The Ontario Regiment

The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
The cap badge of The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
Active	14 September 1866–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Army (Reserve)
Type	Armoured
Role	Reconnaissance
Size	One regiment
Part of	Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQ	RHQ – Oshawa, Ontario
Nickname(s)	Ontarios, ONTR
Motto(s)	Fidelis et Paratus (Latin, "Faithful and Prepared")
March	Dismounted - John Peel Mounted - My Boy Willie
Anniversaries	14 September 1866 – Regimental Birthday 1 March - St. David's Day
Commanders
Commanding Officer	LCol Bruce Clayton, CD
Regimental Sergeant Major	CWO Bill Irving, CD

The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army. The unit is based in downtown Oshawa, Ontario. Formed in 1866, and more commonly known as the 'Ontarios', 'black cats' or 'ONT R' (pronounced "ON-tar"), the regiment ranks among the oldest continuously serving Reserve (Militia) regiments in Canada and is one of the senior armoured regiments in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.

The 116th Battalion (Ontario County), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 24 July 1916. From October to December 1916 it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field, and on 11 February 1917 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.

The 182nd Battalion (Ontario County), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Britain on 3 May 1917, where its personnel were absorbed by the 18th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 16 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.

The regiment mobilized the The Ontario Regiment (Tank), CASF on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated as The Ontario Regiment (Tank), CASF on 13 August 1940. It was converted to armour on 23 November 1940, and an army tank battalion on 11 February 1941, under the designation 11th Army Tank Battalion (The Ontario Regiment (Tank)), CAC, CASF. It was redesignated the 11th Army Tank Regiment (The Ontario Regiment (Tank)), CAC, CASF, on 15 May 1942 and the 11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment), CAC, CASF, on 26 August 1943 and the 11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment), RCAC, CASF, on 2 August 1945. On 21 June 1941 it embarked for Britain. The regiment landed in Sicily on 13 July 1943, as part of the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, and in Italy on 3 September 1943 in support of 17th Brigade, 5th British Division. On 8 March 1945 the regiment moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North-West Europe as part of OPERATION GOLDFLAKE, where it fought until the end of the war. The overseas regiment was disbanded on 15 December 1945.