The 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment), CEF was authorized on 1 September 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 27 and 29 September 1914. It disembarked in France on 15 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.[1]
The 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF was authorized on 21 October 1914 as the 23rd Battalion, CEF, and embarked for Great Britain on 23 February 1915 where it was redesignated as the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF on 18 April 1915 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.[1]
The Great War distinguishing patch of the 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment), CEF.
The Second World War
The regiment mobilized as The Royal Montreal Regiment (Machine Gun), CASF for active service on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated 1st Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment (Machine Gun), CASF on 7 November 1940. The regiment converted
to armour on 25 January 1943 and was redesignated the 32nd Reconnaissance Regiment (Royal Montreal Regiment), CAC, CASF. It was reconverted back to infantry on 12 April 1944 and redesignated as the First Army Headquarters Defence Company (Royal Montreal Regiment), CASF, and on 5 April 1945 as the First Canadian Army Headquarters Defence Battalion (Royal Montreal
Regiment), CASF.[1]
The Royal Montreal Regiment (Machine Gun) embarked for the Great Britain on 7 December 1939. On 28 July 1944, the First Army Headquarters Defence Company (Royal Montreal Regiment), CASF, landed in France as a unit of First Canadian Army Troops, and it continued to serve in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 30 September 1945.[1]
On 24 May 1944, a sub-unit of the regiment, designated as the No. 9 Defence and Employment Platoon (Royal Montreal Regiment), CIC, CASF, was mobilized in England. On 27 June 1944, it landed in France as a unit of First Canadian Army Troops, and it continued to serve in North West Europe until the end of the war. This overseas platoon disbanded on 16 October 1945.[1]
On 1 June 1945, a second Active Force component of the regiment mobilized for service in the Pacific theatre of operations as the 6th Canadian Infantry Division Reconnaissance Troop (The Royal Montreal Regiment), CAC, CASF. It was redesignated the 6th Canadian Infantry 2-2-262 Division Reconnaissance Troop (The Royal Montreal Regiment), RCAC, CASF on 2 August 1945. The
The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.[3]
In the list below, battle honours in small capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase were granted for more specific battles. Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colour.[1]
The regimental colour of The Royal Montreal Regiment.
Argent an autumnal maple leaf proper inscribed ROYAL MONTREAL REGT in letters Or within a belt Azure edged, buckled and inscribed HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE in letters Or ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and set above a scroll Azure edged and inscribed CANADA in letters Or
The maple leaf and scroll bearing the word “CANADA” represent service to Canada, and the Crown, service to the Sovereign. The belt, with motto, is the insignia of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. “ROYAL MONTREAL REGT” is a form of the regimental title and “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” is the motto of the regiment.
Housing The Royal Montreal Regiment, this two-storey, red brick building in a residential neighbourhood is set in landscaped grounds planted with mature trees.
Regimental Museum in Saint Catherine Street, Westmount
The mission of the museum is to collect, preserve, research and photograph material relating to the history of the Royal Montreal Regiment, its former members and its site, and, through the appropriate display of such items, to convey this history to the currently serving members, the broader Canadian Forces community and the public. The museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN, OMMC and Virtual Museum of Canada.
Media
The Royal Montreal Regiment 1925-1945 by R. C. Fetherstonhaugh (1949)
The Royal Montreal Regiment 14th Battalion C. E. F. 1914-1925 by R. C. Fetherstonhaugh (1927)
