Non-Permanent Active Militia

Last updated
Non-Permanent Active Militia
Milice active non permanente (French)
The Canadian Militia, 1898.jpg
Uniforms of The Canadian Militia, 1898
Active1855–1940
Countries Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Province of Canada (1855–1867)
Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada (1867–1940)
TypeArmy
Part of Active Militia
Engagements Fenian raids
Wolseley expedition
North-West Rebellion
Second Boer War
World War I
World War II
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Monarch
represented by
Governor General of the Province of Canada (1855–1867)
Governor General of Canada (1867–1940)
Ministers
Military commander
Full dress uniform from the 13th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry), a unit of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. Full Dress Uniform, Stephen Cattley, 13th Battalion Volunteer Militia, 1862 - Glenbow Museum - DSC00672.JPG
Full dress uniform from the 13th Battalion Volunteer Militia (Infantry), a unit of the Non-Permanent Active Militia.
Ernest Guertin in The Non-Permanent Active Militia (NAPM) uniform dated 1932 NAPM-EEGuertin.jpg
Ernest Guertin in The Non-Permanent Active Militia (NAPM) uniform dated 1932

The Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) was the name of Canada's part-time volunteer military force from 1855 to 1940. The NPAM (also called "the Militia" though that term could also encompass the full-time standing army known as the Permanent Active Militia (PAM)) was composed of several dozen infantry battalions (redesignated as regiments in 1900) and cavalry regiments. With the withdrawal of the British forces in Canada after the turn of the 20th century, supporting corps were created in Canada as part of both the PAM and the NPAM.

Contents

History

The NPAM was established in 1855 by the Militia Act passed by the Province of Canada. After Confederation in 1867, militia units of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were given three months to re-enrol in the militia of the new federation. [1]

At the beginning of the 20th century, NPAM did not provide Canada a standing army ready for immediate action, although it did provide the country the ability to mobilize a force should the need arise. In the decade prior to the start of World War I, the nominal strength of NPAM increased from 36,000 to 55,000 soldiers. [2]

The NPAM did not mobilize during the First World War, though large drafts of NPAM men went into the field force created in 1914 for that conflict, the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Some CEF units adopted regimental traditions from NPAM units. Following the war, the Otter Committee created a unique set of perpetuations, whereby the reorganized NPAM carried on the traditions of both the CEF and the prewar Militia in the Canadian Militia.

On the eve of World War II, NPAM had 5,272 officers, and 41,249 soldiers of all other ranks. [3] In 1940, the NPAM was redesignated the Canadian Army (Reserve); following World War II it was re-designated the Canadian Army Reserve Force, then the Canadian Army (Militia), and finally became the reserve component of Force Mobile Command following Unification on February 1, 1968. However, the historic title "Militia" continued to be applied to the reserve component of Canada's land forces.

See also

Related Research Articles

12<sup>e</sup> Régiment blindé du Canada Military unit

The 12e Régiment blindé du Canada is a Canadian Army armoured regiment based in CFB Valcartier, on the outskirts of Quebec City. The regiment has both a Regular Force and a Primary Reserve unit. The 12e Régiment blindé du Canada's abbreviation is 12e RBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Canadian Army

The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked first in the order of precedence amongst Canadian Army infantry regiments, but in a quirk of the rules of seniority, its 4th battalion is ninth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess of Wales' Own Regiment</span> Military unit

The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (PWOR) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment</span> Military unit of Canada

The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment is part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, one of four brigade groups of 4th Canadian Division. The regimental headquarters and one company are at 187 Pinnacle Street in Belleville and on Willmott Street in Cobourg, with another rifle company in Peterborough. The Peterborough Armoury houses what was traditionally B Company or Moro Company. Moro Company also serves as the headquarters for the regiment’s Assault Pioneer Platoon. Normally, the regiment deploys as a composite, Ortona Company, while the headquarters and administration form Somme Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brockville Rifles</span> Military unit

The Brockville Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The unit is a part of the 33 Canadian Brigade Group, 4th Canadian Division. It is fifteenth in the order of precedence of Canadian Army Infantry Regiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Regina Rifles</span> Military unit

The Royal Regina Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Prior to 1982 the regiment was known as The Regina Rifle Regiment. The Royal Regina Rifles are part of 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Permanent Active Militia</span> Standing army of Canada from 1855 to 1940

Permanent Active Militia (PAM), also known as Permanent Force (PF), was the proper name of Canada's full-time professional land forces from 1855 to 1940, when it was reorganized into the Canadian Army. PAM was in effect Canada's standing army, consisting of one regular infantry regiment and two cavalry regiments in 1914.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Manitoba Dragoons</span> Military unit

The 12th Manitoba Dragoons is an armoured regiment of the Canadian Army that is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">19th Alberta Dragoons</span> Military unit

The 19th Alberta Dragoons was a cavalry regiment and later an armoured regiment of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. It was placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1965. In 2006, it was taken off the Supplementary Order of Battle and amalgamated with the South Alberta Light Horse.

The Canadian Militia is a historical title for military units raised for the defence of Canada. The term has been used to describe sedentary militia units raised from local communities in Canada; as well as the regular army for the Province of Canada and post-confederated Canada, referred to as the active militias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Light Infantry of Canada</span> Military unit

The Highland Light Infantry of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. In 1965, the regiment was amalgamated with The Scots Fusiliers of Canada to form The Highland Fusiliers of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Rifles of Canada</span> Military unit

The Victoria Rifles of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First formed in Montreal, Quebec in 1862, the regiment would see a history of service stretching from the Fenian Raids of the 1860s-70s right into the middle of the 20th Century. In 1965, the regiment was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.

The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1954, the regiment was amalgamated with The Oxford Rifles to form The London and Oxford Fusiliers (now the reserve battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment).

The 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is a Canadian Army Reserve artillery regiment based in Pembroke, Ontario. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 33 Canadian Brigade Group.

The Otter Commission, or Otter Committee, was established after the First World War to tackle a problem created by the chaotic mobilization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In 1919 units of the CEF, intended as a wartime expeditionary force, returned to Canada where the Canadian Militia had served during the war performing home defence duties, staffing internment camps, and raising recruits for overseas. Both the CEF and the Militia desired to be perpetuated in the post-war world. The CEF units were proud of their wartime record, while the pre-war Militia had long-standing roots in the community and battle honours dating back as far as the War of 1812.

The Manitoba Horse was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. First formed in 1912 as the 32nd Light Horse, the regiment was redesignated later that same year as the 32nd Manitoba Horse and again in 1920 as The Manitoba Horse. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Fort Garry Horse.

The Peterborough Rangers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with the 3rd Prince of Wales' Canadian Dragoons to form The Prince of Wales Rangers.

The York Rangers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia [NPAM] of the Canadian Militia. Although the unit was first officially created in 1866, the regiment traces its ancestry and origins as far back to Rogers' Rangers of the Seven Years' War, the Queen's Rangers of the American Revolutionary War and also the York Militia of the War of 1812. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Queen's Rangers to form The Queen's York Rangers.

The Argyll Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. 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.

The Grey Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with the Simcoe Foresters to form the Grey and Simcoe Foresters.

References

  1. Defence, National (2018-02-16). "Volume 3, Parts 1 and 2: Armour, Artillery, Field Engineer and Infantry Regiments". aem. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  2. Nicholson, G. W. L. (2015). Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919: Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War. McGill-Queen University Press. p. 7. ISBN   978-0-7735-9790-7.
  3. Granatstein, J. L. (2011). Canada's Army: Waging War and Keeping the Peace. University of Toronto Press. p. 173. ISBN   978-1-4426-1178-8.