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The Creation of the Commemorative Theatre Honour and Honorary Distinction

"DEFENCE OF CANADA - 1812-1815 - DÉFENSE DU CANADA"

14 September 2012

Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec

As part of the Government of Canada’s commemoration of the War of 1812, on September 14, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the creation of an emblazonable Theatre Honour and a non-emblazonable Honorary Distinction, both entitled “DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA”. These new unit honours will be awarded to historical Canadian colonial units which saw active service during the War of 1812. In turn, these units will be perpetuated by current serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) units.

The Theatre Honour and the Honorary Distinction “DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA” were created to recognize the contribution of historical units to the success of the War of 1812. They also serve to recognize their contribution to the foundation of Canada and the modern military forces in this country. The Theatre Honour is awarded to units who participated in a successful engagement against an armed enemy, whereas the Honorary Distinction is awarded to units who participated in other active service, such as garrison duties, or being held in reserve but have not been successfully engaged with the enemy.

For the purpose of the War of 1812 commemoration, the newly created Theatre Honour can be emblazoned or embroidered onto perpetuating unit Colours, Guidons, or Standards in the traditional battle honour scroll format. The Honorary Distinction is non-emblazonable and cannot be embroidered onto perpetuating unit Colors, Guidons, or Standards. It may, however, be placed on unit accoutrements such as letterhead, drum major’s sashes, drums and websites. In the latter case, there is no associated symbol or image to the Honorary Distinction and will be displayed in full, italicized text, as “DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA”.

In accordance with CAF traditions and unit honours policy, historical Canadian militia units which are awarded these new honours can be perpetuated by current CAF units. Other current units have been awarded the new honours directly to commemorate the service of Fencible regiments of the British Army that were recruited in North America. As such, to date the Chief of the Defence Staff has approved awards and the perpetuations listed below:

The Emblazonable Theatre Honour “DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA” to be emblazoned on regimental colours

Historic Unit Awarded the Theatre Honour	Selection of Successful Engagements in which the Historic Unit Participated	Current Unit Inheriting the Theatre Honour through Perpetuation
5^th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia	Châteauguay (1813)	The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
1^st Militia Light Infantry Battalion	Châteauguay (1813)	The Canadian Grenadier Guards
2^nd Battalion, Select Embodied Militia	Châteauguay (1813)	The Canadian Grenadier Guards
4^th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia	Châteauguay (1813)	Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent
Longue-Pointe Division (1812-15)	Plattsburgh (1813)	Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
1^st Battalion, Select Embodied Militia	Châteauguay (1813)	Le Régiment de la Chaudière
Les Chasseurs	Châteauguay (1813)	Royal 22^e Régiment
Beauharnois Division (1812-15)	Châteauguay (1813)	Royal 22^e Régiment
Boucherville Division (1812-15)	Châteauguay (1813)	Royal 22^e Régiment
Canadian Light Dragoons	Beaver Dams (1813); Fort Schlosser (July 1813)	The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
Frontier Light Infantry	Lacolle Mills (1814)	The Sherbrooke Hussars
Provincial Corps of Light Infantry (Canadian Voltigeurs)	Châteauguay (1813); Crysler’s Farm (1813)	Les Voltigeurs de Québec
3^rd Battalion, Select Embodied Militia	Châteauguay (1813)	Not currently perpetuated
The Provincial Artillery Company	Stoney Creek (1813)	56^th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers (The Car Brigade)	Queenston (1812); Niagara (1814)	56^th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
1^st Regiment of Norfolk Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Niagara (1814)	56^th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
2^nd Regiment of Norfolk Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Niagara (1814)	56^th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada	Niagara (1814)	The Brockville Rifles The Lincoln and Welland Regiment The Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment The Queen’s York Rangers (1^st American Regiment) (RCAC)
1^st Regiment of Leeds Militia (1812-15)	Ogdensburg (1813)	The Brockville Rifles
The Loyal Kent Volunteers (Kent Rangers)	Niagara (1814)	The Essex and Kent Scottish
The Western Rangers (Caldwell’s Rangers)	Maumee (1813); Niagara (1814)	The Essex and Kent Scottish
1^st Regiment of Essex Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Maumee (1813); Niagara (1814)	The Essex and Kent Scottish
2^nd Regiment of Essex Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Maumee (1813); Niagara (1814)	The Essex and Kent Scottish
1^st Regiment of Kent Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Maumee (1813)	The Essex and Kent Scottish
The Coloured Corps (Captain Runchey’s Company of Coloured Men)	Queenston (1812)	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
1^st Regiment of Lincoln Militia (1812-15)	Queenston (1812); Niagara (1814)	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
2^nd Regiment of Lincoln Militia (1812-15)	Queenston (1812); Niagara (1813-14)	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
3^rd Regiment of Lincoln Militia (1812-15)	Queenston (1812)	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
4^th Regiment of Lincoln Militia (1812-15)	Queenston (1812); Niagara (1814)	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
5^th Regiment of Lincoln Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Queenston (1812); Niagara (1814)	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
1^st Regiment of York Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Queenston (1812)	The Queen’s York Rangers (1^st American Regiment) (RCAC)
3^rd Regiment of York Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Queenston (1812)	The Queen’s York Rangers (1^st American Regiment) (RCAC)
1^st Regiment of Middlesex Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Niagara (1814)	The Royal Canadian Regiment
1^st Regiment of Oxford Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812)	The Royal Canadian Regiment
2^nd Regiment of York Militia (1812-15)	Detroit (1812); Queenston (1812); Niagara (1814)	The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
1^st Regiment of Dundas Militia (1812-15)	Crysler’s Farm (1813)	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
1^st Regiment of Glengarry Militia (1812-15)	Ogdensburg (1813)	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
2^nd Regiment of Glengarry Militia (1812-15)	Ogdensburg (1813)	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
1^st Regiment of Stormont Militia (1812-15)	Ogdensburg (1813)	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
Captain Fraser’s Troop of Provincial Light Dragoons	Crysler’s Farm (1813)	Not currently perpetuated
Niagara Provincial Light Dragoons (Niagara Frontier Guides)	Niagara (1814)	Not currently perpetuated
1^st Regiment of Grenville Militia (1812-15)	Ogdensburg (1813)	Not currently perpetuated
2^nd Regiment of Grenville Militia (1812-15)	Ogdensburg (1813)	Not currently perpetuated

In addition, the current serving The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment and the 1^st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment will also receive the Theatre Honour to commemorate the service of the 104^th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot. Likewise, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment will also receive the Theatre Honour to commemorate the service of the Royal Newfoundland Fencible Infantry, as will the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders to commemorate the service of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles and the Royal 22^e Régiment to commemorate the service of the Canadian Fencible Infantry.

The Non-Emblazonable Honorary Distinction “DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA”

Historic Units	Perpetuating Unit
1^st Battalion, Shelburne Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, Shelburne Regiment (1812-15) 3^rd Battalion, Shelburne Regiment (1812-15) 4^th Battalion, Shelburne Regiment (1812-15)	84^th Independent Field Battery, RCA
1^st Battalion, County of Sydney Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, County of Sydney Regiment (1812-15) 1^st Battalion, Cumberland Regiment (1812-15) Parrsborough Corps (1812-15)	1^st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders
1^st Battalion, East Annapolis Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, East Annapolis Regiment (1812-15) 1^st Battalion, King’s County Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, King’s County Regiment (1812-15) 1^st Battalion, West Annapolis Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, West Annapolis Regiment (1812-15)	The West Nova Scotia Regiment
1^st Battalion, Charlotte County Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, Charlotte County Regiment (1812-15)	3^rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
1^st Battalion, Westmorland County Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, Westmorland County Regiment (1812-15)	8^th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s)
1^st Battalion, Northumberland County Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, Northumberland County Regiment (1812-15) 3^rd Battalion, Northumberland County Regiment (1812-15) 1^st Battalion, Saint John County Regiment (1812-15) 1^st Battalion, York County Regiment (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion, York County Regiment (1812-15)	The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment and 1^st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
Corps of Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers Royal Militia Artillery	2^nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
8^th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia Trois-Rivières Division (1812-15)	12^e Régiment blindé du Canada
Corps of Canadian Voyageurs Montreal Incorporated Volunteers Montreal Militia Battalion Provincial Commissariat Voyageurs 1^stBattalion (City of Montreal) “British Militia” (1812-15)	The Canadian Grenadier Guards
2^nd Militia Light Infantry Battalion Canadian Chasseurs	Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent
2^nd Battalion (City of Montreal) (1812-15) 3^rd Battalion (City of Montreal) (1812-15) Pointe-Claire Division (1812-15)	Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Dorchester Provincial Light Dragoons 1^stLotbinière Division (1812-15)	Le Régiment de la Chaudière
7^th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia Beloeil Division (1812-15) Chambly Division (1812-15) Isle Jésus Division (1812-15) St. Denis Division (1812-15) St. Hyacinthe Division (1812-15) St. Ours Division (1812-15) Verchères Division (1812-15)	Royal 22^e Régiment
Company of Guides Royal Montreal Troop of Volunteer Cavalry Argenteuil Division (1812-15) Vaudreuil Division (1812-15)	The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
1^st Battalion, Eastern Townships District (1812-15) 4^th Battalion, Eastern Townships District (1812-15)	The Sherbrooke Hussars
6^th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia 1^st Battalion (City of Quebec) (1812-15) 2^nd Battalion (City of Quebec) (1812-15) Beauport Division (1812-15)	Les Voltigeurs de Québec
Quebec Light Cavalry Quebec Volunteers 3^rd Battalion (City of Quebec) “British Militia” (1812-15) L’Acadie Division (1812-15) L’Assomption Division (1812-15) Berthier Division (1812-15) Blainville Division (1812-15) Isle d’Orléans Division (1812-15) Lavaltrie Division (1812-15) Rivière du Chêne Division (1812-15) Terrebonne Division (1812-15) Yamaska Division (1812-15)	Not currently perpetuated
The Incorporated Artillery Company	7^th Toronto Regiment, RCA
Provincial Corps of Artificers	31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin’s)
2^nd Regiment of Leeds Militia (1812-15)	The Brockville Rifles
The Loyal Essex Volunteers (Essex Rangers)	The Essex and Kent Scottish
1^st Regiment of Durham Militia (1812-15) 1^st Regiment of Hastings Militia (1812-15) 1^st Regiment of Northumberland Militia (1812-15) 1^st Regiment of Prince Edward Militia (1812-15)	The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
1^st Regiment of Addington Militia (1812-15) 1^st Regiment of Frontenac Militia (1812-15) 1^st Regiment of Lennox Militia (1812-15)	The Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment
The Loyal London Volunteers	The Royal Canadian Regiment
1^st Regiment of Prescott Militia (1812-15)	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
Captain Adam’s Troop of Provincial Light Dragoons	Not currently perpetuated

In addition, the current serving The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) will also receive the Honorary Distinction to commemorate the service of the Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry. The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment and the 1^st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment, will also receive the Honorary Distinction to commemorate the service of the New Brunswick Fencibles.

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