Essex Scottish Regiment

Essex Scottish Regiment. The Essex Scottish was a Canadian Army infantry regiment originating in Windsor, Ontario, and Essex County, Ontario. It was formed in 1885 as the 21st "Essex" Battalion of Infantry and later received its designation as a Scottish regiment in 1927. The regiment served with distinction in both World War I and World War II, most famously during the Dieppe Raid in 1942, where it sustained heavy casualties. It was amalgamated into the Essex and Kent Scottish in 1954.

History

The regiment's origins trace to the 21st "Essex" Battalion of Infantry, authorized on 14 September 1885. It contributed volunteers to the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment during the Second Boer War. During the First World War, the regiment mobilized the 18th (Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, which fought as part of the 4th Canadian Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division. This battalion saw extensive action on the Western Front, including the battles of Mount Sorrel, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and the Hundred Days Offensive. In the Second World War, the regiment was mobilized as part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. Its most defining and tragic engagement was the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942, where the unit was tasked with assaulting Dieppe's main beach. The attack was a costly failure, with the Essex Scottish suffering devastating losses; only a few dozen men returned from the raid. The regiment was later reconstituted and fought through the Normandy Campaign, including the battles for Caen and the Falaise Pocket, and advanced into the Netherlands and Germany.

Battle honours

The regiment was awarded numerous battle honours for its service, many of which are emblazoned on its regimental colour. For the First World War, these include Mount Sorrel, Somme, 1916, Arras, 1917, Vimy, 1917, Hill 70, Ypres, 1917, Amiens, and Hindenburg Line. Second World War honours include Dieppe, Bourguébus Ridge, Falaise, The Scheldt, The Rhineland, and The Hochwald. The honour "Dieppe" remains one of the most recognized and sombre testaments to the regiment's sacrifice. The right to bear these honours was perpetuated by the regiment's successor, the Essex and Kent Scottish.

Regimental lineage

Following its initial authorization, the unit underwent several name changes: it became the 21st Regiment "Essex Fusiliers" in 1900 and then simply The Essex Regiment in 1920. In 1927, it was redesignated The Essex Scottish Regiment. After the Second World War, as part of a broader reorganization of the Canadian Militia, the regiment was amalgamated with The Kent Regiment on 15 December 1954 to form The Essex and Kent Scottish. This lineage is maintained within the Canadian Army Reserve's 31 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment's alliances included a formal affiliation with the The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) of the British Army.

Memorials and legacy

The sacrifice of the Essex Scottish, particularly at Dieppe, is commemorated at several sites. In Dieppe, France, the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery holds many of the regiment's fallen. The Essex Scottish Regiment Memorial in Dieppe commemorates the raid. In Canada, a prominent memorial stands in Jackson Park in Windsor, Ontario. The regiment's legacy, including its colours and traditions, is carried on by the Essex and Kent Scottish, whose armoury in Windsor, Ontario houses the regimental museum. The story of the Dieppe Raid and the Essex Scottish is a central subject in Canadian military historiography, examined in works by historians like Terry Copp.

Notable members

Notable individuals who served with the Essex Scottish include Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick K. Jasperson, who commanded the regiment during the Dieppe Raid and was taken prisoner. Honorary Colonel W. Darcy McKeough was a prominent political figure in Ontario. Sergeant E.A. "Smoky" Smith served with the regiment before transferring and earning the Victoria Cross with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. Major John H. Foote, a Canadian Army chaplain who was attached to the regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions during the Dieppe Raid, becoming the only Canadian chaplain to receive the award.

Category:Infantry regiments of Canada Category:Military units and formations established in 1885 Category:Military in Windsor, Ontario