The West Nova Scotia Regiment
The West Nova Scotia Regiment are a Land Force Reserve infantry regiment.
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Current Information
Location: Aldershot, Nova Scotia
Mailing Address: N/A
Telephone Number: (902) 678-7930 ext 2121
Recruiting Contacts: Sgt Robinson CMR
Commanding Officer: LCol R. Stonier, CD
Regimental Sergeant Major: N/A
Honorary Colonel: Col J. James Kinley
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel: HLCol C. Max Forsythe-Smith, CD
Honorary Commanding Offier: MGen M.P. Bogert, CBE, DSO, CD
Abbreviation/Regimental Short Title: The official abbreviation as used in military correspondence, and worn on the shoulder title, is West NSR
Mission Elements: N/A
Regimental Structure: N/A
Higher Formation: The West Nova Scotia Regiment are just one unit of 36 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered in Halifax and including all Reserve Army units throughout the province. The Brigade is part of Land Force Atlantic Area.
Current Training
MISSING DESCRIPTION
Uniforms and Traditions
Regimental March (Quick Time): "God Bless the Prince Of Wales"
Regimental March (Slow Time): "Garb of Auld Gaul"
Motto: Semper Fidelis (Latin for Always Faithful).
Armorial Description
Within an annulus surmounted by the Crown and inscribed WEST NOVA SCOTIA REGIMENT and SEMPER FIDELIS, a shield bearing St. Andrew's Cross, cantoned; in chief, a church and the statue of Evangeline; in base, a fishing schooner; in flanks, a Mayflower; below the annulus a scroll inscribed CANADA, the whole superimposed on an eight pointed sunburst.
Regimental Alliance: The Queen's Lancashire Regiment, Preston, England
Brief History
The West Nova Scotia Regiment (West NSR) is one of the oldest regiments on the Canadian Militia List. The Regiment was formed from both the 69th Annapolis Regiment (1717), and the 75th Lunenburg Regiment, (1870) in 1936. Both regiments descended from the 40th Regiment of Foot, the Prince of wales Volunteers, which was raised on the 23rd of August, 1717 at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal, NS.
When World War II broke out on the 1st day of September 1939, the West NSR was mobilized as an active service force battalion. The active service battalion left Halifax and disembarked at Gourock, Scotland shortly after Christmas in 1939; they immediately entrained for Aldershot, England. On June 15, 1943 the regiment embarked from England, in the first part of "Operation Husky" the invasion of Sicily. The West Nova Scotia Regiment was the first allied unit to land and stay on the continent of Eurcpe for the entire duration of the war.
The Regiment continued to fight in Italy until February 9, 1945, when LCol Hiltz received orders informing him that the ist Canadian Corps would be transferred from Italy to Northwest Europe. The Regiment moved to Marseilles, France, by sea and arrived in Holland until the German surrender on May 5, 1945. During this time the Regiment won twenty six theatre and battle honours, in addition to the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal and many others. From Sicily to Holland there are 352 graves of West Novas who paid the final sacrifice during the war. There were also 1084 wounded and missing.
Since World War Ii the West Nova Scotia Regiment has been a unit of the Canadian Armed Force - reserves. it has contributed soldiers to UN peace keeping tours in countries such as the former Yugoslavia, Cyprus and the Middle East. Our soldiers have participated in continuous unit training and individually in bases across Canada, United States and Great Britain.
Battle Honours
32 total, including the combined battle honours of The Annapolis Regiment and The Lunenburg Regiment.
First World War
- ARRAS, 1917, '18
- AMIENS
- HILL 70
- HINDENBURG LINE
- YPRES, 1917
- PURSUIT TO MONS
Second World War
- LANDING IN SICILY
- 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
The battle honours in bold print are borne on the Regimental Colour.
External Links
- wnsr.ca (unofficial website)
