Winnipeg Rifles RCF

[augustdieter]

Hi all,

I am in search of a soldier Winnipeg Rifles RCF. This unity was stationed probably in 1945 close to Aurich North Germany. If somebody has information about this unity.

regards Dieter

Edited September 8, 2006 by augustdieter

[Laurence Strong]

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles are a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. They are based at Minto Armouries in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles were formed in 1883 under command of Lt Col. William Nassau Kennedy. The regimental Latin motto is Hosti Acie Nominati, which means ?named by the enemy in battle?. After the Battle of Fish Creek during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, a captured M?tis asked, "The red coats we know, but who are those little black devils?" Infantry of the line usually wore red coats, while Rifle units wore dark green - almost black - coats.

Rifles regiments are full of history and traditions, one of which is a lack of colours. A regiment's colours is a flag that was used to show the location of each regiment in battle. Rifles regiments were essentially the first guerrilla soldiers, thus the dark green coats. They marched at 140 paces per minute (rather than the standard 120) to get a head of the infantry and disrupt the enemy. That said, a big flag is an impractical thing to have in battle if you are trying to disguise yourself. Instead Rifles carry their colours on their cap badge and drums (see below) which, for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, is a devil carrying a sceptre with a wreath bearing the battle honours.

One other fact of rifles regiments is that a trained private (one chevron) is refered to as a rifleman.

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles are fortunate enough to have a band on which the drums bear the battle honours. Just as the colours are considered sacred in other regiments, the drums are sacred in rifles regiments. They are so important that four infantrymen (called skirmishers) are tasked to protect them on parade. Skirmishers wear leather armour and carry special weapons: an axe, a pick, a hatchet and a halberd.

During World War II the Royal Winnipeg Rifles got the honour of being the first Allied troops on the beaches on D-Day. The Winnipeg Rifles, Regina Rifles and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada were the first to land to suppress German fire.

The regimental march of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles is "Old Solomon Levi" and the double quick march is "Keel Row".

Battle honours

Battle honours in CAPITALS are displayed on the cap badge

Pre-1914

FISH CREEK

NORTH WEST CANADA 1885

BATOCHE

SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900

World War I

YPRES 1915, 17

St. Julien

MOUNT SORREL

Flers ? Courcelette

Ancre Heights

ARRAS 1917-1918

Arleux

PASSCHENDAELE

Scarpe 1917-1918

Hindenburg Line

Cambrai 1918

FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915, 18

Gravenstafel

FESTUBERT 1915

SOMME 1916-1918

Thiepval

Ancre 1916

Vimy 1917

HILL 70

AMIENS

DROCOURT ? QUEANT

CANAL DU NORD

VALENCIENNES

World War II

NORMANDY LANDING

Caen

The Orne

FALAISE

The Seine

THE SCHELDT

Breskens Pocket

Waal Flats

THE RHINE

Deventer

Putot-en-bessin

Carpiquet

Bourquebus Ridge

The Laison

CALAIS 1944

LEOPOLD CANAL

The Rhineland

MOYLAND WOOD

Emmerich-Hoch Elten

NORTH WEST EUROPE 1944-1945

Order of precedence

Preceded by:

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa The Royal Winnipeg Rifles Succeeded by:

Followed by:

The Essex and Kent Scottish

Here's another interesting point about the Winnipeg Rifles:

Winnipeg was the name given to the Black Bear cub that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A. A. Milne. Winnipeg, a real bear, was bought for $10 by Captain Harry Colebourn during World War I and named after Colebourn's home city of Winnipeg. The bear, also known as Winnie, was originally from White River, Ontario, but was taken to England as his troop's mascot. Before leaving for France, Captain Colebourn left Winnie at London Zoo where she was seen by A. A. Milne's son Christopher Robin, who named his own stuffed bear Winnie.

The story of Winnie the bear has been portrayed in the 2004 movie, A Bear Called Winnie starring Michael Fassbender as Harry Colebourn. A statue of Winnie and Captain Colebourn stands in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg.

Hope this helps somewhat

Edited September 8, 2006 by Laurence Strong