The Royal Westminster Regiment (commonly referred to as the Westies) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is currently part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group and is based in New Westminster, British Columbia, at The Armoury and at Colonel Roger Kenwood St. John, OMM, CD Armoury in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Lineage
The Royal Westminster Regiment Originated 1 April 1910 in New Westminster, British Columbia as the 104th Regiment Redesignated 15 December 1913 as the 104th Regiment Westminster Fusiliers of Canada Amalgamated 12 March 1920 with the 6th Regiment "The Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles" to form the 1st British Columbia Regiment Redesignated 1 November 1920 the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) Reorganized 15 May 1924 into three separate regiments: the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (now the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own); The Vancouver Regiment (now The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own); and The Westminster Regiment Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with C Company of the 11th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and redesignated The Westminster Regiment (Machine Gun) Redesignated 1 April 1941 as The Westminster Regiment (Motor) Redesignated 7 November 1941 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Westminster Regiment (Motor) Redesignated 31 January 1946 as The Westminster Regiment (Motor) Redesignated 6 October 1954 as The Westminster Regiment Redesignated 9 December 1966 as The Royal Westminster Regiment
Perpetuations
Great War 47th Battalion (British Columbia), CEF 131st Battalion (Westminster), CEF
History
Great War
The 104th Regiment Westminster Fusiliers of Canada was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties. Subsequently, the regiment raised the 47th Battalion (British Columbia), CEF, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 13 November 1915. It disembarked in France on 11 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 30 August 1920.
A member of the 47th Battalion, Corporal Filip Konowal, received the Victoria Cross for his single handed destruction of a German machine gun position.Oldfield, page 28
The 131st Battalion (Westminster), CEF, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916, where its personnel were absorbed by the 30th Battalion, CEF, on 14 November 1916, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 17 July 1917.
Between the wars
The Westminster Regiment In 1920 the unit was amalgamated with the 6th Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles) and in 1924 it was reformed as The Westminster Regiment.
The regiment was re-designated as a machine gun battalion and titled The Westminster Regiment (M.G.) in 1936.
Second World War With the German invasion of Poland, the regiment's 1st Battalion was mobilized on 2 September 1939, as a machine gun battalion.Oldfield, page 3
During the Second World War the regiment formed a part of Major General Bert Hoffmeister's 5th Canadian Armoured Division ("The Mighty Maroon Machine")Oldfield, page 135 taking part in the Italian Campaign before being transferred to Europe and participating in the liberation of Holland. The 2nd Battalion, Westminster Regiment served in the reserve force stationed in Canada.Tripp, F.R.: Canada's Army in World War II, Badges and Histories of the Corps and Regiments, page 82. Unitrade Press, 1983.
At that time of mobilization the regiment consisted of Battalion HQ, A and B Companies in New Westminster, C Company in Mission and D Company in Chilliwack. The commanding officer was Lt Col C.J Loat, with Major "Little Joe" Sager as deputy commanding officer. Major Sager became CO at the end of 1939.Oldfield, page 5 On 27 May 1940, the unit deployed to Camp Dundurn Saskatchewan for additional training. Late in September 1940 the unit was deployed again, not overseas as they had hoped, but back to Vancouver for winter quarters at the then abandoned Hotel Vancouver.Oldfield, page 7
The Westminster Regiment (Motor) The unit was converted to a motor battalion and designated The Westminster Regiment (Motor) in early 1941. On 27 May 1941, the unit entrained at the CPR station in Vancouver for deployment to Camp Borden. At Borden the unit became part of the 1st Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division.Oldfield, page 9 The regiment sailed from Halifax on HMT Andes for Great Britain on 13 November 1941, exactly 26 years from the day that the 47th Battalion CEF had sailed for Europe from the same port.Oldfield, page 10 The unit disembarked in Liverpool on 24 November 1941.Oldfield, page 12
Great Britain The brigade and the division were both re-numbered on arrival and the Westminsters were now part of 5th Armoured Brigade of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division under command of Major General Burt Hoffmeister, based at Aldershot for more training. Subsequently, the unit was moved to Farnham, Hove, Pippingford Park, and Cranwich Camp Thetford, Norfolk.Oldfield, page 19
In March 1943 the Westminsters' commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sager, was promoted to brigadier and given command of 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Command of the battalion passed to Lieutenant Colonel R.L. Tindall, who had been recently second in command of the Perth Regiment.Oldfield, page 21
Deployment to Italy On 15 November 1943, the regiment sailed aboard RMS Samaria for Algiers.Oldfield, page 29 Next the unit was sent by rail to Phillipeville and immediately embarked on the HMT Cameronia for Naples, Italy where they joined the 8th Army.Oldfield, page 31 The regiment went into the line and engaged in combat first at the town of Guardiagrele, near Monte Mariella.Oldfield, page 43 The unit's first casualties were suffered on 22 January 1944, during patrolling on this static part of the front.Oldfield, page 45 After eight days on the line the unit was withdrawn to the Sangro River on the night of 25–26 January.Oldfield, page 48 The regiment returned to the line on 31 January, relieving the 1/9 Gurkhas at Sararola.Oldfield, page 49 During this action the Westminsters developed the tactic of sending out patrols by night to lay over behind enemy lines in a deserted house through the day, calling in artillery and mortar fire by radio and then returning to their own lines the following night.Oldfield, page 55
On 14 February 1944, Lt Col Gordon Corbould, a former Westie company commander and regimental 2IC, returned from his posting as second in command of the Irish Regiment of Canada to assume command of The Westminster Regiment. He would command the unit for the remainder of the war and through its hardest actions.Oldfield, page 54
Corbould Force On 1 March 1944, the regiment was relieved from the line by the Perth Regiment and sent for rest in Roatti.Oldfield, page 58 It was soon re-deployed as part of a battle group under Westminster CO Lt Col Corbould, known as "Corbould Force". The unit took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino, holding the line near the villages of Vallirontonda and Aquafondata, starting on 11 April 1944.Oldfield, page 62 The unit was relieved on 3 May 1944, and moved to a rest area at Pignataro.Oldfield, page 68
Battle of the Melfa River
On 11 May 1944, the attack on the Gustav Line and the Hitler Line commenced with the Westminsters and the 5th Armoured Division forming the exploitation force, hoping to break into the Liri Valley and the assault on Rome.Oldfield, page 69 The advance through the Liri valley included the Westminster's most famous action, the assault water crossing at the Melfa River. The Officer Commanding, "A" Company at the Battle of the Melfa River, Major Jack Mahony, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry and leadership under fire during that action fought in conjunction with the tanks of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). This action cemented a friendship between the two regiments that has endured since the Second World War.Oldfield, page 107
Gothic Line The entire division was relieved from the line on 30 May 1944, and carried out "rest and refit" duties near the villages of Baia and Latina.Oldfield, pages 102-3
By August 1944 the Anzio Bridgehead force had broken out, Rome had fallen and the advance to the Po River commenced.Oldfield, page 108 The Westies joined the fight on 6 August 1944, at Montefalco in the advance to the next German defensive position, the Gothic Line which the regiment engaged starting on 26 August.Oldfield, page 111 The unit was involved in the crossing of the Fogia River.Oldfield, page 113 and the Conca River.Oldfield, page 118 The unit completed the action on 5 September 1944.Oldfield, page 122
Coriano After a few days out of the line the regiment was thrown into the Battle for Coriano Ridge, starting on 13 September 1944. The regiment prevailed despite heavy shelling and losses, being relieved by the 4th British Division.Oldfield, page 123 The regiment was moved back for rest at the coastal town of Riccione on 14 September 1944Oldfield, page 125
San Mauro and the Rubicone River The regiment was soon back in action, following more training. They were assigned to pass over the Uso River bridgehead held by the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards and take the village of San Mauro. The attack commenced on 23 September 1944, with the bypassing of San Giustina, which had not been captured and was held by stiff German resistance. "A" Company and "B" Squadron of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) led the advance.Oldfield, page 127 The advance continued into the flat country under heavy fire to capture San Vito.Oldfield, page 129 On 25 September, the order was received to continue the advance and cross the Rubicone River, this time with the tanks of the Governor General's Horse Guards in support.Oldfield, page 132 The attack ran into thick minefields and heavy shelling, but no German infantry and regimental casualties were few.
Porter Force The Westminster Regiment was assigned to Porter Force on 10 November 1944. This ad hoc formation was intended to work with Popski's Private Army and Italian partisans in the forward area south of Ravenna. The mission was to hold the existing line, put pressure on the enemy and advance when the opportunity presented itself. Regimental HQ was in Vincoli with "A" and "B" Companies in San Stefano and "C" Company in Gambellara. The action consisted of extensive night patrolling and night advances to contact the enemy.Oldfield, page 136 The pressure forced the enemy back across the Uniti Canal and into San Pancrazio.Oldfield, page 139
The regiment advanced through patrol actions across the Ronco River to the Scolo Lama canal, where bitter German resistance was encountered.Oldfield, page 140 Consolidating the advances by 26 November 1944, the Westminster's held a line of , a very long front for a unit of this size in this type of warfare.Oldfield, page 143 The campaign to clear the Po River valley was severely hampered by the Italian climate and the rain at this time of year turned the flat valley into lakes and rivers.Oldfield, page 145
The Porter Force membership ended with over 40 German prisoners taken and many more casualties inflicted on the enemy.Oldfield, page 146
Adriatic battles The regiment was employed as part of the I Canadian Corps which was given the role in the winter of 1944 of assaulting over the Montone River, capturing Ravenna and the surrounding area, all with the aim of reducing pressure on the Fifth US Army operating near Bologna.Oldfield, page 147 The attack was commenced at 0800 hours on 2 December 1944, and the unit captured the town of San Pancrazio quickly.Oldfield, page 148