The Princess Louise Fusiliers (PLF) | |
---|---|
Active | 1867 - Present |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Army |
Type | Primary Reserve Light Infantry Regiment |
Role | Light Infantry Battalion |
Garrison/HQ | Halifax Armoury |
Motto(s) | Fideliter (Faithfully) |
Colours | Green, Gold, Burgundy |
March | The British Grenadiers |
Commanders | |
Colonel-in-Chief | HRH the Duke of York |
Colonel of the Regiment |
Col J.W. Miller, Honorary Colonel |
Insignia | |
Hackle | Grey |
The Princess Louise Fusiliers is a Primary Reserve Light Infantry Regiment of the Canadian Forces.
Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this infantry regiment traces its local roots as a Halifax unit of Militia back to June 18, 1749, when Sir Edward Cornwallis formed a local Militia under his own command during Father Le Loutre's War. Ten companies were formed at the Grand Parade in the city and were made a collective battalion.
As an officially constituted unit of Canada, The Princess Louise Fusiliers were authorized in 1867. During the unit's history, it has undergone several name changes. On November 5, 1869, the regiment was named the 66th The Halifax Battalion of Infantry. Originally consisting of six companies, it later gained two more.
Ten years later, on November 14, 1879, the regiment was once again renamed, this time to the 66th Battalion "Princess Louise" Fusiliers, named for Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria and wife of the Marquess of Lorne, Governor General of Canada at the time. It was shortly after this point in which the regiment received its first battle honour, when they helped suppress the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Soldiers of the unit served in North West Canada with the Halifax Provisional Battalion. Fourteen years later, in 1899, the regiment provided some of its soldiers to a company raised in Nova Scotia for the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment, which was raised for service in South Africa during the Second Boer War. May 8, 1900 brought about another name change, this time to 66th Regiment "Princess Louise" Fusiliers, and in October 1901 the regiment received new colours from the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) during his visit to Canada. The new colours were subscribed for by the ladies of Halifax in honour of their battalion.