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The West Nova Scotia Regiment
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The West Nova Scotia Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces, twenty fourth in the order of precedence. It has seen active service in both the Great War and World War II. The Regiment recuiuts volunteers from all over the province of Nova Scotia and its headquarters is located at LFAATC Aldershot, near the community of Aldershot, Nova Scotia.
Early History
The regiment was formed in 1936 by a merger of the 69th (Annapolis) Regiment, formed in 1717, and the 75th (Lunenburg) Regiment, formed in 1870. Both of these descend from the 40th Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales Volunteers), raised in 1717 at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. [1]
It also combines the 112th and 219th Battalions of Infantry of the World War I Canadian Expeditionary Force. It can claim to be one of the oldest elements of the Canadian Armed Forces. [2]
World War II
The regiment was mobilised for service immediately at the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. It had however virtually no equipment or transport, and though numerous volunteers rallied to its colours, it was some time before it was an effective fighting unit. Although the regiment soon transferred to Gourock in Scotland and then to Aldershot in England, it did not see active service until the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 , Operation Husky. [3]
It was then involved in the battle for Italy for most of the rest of the war, until February 9, 1945, when they received orders informing them that the 1st Canadian Corps would be transferred from Italy to Northwest Europe. The Regiment moved to Marseilles, France, by sea and arrived in Holland where they remained until the German surrender on May 5, 1945. [4]
Post War
The regiment has not been on active service since the Second World War, though units of it have served in United Nations peacekeeping forces, in countries such as the former Yugoslavia, Cyprus and the Middle East. [5]
Battle Honours
Great War
Arras, 1917, '18
Amiens
Hill 70
Hindenburg Line
Ypres, 1917
Pursuit to Mons
World War II
Landing in Sicili
Gustav Line
Valguarnera
Liri Valley
Adrano
Hitler Line
Catenanuova
Melfa Crossing
Centuripe
Gothic Line
Sicily, 1943
Lamone Crossing
Landing at Reggio
Rimini Line
Potenza
San Martino-San Lorenzo
Ganbatesa
San Fortunato
The Sangro
Savio Bridgehead
Castel di Sangro
Italy 1943-1945
The Gully
Apeldoorn
Cassino II
North-West Europe 1945
Alliances
External links
References
Order of precedence
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