Les Voltigeurs de Québec
| Les Voltigeurs de Québec | |
|---|---|
The cap badge of Les Voltigeurs de Québec
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| Active | 7 March 1862–present |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of | 35 Canadian Brigade Group |
| Garrison/HQ |
Quebec City Armoury 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue, Quebec (regimental HQ has temporarily been moved to 835 Pierre-Bertrand Boulevard since the 2008 fire) |
| Motto(s) |
Force à superbe mercy à foible (Violence to the strong, mercy to the weak) |
| Colors | None (rifle regiments have no colours) |
| March | "Les Voltigeurs de Québec" |
| Engagements | See #Battle honours |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Chouinard |
| Honorary colonel | Marcel Jobin |
| Honorary lieutenant colonel | Marc-André Bélanger |
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| Location | Grande-Allée Armoury, 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, Quebec, Quebec G1R 2L3Canada |
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| Type | Regimental Museum |
| Website | [1] |
Les Voltigeurs de Québec is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The name of the regiment commemorates another older French-speaking Canadian militia light infantry unit, the Canadian Voltigeurs (raised in 1812 and disbanded in 1815). The founder of the Canadian Voltigeurs, lieutenant-colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, was the father of the two men who raised Les Voltigeurs de Québec. The regiment was formed in March 1862, with its headquarters in Quebec City, by the amalgamation into a regiment of eight independent Volunteer Militia Rifle companies. The first of these companies was originally raised in December 1861. Between 1862 and 1867 these companies were frequently disbanded, reformed and renumbered. In 1942 it provided an armoured regiment.
The regiment has provided soldiers for service with the United Nations and NATO in places like the Golan Heights, Cyprus, the former Yugoslavia, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Haiti.
The arms of Salaberry within an annulus Vert fimbriated and inscribed VOLTIGEURS DE QUEBEC in letters Argent, all surmounting the cross of the Order of St. Louis Argent, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and above a scroll Argent inscribed with the Motto in letters Gules.
The Crown represents service to the Sovereign. The Voltigeurs Canadiens (1812-1815), who were organized as a temporary British Army regular unit and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry for service during the War of 1812, had the reputation of repeatedly repulsing superior American forces. His son, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles René-Léonidas de Salaberry, was the first commanding officer of the regiment when it was formed in 1862. The badge, incorporating the arms and motto "FORCE À SUPERBE MERCY À FOIBLE"" of the family of d'Irumberry de Salaberry, was adopted in 1892 in recognition of this family's services to the military of Canada and the regiment. The Order of Saint Louis, instituted by King Louis XIV of France in 1693, was a notable honour in New France. "VOLTIGEURS DE QUEBEC" is a form of the regimental title.
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Wikipedia