Алгонкинский полк: История и преобразования канадского резерва

The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers) is a primary reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army comprising two companies. A Company is located in North Bay, Ontario, and B Company is located in Timmins, Ontario. The regiment falls under the command of the 4th Canadian Division's 33 Canadian Brigade Group.

Originated 1 July 1900 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario as the 97th Regiment of Rifles. Sub units were located in Thessalon, Sudbury and Sturgeon Falls. Redesignated 1 June 1903 as the 97th Regiment (Algonquin Rifles). Redesignated 1 May 1920 as The Algonquin Rifles. Redesignated 15 February 1929 as The Algonquin Regiment. 15 December 1936, "B", "C" and "D" Companies amalgamated with The Northern Pioneers, retaining the same regimental designation. At the same time, the "Headquarters"' and "A" Companies were amalgamated with The Sault Ste. Marie Regiment to become The Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Regiment (MG) (currently the 49th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA). Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Algonquin Regiment. Redesignated 15 February 1946 as The Algonquin Regiment. 1 October 1954 converted to armour and redesignated as The Algonquin Regiment (26th Armoured Regiment). Redesignated 19 May 1958 as The Algonquin Regiment (RCAC). 19 March 1965, converted to infantry and redesignated The Algonquin Regiment.

Originated 1 September 1903 in Parry Sound, Ontario as the 23rd Regiment, The Northern Fusiliers. Redesignated 1 January 1904 as the 23rd Regiment "The Northern Pioneers". Redesignated 1 May 1920 as The Northern Pioneers. Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with The Algonquin Regiment.

The regiment mobilized as The Algonquin Regiment, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Algonquin Regiment, CASF on 7 November 1940. The battalion initially served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division and in Newfoundland from 7 February 1942 to 6 February 1943. It embarked for Great Britain on 11 June 1943 and landed in France on 25 July 1944, as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th
Canadian Armoured Division, and continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 15 February 1946.

On 4 May 1951, the regiment mobilized two temporary Active Force companies, designated "E" and "F" Companies. "E" Company was reduced to nil strength when its personnel were absorbed into the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (later the 3rd Battalion, The Canadian Guards) for service in Germany with NATO. It disbanded on 29 July 1953. "F" Company was initially used as a reinforcement pool for "E" Company. On 15 May 1952, it was reduced to nil strength when its personnel were absorbed by the newly formed 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (later the 4th Battalion, The Canadian Guards) for service in Korea with the United Nations. "F" Company disbanded on 29 July 1953.

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.

The 97th Regiment (Algonquin Rifles) recruited to its full active strength and supplied 12 officers and 251 other ranks to the 15th Battalion, CEF. Captain E. F. Armstrong began recruiting in Nipissing and Sudbury in late 1915 resulting in the formation of the 159th (First Algonquins) Battalion. The battalion was mobilized on 5 July 1916, trained at Camp Borden in Angus, Ontario, during that summer and fall of 1916, and embarked for England on 1 November 1916, with a strength of 1,004 men. The battalion remained intact until 20 January 1917, when it was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion and used to reinforce units already in France and Flanders. As a result of not having enough men at any particular battle, the unit received only the general "Great War 1916–1917" battle honour.

Following the end of the war the 159th (First Algonquins), 228th (Northern Fusiliers) and 256th (Toronto) were perpetuated in the Algonquin Rifles. In 1929, the unit was renamed The Algonquin Regiment. The regiment decided to keep the bull moose symbol of the 97th Regiment (Algonquin Rifles) on a redesigned cap badge. In 1936, "A" Company in Sudbury was removed from the regiment and amalgamated with The Sault Ste. Marie Regiment to become the Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Regiment (MG), and The Northern Pioneers were amalgamated into The Algonquin Regiment.

When war broke out the Algonquin Regiment was only 250 men strong. Recruitment and training soon became their primary concern. The regiment recruited from an area extending from Bracebridge and Parry Sound to the south and Timmins and Cochrane to the north. It was not until 22 July 1940, that the regiment went into active service. On 4 September 1940, the first battalion loaded up, the Algonquin Regiment (Active Force), and arrived at Camp Borden three days later. August 9, 1944, the regiment, supporting BCR (British Columbia Regiment), jointly forming 'Worthington Force' were tasked with taking Hill 195, taking an unfortunate wrong turn at 02:00 hours they ended up four miles east of Hill 195, closer to Hill 140, deep in German territory. The regiment suffered heavy losses with total casualties of 128 men and 47 tanks. The leader of the force, BCR commander Lt. Col Don Worthington, was killed and the Algonquins' commander, Lt. Col. Art Hay, was seriously wounded. R. S. M. A. J. Primeau was killed by the same mortar bomb that seriously wounded Hay The period from August 31 to September 8 was a period of rapid movement into Belgium, halted on the eighth at the Ghent–Brugge Canal. Fighting, all day and suffering multiple setbacks resulting in numerous casualties across all the regiments, ended September 10 with the Allies across the Ghent–Brugge Canal after holding back the German counterattacks. A few days later the attempt of the regiment to cross the Leopold Canal was successfully repelled at Moerkerke by the German 245 Infantry Division. The Canadians pulled back after a tremendous covering artillery barrage. The regiment continued with the Fourth Division north out of Belgium into the Netherlands in a progression of battles for the north shore of the Scheldt area eventually leading to the liberation of Welberg and Steenbergen. The operation to liberate Welberg was initiated on October 31, 1944, however with "D" Company resting, all "A", "B" and "C" Companies fell short of their objectives facing massive German counterattacks. Fighting continued on until November 1 when the regiment retreated back to a few km outside of Welberg. On November 2 they launched their second attack, this time along the right side of the town, fighting continued throughout the night. By the end of November 3 all four companies had reached their target objectives and succeeded in the liberation of Welberg. From November 5 to 8 the Algonquin Regiment rested in the Steenbergen area, the period proceeding became known as the "winter war" (November 1944–February 1945). Leading into Operation Blockbuster, this dislodgment of the German hinge in Hochwald on February 27, fighting to close the Hochwald gap began by midday of March 3, 1945, the allies had completed their objectives. Over the next couple of months, the Algonquin Regiment continued to fight, as they had been the entire war, under the Cnd Fourth Division crossing the Rhine with the last round up (April 16–May 4) and cease fire called just past Rastede Germany. As of January 1946, the Algonquin Regiment's final death toll was 65 officers and 1235 other soldiers.

On 23 June 2016, the regiment's name was changed to The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers).

Regimental Headquarters (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
No. 1 Company (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) (formerly No. 6 Company, 96th District of Algoma Battalion of Rifles first raised on 27, January, 1865, as the Volunteer Rifle Company of Sault St. Marie)
No. 2 Company (Sudbury, Ontario) (first raised on 24 August 1896, as the Sudbury Rifle Company)
No. 3 Company (Thessalon, Ontario) (first raised on 1 July 1899, as the Thessalon Rifle Company)
No. 4 Company (Sturgeon Falls)

Freedom of the city was exercised by The Algonquin Regiment in Timmins, Ontario, on September 22, 2012, and on September 22, 1977.

I’ve Had Good Innings by Paul A. Mayer, OBE, GM, CD. Renfrew, ON: General House Publishing (autobiography of Paul Mayer who served in The Algonquin Regiment during World War Two). Sons of the Pioneers: Memories of Veterans of the Algonquin Regiment by John Macfie. Parry Sound, ON: The Hay Press, 2001
Warpath : The Story of the Algonquin Regiment 1939–1945 by G. L. Cassidy, Cobalt ON: Highway Book Shop (1990)

"Molly" by Honorary Chaplain Edward H. Capp, published in Ottawa by Orme & Son, circa 1906 was dedicated to the 97th Regiment, Canada (Algonquin rifles). First line: "Hear the tramp of soldiers marching" Chorus: "One kiss, Molly e'er I go"