The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) is a Canadian Armyregiment that served between the years of 1860 and 1965 before being reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle.[1] The regiment was reactivated on May 10, 2009,[2] as a reserve force unit performing the role of armoured reconnaissance. It is the first and only regiment since the 1960s to be reactivated from the Supplementary Order of Battle.
The unit draws its history from the 19th century Halifax Volunteer Battalion which was active at the time of the Fenian Raids. It received its current name in May 1958.
History
Fenian Raids
Regimental camp flag
The Halifax Volunteer Battalion was called out on active service on 6 June 1866. The battalion, which guarded the Halifax Dockyard, was removed from active service on 31 July 1866.[3]
North West Rebellion
Non commissioned members of the 63rd The Halifax Battalion of Rifles ca. 1890, several of them wearing medals from the North-West Rebellion
The 63rd The Halifax Battalion of Rifles mobilized three companies for active service on 10 April 1885 which served with the Halifax Provisional Battalion in the Alberta Column of the North-West Field Force. The companies were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.[3]
South African War
The 63rd The Halifax Battalion of Rifles contributed volunteers for the Canadian Contingents during the South African War.[3]
Great War
The uniform and drums of a bugler with the regimental band of the Halifax Rifles in the Army Museum of the Halifax Citadel.
Details of the 63rd Regiment "Halifax Rifles" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty.[3]
The 40th Battalion (Nova Scotia), CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 18 October 1915. The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 26th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.[3]
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 Halifax Rifles, CASF (Details), for local protection duties. which were disbanded on 31 December 1940. The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Halifax Rifles, CASF for active service on 1 January 1941. It was converted to armour and redesignated as the 23rd Army Tank Battalion (The Halifax Rifles), CAC, CASF, on 26 January 1942 and the 23rd Army Tank Regiment (The Halifax Rifles), CAC, CASF, on 15 May 1942. It embarked for Britain on 17 June 1943 as a unit of the 2nd Army Tank Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, where it provided reinforcements to units of the Canadian Corps in the field. The overseas regiment was disbanded on 1 November 1943.[3]
War in Afghanistan
The regiment contributed personnel to the various task forces which served in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2014.[4]
Mission task
Since 2015, Army Reserve units have been assigned specific mission tasks,[5] in addition to traditional military duties. Trained and promoted in the traditional officer and non-commissioned member streams of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, regiment members are additionally trained to be fully integrated, as a formed entity, into similarly assigned Regular Force units. The mission task for the Halifax Rifles is called Influence Activities. By their Canadian Forces organization order (CFOO),[6] a squadron of up to 52 members will be trained in the employment of population group influence techniques, including psychological operations and civil-military co-operation, to provide behavioural and psychological effects on those populations in support of a commander’s intent or mission.
In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles.[3]
War of 1812
Honorary distinction: The non-emblazonable honorary distinction DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812–1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA (awarded in commemoration of the Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry).
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