The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army that is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. This kilted Lowland regiment was formed as an amalgamation in 1936 of two predecessor units that date back to 1866. The regiment is named for John Campbell, Marquis of Lorne (Governor General of Canada 1878–1883) and three Ontario counties: Peel County, Dufferin County, and Halton County. In the Second World War, the Lorne Scots mobilized nearly all the defence and employment units for the Canadian Army (Active).
Organization The sub-units of the Lorne Scots are in the following armouries: Regimental Headquarters (RHQ): Brampton, Ontario Dufferin Company (Admin Coy): Brampton and Georgetown, Ontario Campbell Company: Brampton, Oakville and Georgetown, Ontario Pipes and Drums (Dufferin Company): Georgetown
The regiment's commanding officer is Lieutenant-Colonel Jason Kearney. The regimental sergeant major is Chief Warrant Officer Dmitri Iassinovski.
The Lorne Scots deployed a great number of units in World War II as headquarters defence and employment platoons, and since 1945 have had many soldiers deploy as individual augmentees to overseas missions tasked with peacemaking operations in the Middle East, Golan Heights, Namibia, Cambodia, Cyprus, the Former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.
Lineage
The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) originated in Brampton, Canada West, on 14 September 1866, as the 36th "Peel Battalion of Infantry". It was redesignated as the 36th Peel Regiment on 8 May 1900, as the Peel Regiment on 1 May 1920 and The Peel and Dufferin Regiment on 15 April 1923. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with the Lorne Rifles (Scottish) and redesignated The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment).Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
The Lorne Rifles (Scottish)
The Lorne Rifles (Scottish) originated in Milton, Canada West, on 28 September 1866, as the 20th "Halton Battalion of Infantry". It was redesignated the 20th "Halton" Battalion of Rifles on 12 January 1872, as the 20th Halton Battalion "Lorne Rifles" on 11 November 1881, as the 20th Halton Regiment "Lorne Rifles" on 8 May 1900, as the 20th Regiment, Halton Rifles on 1 December 1909, as The Halton Rifles on 1 May 1920 and The Lorne Rifles (Scottish) on 1 November 1931. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with the Peel and Dufferin Regiment.
Chart
Perpetuations The Lorne Scots perpetuate the 37th Battalion (Northern Ontario), CEF, the 74th Battalion, CEF, the 76th Battalion, CEF, the 126th Battalion (Peel), CEF, the 164th Battalion (Halton and Dufferin), CEF, and the 234th Battalion (Peel), CEF. The regiment also carries battle honours from the 2nd Regiment of York Militia and the 4th Battalion, CEF.
Badges
Cap badge
Blazon: Issuant from a torse Argent and Azure a demi-lion Argent gorged with a collar Azure charged with a frieze of bezants, holding between its paws a shuttle Or, all ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and within a wreath of maple leaves Argent and thistles proper, issuant from two scrolls Sable inscribed AIR SON AR DUTHCHAIS and THE LORNE SCOTS (PEEL, DUFFERIN AND HALTON REGT) in letters Argent.Canadian Heraldic Authority – The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) - Registration of Arms and Badge, September 15, 2015. Vol. VI, p. 555. Retrieved from: https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2760&ShowAll=1
The cap badge was changed in 2016 to more closely resemble the image appearing on the regiment's Colour. The demi lion, originally appearing in gold, is now silver. The shuttlecock, once silver, has been replaced with gold.
Collar badge The Chief of the Clan Campbell, the Duke of Argyll granted the Lorne Rifles (Scottish), permission to wear his crest in 1931. This crest is blazoned "a Boar's head erased". The boar's head is worn on the coatie collar on the Number 1 Regimental Uniform. It is worn midway down the jacket on the number two mess dress. It is also worn on the jacket collar on the Number Three Service Dress.
History On 14 September 1866 the 36th Peel Battalion was authorized and on 28 September the 20th Halton Battalion of Infantry was formed. These regiments were two of the early Canadian Militia regiments. These two regiments, some 70 years later, were reorganized to form the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment).
The first Scottish connection was made on 27 September 1879 when the Halton Rifles were reviewed by the Marquis of Lorne and permission was received in 1881 to re-designate the 20th Halton Rifles as the 20th Halton Battalion Lorne Rifles. In addition, the wearing of tartan trews and the diced Glengarry were authorized and a pipe band was formed.
First World War The 37th Battalion (Northern Ontario), CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 27 November 1915, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 9 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 39th Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.
The 74th Battalion, CEF, was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 29 March 1916, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 30 September 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 50th Battalion (Calgary), CEF, 52nd Battalion (New Ontario), CEF, and the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.
The commanding officer of the 36th Peel Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Windeyer, was disappointed that the county regiments would not serve as units. When the 74th Battalion was authorized in June 1915, however, he agreed to raise it, assisted by the company commander from Orangeville, Major A.J. McAusland. It drew mainly from Peel county, which contributed 26 officers and 346 other ranks, but also from the 48th Highlanders, the Queen's Own Rifles and the 10th Royal Grenadiers of Toronto. The battalion trained at Niagara Camp before moving to winter quarters at the Toronto Exhibition. Before leaving Canada, reinforcement drafts were drawn from it. Windeyer was seconded to headquarters staff, and MacAusland promoted to command. At the end of March 1916, the unit embarked on the Empress of Britain. It was broken up to reinforce existing units of the Canadian Corps in France. McCausland served with the 75th Battalion of the 4th Canadian Division, and though he commanded it for a period, ill health prevented him from succeeding when the commanding officer was killed in action. In 1924 the colours of the 74th Battalion were deposited in Christ Church, Brampton.
The 76th Battalion, CEF, was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 23 April 1916, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 36th Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.
The 76th Battalion, with an establishment of 1,153, was raised from fifteen militia units of the second divisional area, outside of Toronto, including the Halton Rifles and the Dufferin Rifles of Canada. A former officer of the Halton Rifles, Major J. Ballantine, was chosen to command. Ballantine had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order while serving with the 4th Battalion, CEF, and was home on sick leave. The Halton Rifles contributed one officer and 98 other ranks to the 76th Battalion. The 76th mobilized in Camp Niagara on 30 July 1915. On November 5 the battalion moved into winter quarters at Barrie, with A Company in Collingwood and B Company in Orillia. A draft of 255 all ranks left for overseas 30 September 1915, and other drafts followed. Route marches and other intensive training were carried out during the winter months. The battalion moved overseas only to be broken up to supply reinforcements for other units in the field.
The 126th Battalion (Peel), CEF, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 14 August 1916, where, on 13 October 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the 109th (Victoria & Haliburton) Battalion, CEF, and the 116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.
On 12 November 1915, the 36th Peel Regiment was authorized to recruit the 126th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Major FJ Hamilton of Port Credit was made temporary lieutenant-colonel, and oversaw an intensive recruiting campaign throughout the winter. By spring the battalion was up to strength – over a thousand men, with 32 officers.
The new two-company armoury in Brampton, built in 1912, was utilized as quarters, as was an old school in the west end of Toronto. Early in the summer of 1916 this unit was concentrated at Niagara Camp, later moving to Camp Borden, the large new camp, just completed in Simcoe County. On 16 August it embarked for overseas. This battalion had expected to go to the front as a unit, but the severe casualties suffered by the Canadians during the battle of the Somme made it necessary to break up the unit for reinforcements. 450 men transferred to the 109th Battalion; the band and 350 men joined the 116th Battalion.
The regimental march of the 126th, "John Peel", was later adopted by the Peel and Dufferin Regiment.
The 164th Battalion (Halton and Dufferin), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 11 April 1917, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 16 April 1918, when its personnel were absorbed by the 8th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.
The 164th Battalion commenced recruiting on January 1, 1916, in the counties of Halton and Dufferin, with its headquarters in Milton, the county town of Halton. Brisk recruiting had brought the battalion up to a strength of about 800 men by the end of March, but it never reached full strength. The battalion was split up into small detachments scattered through the recruiting area until June 5, when it was mobilized at Orangeville, remaining there under canvas until July 2, when it was moved to Camp Borden. On October 29 the battalion commenced a route march from Camp Borden to Hamilton, a distance of about , to take up winter quarters in the Westinghouse Barracks. In February 1917 it was augmented by a draft of 250 men from the 205th Tiger Battalion, although transfers and discharges brought its strength down to about 750 by the time it arrive in England. It became part of the 5th Canadian Division. Eventually the 164th was broken up as reinforcements for Canadian units already in France.
During the stay in Hamilton, the ladies of Halton and Dufferin counties presented the battalion with a set of colours, presented by Sir John Hendrie in the armoury in Hamilton. These colours were subsequently deposited in Saint Jude's Church, Oakville, for safekeeping.
The 234th Battalion (Peel), CEF, was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 April 1917, where, on 30 April 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion, CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.