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The Durham
Regiment was
an infantry regiment of the Canadian Militia in the 20th
Century.
Lineage
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46th "East Durham"
Battalion of Infantry authorized
16 Nov 1866
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Redesignated 46th "Durham
Battalion of Infantry" 1 Aug 1897
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Redesignated 46th Durham
Regiment 8 May 1900
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Redesignated The Durham
Regiment 12 Mar 1920
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Amalgamated with The
Northumberland Regiment on 15 December 1936 to become
The Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham)1
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The
Durham Regiment |
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Headquarters:
Port Hope, ON
Predecessor: 46th Durham Regiment
Perpetuated: 136th Battalion, CEF
Redesignated: 12 March 1920
Disbanded: amalgamated with The
Northumberland Regiment 15 December 1936 |
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History
The Durham Regiment was created on 12
March 1920 as a redesignation of the 46th Durham Regiment. It was
organized as a two-battalion regiment, with the 1st Battalion
perpetuating the 136th Battalion, CEF and the 2nd Battalion having
no perpetuation. The 1st Battalion was on the Non-Permanent Active
Militia order of battle, the 2nd Battalion was a 'paper' battalion
on the Reserve order of battle. In 1936 the regiment amalgamated
with the Northumberland Regiment, and at the same time the reserve
battalion was disbanded.2
First World War and
Postwar Perpetuations
The 46th Regiment contributed to a
number of battalions of the CEF including the 21st, 39th, 77th,
80th, 136th, 139th, 155th, 235th and 254th Battalions.3
On reorganization as the Northumberland
(Ontario) Regiment in March 1920, the 1st Battalion, Northumberland
(Ontario) Regiment perpetuated the 139th Battalion, CEF while the
2nd Battalion perpetuated the 235th Battalion, CEF. The
Northumberland Regiment reorganized on 15 November 1926, and the 1st
Battalion perpetuated the 39th Battalion while the 2nd Battalion
perpetuated the 139th Battalion. The reserve battalion was disbanded
on 14 December 1936.4
After the war, The Northumberland
Regiment perpetuated the 39th and 139th Battalions, CEF and The
Durham Regiment perpetuated the 136th Battalion while the 235th
Battalion was not perpetuated after 1926.5
Interwar
A history of the Midland Regiment published in 1944 described the
interwar period:
...(M)ilitia units carried on
quite nobly at great expense to the officers and other ranks who
were patriotic and loyal enough to realize that, some day, in
the future, Canada might need an active army in the field.
In the period of depression following the first-world war, it
was found necessary for economical reasons, to reduce the
financial assistance to the units. As well, (National Defence
Headquarters) thought it necessary to reduce the number of
infantry units to be in proportion with the other services in
Canada. Units all across Canada were amalgamated. The
Northumberland and Durham Regiments united, and became...the
Midland Regiment.6
Insignia
Cap Badge
The cap badge was approved by General Order 71 of 1922. The badge
consisted of a crown surmounting the belted annulus bearing the
latin motto of the Order of the Garter: "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense."
The regimental motto Semper Paratus ("Always Ready") was displayed
on a scroll, as was the regimental title THE DURHAM REGIMENT. A
beaver on log is central to the badge.7
The collar badges were issued in
mirrored pairs, with a beaver and log on a set of scrolls reading
SEMPER PARATUS and DURHAM REGT. A numeral "1" was central.
Other
Sir Sam Hughes, long-time Member of
Parliament and infamous Minister of Militia and Defence, began his
Militia career in the 46th Durham Regiment. His brother, Colonel
John Hughes, also commanded the regiment.
Notes
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Official lineages DND web page accessed 19 Dec
2020:
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/infantry-regiments/hastings-prince-edward-regiment.html
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Lineages, Ibid
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Love, David W. A Nation in Making: The Organization and
Administration of the Canadian Military During the First World
War (Service Publications Ltd., Ottawa, ON, 2012) ISBN
978-1-894581-72-1 Volume I, p.92
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Lineages, Ibid
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Ibid, as well as Love, Ibid, Volume II, pp.331-332
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A Short History of the Midland Regiment (Web version of pamphlet
produced in 1944)
http://porthopehistory.com/midlandregiment/amidlandhistory.html
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Mazeas, Daniel Insignes Canadiens 1920-1950 - Canadian
Badges Revised Edition
