Tour of Honour

A sign for Calvados in Caen. Image courtesty of Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Ed Staniowski OMM, CD.

Crossing the Leopold Canal, Image courtesy of Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Ed Staniowski OMM, CD.

March past of the Regina Rifle Regiment on their farewell parade in the Netherlands, 26 September 1945. Credit: Capt. Ken Bell / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-116310

Abbey d’Ardennes after the battle on the night of 7 July 1944.

Most of the Regina Rifles who served in the Second World War have passed away, and the details of their actions, bravery and sacrifice are in danger of being forgotten before they can be passed on to current and future soldiers of the Regiment and the youth of Saskatchewan. To prevent this from happening, a Tour of Honour has been organized by the Royal Regina Rifles Trust Fund. It is their intention to bring as many of the current serving Rifles as possible overseas to participate in a 10 day tour from 3-13 June 2024. Family members of those who have served, and friends of the Regiment are also welcome to join the tour.

We will walk the ground where the Regina Rifles fought in both World Wars. In the First World War (1914-1918), the 28th Battallion (as the Regina Rifles were then known) earned 18 battle honours for fighting in Europe. Greatest among these was recognition for participation in the Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge. Over the course of The Great War the 28th would suffer 922 fatal casualties, including the last Allied soldier killed on the Western Front, Private George Price of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In the Second World War, we will follow the Regina Rifles after they landed on Juno Beach and battled into Belgium, stopping to pay our respects at the Mons St Symphorien Cemetery where many Regina Rifles are buried and at the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium which is dedicated to the 54,395 Commonwealth Soldiers With No Known Grave.

Evolution of the Royal Regina Rifles: 95th Saskatchewan 1905, 28th Northwest Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914, Regina Rifles Regiment 1939, Royal Regina Rifles 1982.

Significant Places to Stop

Second World War Battlefield Locations:

Juno Beach and Courselles-Sur-Mer Battlefield Tour - where the Rifles landed on D-Day and liberated the town of Courselles-Sur-Mer with 108 Regina Rifles casualties.

Chateau de Fontaine-Henry Battlefield Tour - 11 Canadians were lost in the liberation of the Fontaine-Henry area.

Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse Battlefield Tour - When German troops counterattacked at the town of Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse, the Regina Rifles held them off, but at a cost of 44 deaths in 2 days.

Abbey d’Ardennes - As Allies moved towards Caen, France, the Regina Rifles were tasked with the capture of the Abbey d’Ardennes which was being used by the 12th SS Panzer Regiment as a headquarters. It was heavily defended with mortars, machine guns, and 75mm guns. This was the worst fighting for the Battalion since D-Day with 216 casualties during its capture and ultimate victory.

Leopold Canal, Belgium - This canal, held by the Germans, was the last un-liberated section of Belgium and the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. Between 6-9 October 1944, the Regina Rifles attacked and overtook the canal, with 480 casualties in 4 days.

Canada-Polish Museum, Belgium - An extensive collection, dedicated to the efforts of Canadian soldiers in the liberation of Belgium.

First World War Battlefield Locations

Vimy Ridge Battlefield Tour - During the First World War, four battalions from Saskatchewan fought at Vimy Ridge, including the 28th (which was renamed the Regina Rifles). Victory at Vimy came at a great cost.

Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium - A memorial dedicated to the 54,395 Commonwealth Soldiers With No Known Grave.

Mons St Symphorien Cemetery - A First World War Commonwealth cemetery where many men from Saskatchewan are buried.