Lincoln and Welland Regiment

Lincoln and Welland Regiment
Unit name	Lincoln and Welland Regiment
Caption	Cap badge of the Regiment
Dates	1863–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Primary Reserve infantry
Role	Light infantry
Size	One battalion
Garrison	St. Catharines, Ontario
March	"The Lincolnshire Poacher"
Battles	Fenian Raids, South African War, First World War, Second World War, Afghanistan
Battle honours	See text

Lincoln and Welland Regiment The Lincoln and Welland Regiment is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry unit headquartered in St. Catharines, Ontario, with antecedents dating to the 19th century militia units raised in Lincoln County and Welland County. It serves as a light infantry battalion within the structure of the Canadian Army Reserve, contributing personnel to domestic operations, expeditionary deployments, and commemorative events connected to regional heritage. The regiment maintains affiliations and traditions rooted in the Fenian Raids, the Second Boer War, the First World War, and the Second World War.

History

The regiment traces origins to 19th-century militia formations raised during the Rebellions of 1837–1838 era and reorganizations following the Militia Act of 1855 (United Province of Canada), with successor units participating in responses to the Fenian Raids and providing contingents for the Second Boer War. During the First World War, personnel from Lincoln and Welland predecessor regiments were placed on active service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, participating in major actions on the Western Front including the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Battle of Passchendaele, and the Hundred Days Offensive. In the Second World War, the regiment mobilized for home defence and provided drafts to Canadian Army formations overseas, while elements and veterans served with units at the Normandy Campaign and the Italian Campaign. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the regiment reoriented to the contemporary reserve role, contributing soldiers to United Nations missions, the Kosovo War peace support, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) through augmentation of Regular Force battalions.

Lineage and Battle Honours

The regiment's lineage incorporates several antecedent militia battalions from Lincoln County, Ontario and Welland County, Ontario, including units designated as rifle and infantry companies throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Battle honours perpetuated by the regiment encompass actions from the South African War, many First World War battlefields such as Ypres 1915, Somme 1916, Arras 1917, and the Aisne 1918, alongside Second World War honours tied to home defence and service of members with formations in North-West Europe and Italy. More recent theatre recognition includes the regiment's contribution to the Afghanistan campaign, recognized in Canadian operational citations and unit histories.

Organization and Structure

Organizationally the regiment is organized as a single light infantry battalion within the Canadian Army Reserve framework and falls under the command structure of a brigade group within 4th Canadian Division (4e Division canadienne). The unit maintains a headquarters and companies aligned with reserve recruitment areas around Niagara Peninsula, operating from an armoury in St. Catharines, Ontario. The regiment trains in small-unit tactics compatible with doctrine promulgated by Canadian Army Doctrine, supports mobilization processes with the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre network, and integrates reservists into Regular Force taskings through the Total Force employment model.

Operational Deployments and Domestic Duties

Members have served on expeditionary operations with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the 20th century and as individual augmentees to Regular Force battalions during deployments to Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Domestically, the regiment has contributed to civil assistance during emergencies such as floods in Ontario, snowstorm responses, and support to provincial authorities under the Canadian Armed Forces domestic operations mandate. The unit has also participated in national commemorations at Beaches of Normandy anniversaries, Remembrance Day ceremonies, and regional heritage commemorations in the Niagara Region.

Traditions, Insignia and Regimental Culture

Regimental traditions include the wearing of a distinctive cap badge, maintenance of regimental colours, and ceremonial observances tied to antecedent units' battle honours and local civic links in St. Catharines and surrounding communities. Musical and drill traditions draw on British and Canadian infantry antecedents such as regimental marches like "The Lincolnshire Poacher" and participation in parades alongside Royal Canadian Legion branches. The regiment preserves artefacts and archives in partnership with local museums, veterans' groups, and the Canadian War Museum style collections, upholding customs around mess dress, regimental anniversaries, and freedom of the city events.

Notable Members and Commanders

Noteworthy individuals associated with the regiment and its predecessors include officers and enlisted personnel who served with distinction during major conflicts and in civic life, some of whom later held positions in municipal government in St. Catharines, seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, or appointments within the Canadian Armed Forces and Order of Canada honourees. Veterans have been recognized with decorations such as the Victoria Cross in the wider context of Canadian service, while others received campaign medals for South African War and World War I service. Commanding officers historically drew upon experience from staff colleges and interwar professional military education institutions, and the regiment's alumni network includes members active in Royal Canadian Legion leadership and community heritage organizations.

Category:Infantry regiments of Canada