Active 1910–present Role infantry Headquarters Sherbrooke Branch Canadian Army | Country Canada Garrison/HQ Sherbrooke, Quebec Founded 1 April 1910 Part of 35 Canadian Brigade Group | |
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Type Primary Reserve infantry Size Two companies and one regimental band Motto Droit au but (To the point) Similar Les Fusiliers Mont‑Royal, Canadian Army, Sherbrooke Hussars, Régiment de la Chaudière, The North Nova Scotia Hi | ||
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, with a sub-unit in Granby.
Contents
Badge
A grenade with the Crown superimposed upon the ball within an annulet inscribed Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke, surmounted by a beaver and super-imposed upon a maple leaf; the whole resting on a scroll inscribed Droit au but.
Lineage
Common point of confusion
Early in World War II the Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment, was formed with men from Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke and The Sherbrooke Regiment. Shortly after establishment, the spelling was changed to "Fusilier", as in Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment. This singular form of the name is on the cap badge and shoulder title. Its Royal Canadian Armoured Corps lineage, battle honours and armoured traditions are perpetuated by The Sherbrooke Hussars through The Sherbrooke Regiment. Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke is an infantry regiment and shares the battle honours.
Further evidence of the singular form of the regimental name is found on the metal cap badge, which consists of a flaming grenade and a banner with the motto, "DROIT AU BUT" in French. The motto and the bomb were borrowed from Les Fusilier de Sherbrooke. In the centre is a horse's head surrounded by the words "SHERBROOKE FUSILIER REGIMENT". The horse was found on the family coat of arms of Sir John Cope Sherbrooke, namesake of the home city.
The official Canadian Forces names must not be translated haphazardly. After GO 42/41 and GO 62/41, the name 'Fusiliers' changed from the plural to the singular 'Fusilier' form. Therefore, only during 1940 was the regimental name plural. The foregoing as copied from official Department of National Defence references (A-DH-267-000/AF-003, page 2-2-67) accessed 21 Jun 14:
The Great War
The Great War
Details of the 54th Regiment "Carabiniers de Sherbrooke" were called out on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.
The 163rd Battalion (French-Canadian), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Bermuda on 26 May 1916 for garrison duty. It sailed from Canada for Great Britain on 27 November 1916 where it was absorbed by the 10th Reserve Battalion, CEF, on 8 January 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1917.
The Second World War
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke, in conjunction with The Sherbrooke Regiment (Machine Gun) (now The Sherbrooke Hussars), mobilized The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment, CASF on 7 November 1940 and as the 1st Battalion, The Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment, CASF on 15 November 1940. The 1st Battalion was converted to an armoured regiment on 26 January 1942 and designated as the 27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), CAC, CASF. It was redesignated as the 27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), RCAC, CASF on 2 August 1945. The regiment served in Newfoundland on garrison duty from 13 August 1941 to 15 February 1942, and embarked for Great Britain on 27 October 1942. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France as part the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas regiment was disbanded on 15 February 1946.
The regiment subsequently mobilized the 1st Battalion, Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke, CASF' for active service on 18 March 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 15th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division and the 14th Infantry Brigade, 6th Canadian Division. On 10 January 1945, it embarked for Great Britain, where it was disbanded for reinforcements on 18 January 1945.
Afghanistan
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.
Battle honours
In the list below, battle honours in small capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles. Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colour.
Notable personalities
Canada's leading tank ace Maj. (later Brig.-Gen.) S.V. Radley-Walters served as the Officer Commanding C Squadron of the 27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), RCAC, CASF. He would later serve as the first Commanding Officer of the Regular Army 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's), the Commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School, Commander of 2 Combat Group at CFB Petawawa and Commander of the Combat Training Centre, Gagetown, NB.
Alliances
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke Regimental Museum
The museum promotes the military history of Sherbrooke and the military history of Canada. The museum exhibits materials that relate to the regiment`s history, from its inception to the present. The museum collects, preserves, and shows, documents, artifacts and photos which illustrate the military life of other regiments and units.