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The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess
Louise's), or ASH of C (PL), is a Highland infantry
unit of the Canadian Forces Army Reserve. The infantry
is the main fighting branch of the Canadian Forces,
and the backbone of the modern army. As an infantry
unit, our purpose is to "close with and destroy
the enemy". In more exact terms, we are the "first
ones in and the last ones out" in all combat engagements.
We make shit happen, and no other branch can match our
skill and experiendce in close combat. Infantry, HUAH!
Infantry
Or Light Infantry >>
In
the modern world, these terms are almost interchangeable.
Historically, the difference between the two is that
the infantry may draw upon mobile support during operations,
or act in conjunction with armour, whereas the light
infantry depends entirely upon itself, and more often
uses lighter weapons to engage the enemy. For example,
in some situations, the infantry can be mechanized or
airmobile, using lightly armoured vehicles or helicopters
in order to transport troops or attack an enemy position.
The Argylls are classified as an infantry regiment,
but certain operations (such as mountain operations),
demands that we assume a light infantry role. Either
way, the Argylls do it all!
Operations
And Training >>
Trained
to fight as combat troops as well as to function as
peacekeepers, the Argylls are capable of performing
a range of special operations. Such operations include,
but are not limited to, mountain, urban, airmobile,
amphibious operations, and domestic operations. In addition,
the Argylls are expected to operate in a range of extreme
environmental conditions including desert, jungle, and
winter conditions, as well as night-ops with the use
of night-vision and other optical systems.
As infanteers, we are expected to be competent in the
use of a broad range of weapons, tools, and equipment.
For example, we are trained in the use of side-arms,
such as the 9MM Browning and Sig Sauer semi-automatics,
the C7 and C8 assault rifles, the C9 light machine-gun,
the C6 medium machine-gun, the .50 Cal heavy machine-gun,
and a range of anti-armour weapons such as the M72 and
the Carl Gustav 84 rocket launchers. Soldiers are also
trained in the use of mortars, land-mines, grenades,
and other speciality weapons including the C3 sniper
rifle.
But
weapons are only a small portion of the tools we use.
All troops are trained in combat first-aid, CPR, and
wilderness survival tactics. In addition, Argylls receive
training in the use of night vision equipment, radio
and communications equipment, and learn to drive a variety
of soft-skinned vehicles such as the new MILCOTS, a
militarized version of the Chevy Silverado, and the
G-Wagon by Mercedes.
100%
Highlander Since 1903 >> And That's A Guarantee!
The
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (PL) has
been in operation since 1903, and we are the Canadian
daughter-regiment of the Scotland-based Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders of the British Army. We are also affiliated
with the Calgary Highlanders.
In 1793, George III wrote to John, 5th Duke of Argyll,
and tasked him to raise a kilted regiment of 1,100 men.
At the time, the Duke of Argyll was unwell, and passed
the task of raising the regiment to his kinsman, Duncan
Campbell, 8th Lochnell.
During
this period, 15 (of the 33) officers were Campbells,
and two others had married into the Campbell Clan. However,
the required number of NCOs and soldiers could not be
found in Argyllshire; and, as a result, much of the
regiment came from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Renfrew, and
Paisley, as well as a small number of Irish.
On
09 July 1794, the regiment was formally gazetted into
the British Army as the 98th Argyllshire Highlanders,
although it was renumbered to the 91st Highlanders in
October of 1798. On 05 May 1795, the regiment embarked
for South Africa and was taked with the responsibility
of capturing the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch.
The
91st remained in Cape Town, South Africa, for seven
years, and eventually returned to Britain in 1803 to
help patrol the southern counties against a possible
invasion by Napoleon. In 1808, the 91st, along with
five other Highland regiments, lost the right to wear
Highland dress. However, the regiment was permitted
the right to use the title The Argyllshire Regiment.
In
1864, Queen Victoria approved the regiment to revert
back to use its former title of the 91st Argyllshire
Highlanders. In 1871, the Queen's daughter, HRH Princess
Louise, married the Marquess of Lorne, who would become
the 9th Duke of Argyl, and the 91st provided the Guard
of Honour at the wedding. A year later, HRH Louise was
appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the unit, and the 91st
became known as the Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders,
with her coronet and cipher and the Argyll's Boar's
head and motto of Ne Obliviscaris added to their insignia.
Shortly
thereafter, the regiment moved its Headquarters to Stirling,
Scotland, and then went to Inverness for its first Scottish
tour of duty in 80 years.
93rd
Sutherland Highlanders >>
In
1881, the regiment became the 1st Battalion, joining
with the Sutherland Highlanders (of the 93rd Regiment).
It was then renamed the Princess Louise's Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders.
The
93rd Sutherland Highlanders was officially brought into
existence in 1799. Although the 93rd wore the same tartan
as the 91st Regiment, who called it a Campbell tartan,
the Sutherland Highlanders adamentaly referred to it
as the Sutherland tartan.
From
its inception, the 93rd Regiment was known as the most
characteristically Highland of all the Scottish regiments,
and it remained so to the day in 1948 when the use of
the 93rd name was suspended.
Like all good things Scottish, such as eating haggis,
the raising of the regiment was done on a dare -- at
least, that's how the story goes. No, that's not true.
Actually, the Argylls of Canada came about because the
Scottish residents of Hamilton desired to have a truely
Scottish and kilted regiment in area.
After
the Scottish residents (and those of Scottish descent)
of Hamilton raised the necessary funds, the regimented
was gazetted in 1903 as the 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders.
In
June 1905, the regiment became affiliated with the Argyll
and Sutherland Highlanders, adopting (except for the
cap badge) the full highland dress of the Stirling-based
parent regiment.
During
the First World War, the regiment acted as a recruiting
depot, providing men and officers for the 16th, 19th,
36th, 58th, 76th, 86th, 92nd, 120th, 173rd Highlanders
and the 205th battalions of the Canadian Expiditionary
Forces in Europe.
Today,
the regiment perpetuates the 19th and the 173rd Battallions,
and remains affiliated with the mother regiment in Stirling,
Scotland.
Argylls
and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada >> Regimental
Details >>
Headquarters:
Hamilton, Ontario
Facings: Yellow
Official Abbreviation: A & SH of C
Tartan: 42nd Regiment Black Watch, altough of a lighter
hue and smaller sett
Motto: Albainn Gu Brath (Scotland For Ever)
Regimental March: The Campbells are Coming
Order of Precedence: 33
Unofficial Nicknames: The Argylls and Those Sexy Kilted
Bastards!
Armourial
Description: Within a wreath of thistles on an outline
of a maple leaf, a leopard's head full face, on a wreath
an annulus incribed "Argyll and Sutherland Canada,"
the Crown superimposed at the top of the annulus, and
reflexed over and under the base of the annulus a scroll
bearing the motto "Albainn Gu Brath."
Regimental
Names >>
1903:
91st Highlanders
1904: 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders
1920: Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
of Canada
1927: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
(Princess Louise's)
1929: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
1936: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
(Princess Louise's) Machine Gun
1941: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
(PL)
Battle
Honours (34 Total) >>
WW1:
Mount Sorrel, Passchendaele, Somme 1916 and 1918, Amiens,
Flers-Courcelette, Scarpe 1989, Thiepval, Drocourt-Queant,
Ancre Heights, Hindenburg Line, Arras 1917 and 1918,
Hill 70, Pursuit to Mons, Ypres 1917, France and Flanders
1915-1918.
WWII:
Falaise, Kapelsche Veer, Falaise Road, The Rhineland,
St Lambert-su-Dives, The Hochwald, The Seine 1944, Veen,
Moerbrugge, Freisoythe, The Scheldt, Kusten Canal, Bresken
Pocket, Bad Zwischenahn, The Lower Maas, North-West
Europe 1944-1945.
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