WWII era Royal Westminster Regiment Cap Badge


#00002134
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You are viewing an excellent example of a cap badge for the Royal Westminster Regiment from British Columbia. Complete with both original lugs in good order, and cross pin as found. An exemplary badge of this fine motorized (MG) regiment which had its origins as a infantry unit.


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Some History ...
The Royal Westminster Regiment originated on the 1st of April 1910 in New Westminster, British Columbia as the 104th Regiment. Just before the outbreak of WWI they were re-designated, on the 15th of December 1913, as the 104th Regiment Westminster Fusiliers of Canada. The Regiment raised the 47th Battalion (British Columbia), CEF, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 13 November 1915. It disembarked in France on 11 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. After the war they were renamed the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own). Thereafter, in 1924, the regiment was divided to make up 3 new regiments. These were the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (now the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own); The Vancouver Regiment (now also part of the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own). Subsequently, in the interwar period, near the end of 1936, they added a "C" Company of the 11th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and the regiment was once again re-designated The Westminster Regiment (Machine Gun). Throughout WWII the West minsters were a motorized machine gun regiment. The Regiment's 1st Battalion was mobilized on September 2, 1939, as a machine gun battalion. The unit was converted to a motor battalion and designated The Westminster Regiment (Motor) in early 1941. On May 27th, 1941, the unit trained at the CPR station in Vancouver and then on to Camp Borden. At Borden the unit became part of the 1st Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division. The regiment sailed from Halifax, on His Majesty's Transport "Andes", for Great Britain on November 13, 1941, exactly 26 years to the day that the 47th Battalion CEF had sailed for Europe from the same port. The unit disembarked in Liverpool on November 24, 1941. On November 15, 1943, the regiment sailed aboard RMS "Samaria" for Algiers. Next the unit was sent by rail to Phillipeville and immediately embarked on the HMT "Cameronia" for Naples, Italy where they joined the 8th Army. The regiment went into the line and engaged in combat first at the town of Guardiagrele, near Monte Mariella. The unit's first casualties were suffered on January 22, 1944, during patrolling on this static part of the front. After eight days on the line the unit was withdrawn to the Sangro River on the night of 2526 January. The regiment returned to the line on January 31, relieving the 1/9 Gurkhas at Sararola. During this action the Westminsters developed the tactic of sending out patrols by night to lay over behind enemy lines in a deserted house through the day, calling in artillery and mortar fire by radio and then returning to their own lines the following night. The unit took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino, holding the line near the villages of Vallirontonda and Aquafondata. On May 11, 1944, the attack on the Gustav Line and the Hitler Line commenced with the Westminsters and the 5th Armoured Division forming the exploitation force, hoping to break into the Liri Valley and the assault on Rome. The advance through the Liri valley included the Westminster's most famous action, the assault water crossing at the Melfa River. They continued to be at the center of many battles through the remainder of WWII. During the Second World War 4,236 men passed through the Westminster Regiment (Motor). Of these 134 were killed in action. Hostilities ended in Europe on May 7, 1945. The unit was repatriated after a long wait for sea transport and passed through New York City, Toronto, and finally to Vancouver by train. They marched up New Westminster's Columbia Street to Queen's Park where the final dismissal was given on January 19, 1946. Today the Royal Westminster Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is currently part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group and is based in New Westminster, British Columbia at The Armouries, located at the corner of 6th and Queens.