PEIR Historical

The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)

A Historic Summary

The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) can trace it's roots through cavalry, infantry, artillery and engineer volunteers and militia units dating back to the French Colonial days. It was these units that helped create the 82nd Queens's County Battalion of Infantry on 25 June 1875. Three batteries of Garrison Artillery were also formed in 1875, which were then amalgamated in 1882 to become the 4th PEI Regiment, Garrison Artillery.

At the turn of the century, the 82nd and the 4th Regiment, as well as the Charlottetown Engineer Company raised and supplied volunteers for the Boer War. The Charlottetown Engineer Company would later be absorbed into the 4th Regiment.

World War I

On 1 June, 1901, "L" Squadron, PEI Rifles was formed. By 1914, "L" Squadron became the 36th PEI Light Horse and they supplied many volunteers to the 5th and 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF.

The 4th Regiment Garrison Artillery was redesignated the PEI Heavy Brigade Canadian Garrison Arillery prior to WW I.

In 1914, all three units were already providing volunteers for the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe. The PEI Heavy Brigade mobilized the 2nd and 8th Siege Batteries, who served overseas. The 82nd recruited the 105th Battalion (PEI Highlanders) in 1915-16 for overseas.

In 1920, the 36th PEI Light Horse were Redesignated the PEI Light Horse. In 1929, they became affiliated with the 9th Lancers, who later became the 9th/12th Lancers, of the British Army. By 1927, the 82nd had become known as the PEI Highlanders, and in 1931 they became affiliated with the Black Watch RHR of the British Army. The PEIR still maintains Regimental Affiliations with these two British Army Units today. (The British Army is again restructuring, and these Units are once again being amalgamated, or merged, into new units.)

World War II

The PEI Highlanders mobilized, serving in Nova Scotia and then in Newfoundland until 1943. During this time they supplied a full company to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, as well as volunteer drafts to the West Nova Scotia Regiment and other units. Many officers were supplied to other Canadian Units and to British Units as Can Loan Officers. They were brought back up to strength in 1943 and, after serving in British Columbia for a time, were sent overseas to England.

In 1941, the PEI Light Horse mobilized a squadron and they fought with the 2nd Cdn corps in North-West Europe. During the war the Light Horse maintained a Reserve Regiment on the Island, which served as the local Island Garrison, reaching the strength of 7 Squadrons.

The PEI Heavy Brigade was redesignated the 1st PEI Medium Brigade, Canadian Artillery by the outbreak of WW II. They mobilized the 2nd and 8th Medium Batteries. The 2nd served in Italy and North-West Europe. The 8th became the 8th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery and served in North-West Europe.

Post World War II

In 1946, the PEI Highlanders and the PEI Light Horse amalgamated to form the 17th (PEI) Reconnaissance Regiment. In the same year, the 1st PEI Medium Brigade became the 28th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. In 1955, they were all amalgamated into the "17th Recce".

On 19 May 1958, the Regiment recieved it's present designation: "The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)".

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