiment for more than 52 years, the Royal Rifles amalgamated with the Voltigeurs for the second time, on 22 February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-08 |title=Les Voltigeurs de Québec |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/infantry-regiments/voltigeurs-quebec.html |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref> The Voltigeurs inherited the Royal Rifles' heritage, perpetuations and battle honours.
The Sherbrooke Hussars, a present-day Canadian Army Primary Reserve armoured regiment, has the honorary distinction of placing the Royal Rifles' badge and the date ''1941'' on its guidon. This distinction is not a battle honour, but an acknowledgement that one of its predecessor units, the 7th/11th Hussars, provided about half its effective strength to the Royal Rifles while it was preparing for overseas.
=== Lineage chart === {{chart top|Lineage chart<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-20 |title=Royal Rifles of Canada |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/infantry-regiments/royal-rifles.html |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref>}} {{tree chart/start}} {{tree chart|aa861| | | | |Idpdf|aa861=1861|border_aa861=0|Idpdf=Independent rifle {{abbr|coys|companies}}}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa862| | | | |8VMRC|aa862=1862|border_aa862=0|8VMRC=The 8th {{abbr|Bn|Battalion}} Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa862| | | | |8SVMR|aa862=1862|border_aa862=0|8SVMR=8th or Stadacona Volunteer Militia Rifles}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa866| | | | |Acvvc|aa866=1866|border_aa866=0|Acvvc=Active service{{efn|8–31 March}}|border_Acvvc=0}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa877| | | | |8RR |aa877=1877|border_aa877=0|8RR=8th Bn "Royal Rifles"}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa900| | | | |8RR |aa900=1900|border_aa900=0|8RR=8th {{abbr|Regt|Regiment}} "Royal Rifles"}} {{tree chart|aa914|a12B | | |!|aa914=1914|border_aa914=0|a12B=12th Bn, {{abbr|CEF|Canadian Expeditionary Force}}}} {{tree chart| | | | |!| | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa915|12RIB| | |!|aa915=1915|border_aa915=0|12RIB=12th Reserve {{abbr|Infy|Infantry}} Bn, CEF}} {{tree chart|aa916| |!| | | |!| | |171OB|aa916=1916|border_aa916=0|171OB=171st "Overseas" Bn, CEF}} {{tree chart| | | | |!| | | |!| | | |!| }} {{tree chart|aa917| |!| | | |!| | |A20RB|aa917=1917|border_aa917=0|A20RB=Absorbed by 20th Reserve Bn|border_A20RB=0|boxstyle_A20RB=vertical-align: top}} {{tree chart|aa920|Dbndd| |1RRC | |2RRC |aa920=1920|border_aa920=0|Dbndd=Disbanded|border_Dbndd=0|boxstyle_Dbndd=vertical-align: top|1RRC=1st Bn (171st Bn, CEF), The Royal Rifles of Canada|2RRC=2nd Bn,{{efn|Reserve}} The Royal Rifles of Canada}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| }} {{tree chart|aa929| | | | |1RRC | |2RRC |aa929=1929|border_aa929=0|1RRC=1st Bn (12th Bn, CEF), The Royal Rifles of Canada|2RRC=2nd Bn (171st Bn, CEF), The Royal Rifles of Canada}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| }} {{tree chart|aa936| | | | |RRC | |Dbndd|aa936=1936|border_aa936=0|RRC=The Royal Rifles of Canada|Dbndd=Disbanded|border_Dbndd=0|boxstyle_Dbndd=vertical-align: top}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa940|RRC | |2RRC |aa940=1940|border_aa940=0|RRC=The Royal Rifles of Canada, {{abbr|CASF|Canadian Active Service Force}}|2RRC=2nd (Reserve) Bn, The Royal Rifles of Canada}} {{tree chart| | | | |!| | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa940|1RRC | | |!|aa940=1940|border_aa940=0|1RRC=1st Bn, The Royal Rifles of Canada, CASF}} {{tree chart| | | | |!| | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa941|Dstrd| | |!|aa941=1941|border_aa941=0|Dstrd=Destroyed|border_Dstrd=0|boxstyle_Dstrd=vertical-align: top}} {{tree chart|aa942|1RRC | | |!| | | |:| |aa942=1942|border_aa942=0|1RRC=1st Bn, The Royal Rifles of Canada, CASF}} {{tree chart| | | | |!| | | |!| | |VQ |VQ=Les Voltigeurs de Québec}} {{tree chart|aa945|Dbndd| |RRC | | |!| |aa945=1945|border_aa945=0|Dbndd=Disbanded|border_Dbndd=0|boxstyle_Dbndd=vertical-align: top|RRC=The Royal Rifles of Canada}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| }} {{tree chart|aa965| | | | | |`|VQ |'| |aa965=1965|border_aa965=0|VQ=Les Voltigeurs de Québec}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart|aa966| | | | |RRC |^|VQ |aa966=1966|border_aa966=0|RRC=The Royal Rifles of Canada{{efn|Supplementary Order of Battle}}|VQ=Les Voltigeurs de Québec}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| }} {{tree chart|aa019| | | | | |`|VQ |'| |aa019=2019|border_aa019=0|VQ=Les Voltigeurs de Québec}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |!}} {{tree chart/end}} {{chart bottom}}
==Perpetuations==
The Royal Rifles of Canada perpetuate the '''12th Battalion, CEF''' and the '''171st Battalion (Quebec Rifles), CEF'''.
==Operational history== ===Fenian Raids===
The 8th Volunteer Militia Rifles were called out on active service on 8 March 1866 in response to the Fenian raids. The battalion, which served in Quebec City, was removed from active service on 31 March 1866.<ref>Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.</ref>
===South African War===
The regiment contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents in the field, mainly the '''2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry'''.<ref>Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.</ref>
===Great War=== Details of the regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.
The '''12th Battalion, CEF''' was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 30 September 1914. It was redesignated as the '''12th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF''' on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920.
The '''171st Battalion (Quebec Rifles), CEF''' was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 24 November 1916. Its personnel were absorbed by the '''20th Reserve Battalion, CEF''' on 8 January 1917 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps. The battalion was disbanded on 27 July 1917.<ref>Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.</ref>
===Second World War=== Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, as '''The Royal Rifles of Canada, Canadian Active Service Force (Details)''', for local protection duties. The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940. Details of the regiment were again called out on service on 1 January 1941, under the designation '''Details of 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Rifles of Canada'''. The details were removed from active service on 30 September 1941.
The regiment subsequently mobilized '''The Royal Rifles of Canada, CASF''' for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the '''1st Battalion, The Royal Rifles of Canada, CASF''' on 7 November 1940. The battalion served in Newfoundland on garrison duty from early November 1940 to August 1941. On 27 October 1941 it embarked for Hong Kong as a part of C Force, where it was destroyed while fighting in defence of the colony. The unit was reconstituted on 10 January 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the Vancouver Defences of Pacific Command. On 2 January 1945 it embarked for Great Britain, where it was disbanded on 10 January 1945 to provide reinforcements to the Canadian army in the field.<ref>Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.</ref><gallery> File:Royal Rifles of Canada recruitment poster.jpg|Royal Rifles of Canada recruitment poster in World War II File:Sai Wan Cemetery 3.jpg|Tombstone of an unknown lance corporal of the Royal Rifles at the Sai Wan War Cemetery, which has been inscribed in error as "Royal Regiment" </gallery>
==Battle honours== Those battle honours in '''bold type''' are emblazoned on the regimental accoutrements.
{{glossary}} {{term|South African War}} {{defn| {{flatlist| * {{smallcaps|'''South Africa, 1899–1900'''}} }} }} {{term|First World War}} {{defn| {{flatlist| * {{smallcaps|'''Ypres, 1915, '17'''}} * {{smallcaps|'''Festubert, 1915'''}} * {{smallcaps|'''Mount Sorrel'''}} * {{smallcaps|'''Somme, 1916'''}} * {{smallcaps|'''Arras, 1917'''}} * {{smallcaps|'''Hill 70'''}} * {{smallcaps|'''Amiens'''}}}} }} {{term|Second World War}} {{defn| {{flatlist| * Hong Kong * {{smallcaps|South-East Asia, 1941}} }} }} {{glossary end}}
The 7th/11th Hussars contributed about 400 officers and men to the Royal Rifles in 1940 for their operation in Hong Kong. The Sherbrooke Hussars, who incorporate the 7th/11th Hussars, bear the honorary distinction of the badge of the Royal Rifles of Canada, with the year-date 1941, on their guidon.
== Notable members ==
* Major-General Sir David Watson {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|KCB|CMG}} * Chaplain Frederick George Scott {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CMG|DSO|FRSC}} * Gander, Newfoundland (dog) canine mascot of the regiment and hero who carried away a hand grenade from wounded members of the unit and later posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal
==See also== * [https://www.hkvca.ca/ Hong Kong Veterans of Canada Association]
==Notes and references== {{notelist}} {{Reflist}} * [http://www.qctonline.com/node/644 Royal Rifles of Canada heritage lost in Armoury fire]
==Further reading== *Hong Kong Veterans' Association of Canada. Quebec-Maritimes Branch "The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong, 1941-1945" (Canada: The Association, ©1980) {{Canadian Army Infantry Regiments}}
Category:Rifle regiments of Canada Category:Military units and formations of Quebec Category:Infantry regiments of Canada in World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1862 Category:1862 establishments in Canada Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1966 Category:Battle of Hong Kong Category:Supplementary Order of Battle