In presenting this short history of the regiment to which you belong, it is my desire that you familiarize yourself with the glories of the past and strive to emulate the deeds of those who have gone before so that, when you lay aside the uniform you will be proud to say that you served Canada and the Empire as a member of the 1st Bn Midland Regiment.
R. E. Bricker, E.D., Lt.-Col.
Officer Commanding, 1st Bn Midland Regt., C.A.
Vernon, B.C. 30th October, 1944

AFFILIATIONS: Durham Light Infantry, Northumberland Fusiliers
REGIMENTAL MARCH: "The Standard of St. George"
COLOURS: Royal Blue and Red
MOTTOS: Excelsior, Semper Paratus

BATTLE HONOURS
N. W. Canada, 1885
Mont Soriel
Somme
Arras—1917 and 1918
Hill 70
Amiens
Hindenburg Line
Pursuit to Mons

THE MIDLAND REGIMENT HONORARY COLONEL
Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey, P.C., High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

HONORARY LT.-COLONEL
Lt.-Colonel R. J. Gill

PRESENT COMMANDING OFFICER
Lt.-Col. R. E. Bricker, E.D.

PAST COMMANDING OFFICERS
Lt.-Col. A. T. H. Williams, M.P., 1885
Maj.-Gen. John Hughes, V.D., 1897-03
Lt.-Col. H. A. Ward, V.D., 1903-09
Lt.-Col. P. J. Rowe, V.D., 1909-11
Col. J. A. V. Preston, V.D., 1911-14
Lt.-Col. R. W. Smart, V.D., 1914-15
Lt,-Col. W. Farrell, V.D., 1915-20
Lt.-Col. H. Reid, V.D., 1920-22
Col. E. E. Snider, V.D., 1922-27
Lt.-Col. P. H. Jobb, V.D., 1927-32
Lt.-Col. W. T. Hoar, V.D., 1932-34
Lt.-Col. A. V. Thorne, V.D., 1934-37
Lt.-Col. A. H. Bounsall, E.D., 1937-40
Lt.-Col. J. C. Gamey, M.M., E.D., 1940-44

THE MIDLAND REGIMENT
General Sir Sam Hughes, M.P., received his early training in the 46th (Durham) Regt.; his brother, Colonel John Hughes, was a former C.O. of the unit for many years.
It is of interest to note that when Canada declared war on Germany on the 10th of September, 1939, the declaration was handed to His Majesty by Rt. Hon. Col. Vincent Massey, honorary colonel of this unit and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
To commemorate the second visit of the Midlands to Edmonton, a cairn was erected on the Kingsway and unveiled in 1942 by Miss Williams, grand-daughter of Lt.-Col, A. T. H. Williams, the original officer commanding at the Battle of Batoche. The cairn contains a steel cylinder in which is a nominal roll of the 1942 battalion.

The Midland Regiment as we know it today represents the Counties of Northumberland, Durham, Victoria-Haliburton in the Province of Ontario. In the time of Sir John Graves Simcoe the militia units drew upon the men of these counties for the defence of their homeland.
In the war of 1812-14 they formed a company and saw action with the York Volunteers and were amongst the troops captured at the fall of the Fort in 1813.
These men came from that part of Ontario between Oshawa and Kingston. The first engagement as a battalion was at the Battle of Batoche under the command of Lt.-Col. A. T. H. Williams, M.P., who was seized with a sudden illness whilst on his return home. He died July 4th and was buried at Port Hope July 21st. A monument was erected to his memory and was unveiled by Sir John A. MacDonald. The Col. Williams chapter of the I.O.D.E. in Port Hope is named in honour of him.

BOER WAR 1899-1902
In the Boer War several officers and other ranks saw service with the Royal Canadian Regiment.

FIRST WORLD WAR .
During- the First World War many of the regiments of the line used numbers instead of names for their official titles — therefore, instead of having several battalions of the Durham Regiment we find the 2nd, 21st, 136th, 139th and the 235th battalions raised in the home counties. It was these units that won the battle honours mentioned on above.

PEACE
After the war the Militia regiments re-organized and we had, once again, the Durham, Northumberland, Victoria-Haliburton Regiments. These
militia 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, NDQH 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, once again, the Midland Regiment.

CORONATION
(Canadian Contingent)
At the Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth, C.S.M. Albert Hircock, M.M., of this unit was chosen for the right of the line, the highest honour which could be paid a Canadian soldier. Col. T. L. McLaughlin also represented the Regiment.

ROYAL VISIT
During the visit of Their Majesties, the highest honour that could be bestowed on us was given, and we stood proudly on guard in Kingston, Ontario, whilst Our Sovereign Lord, the King and His Gracious Queen rode by in Royal Procession.

SECOND WORLD WAR
A state of national emergency was declared on the 26th of August, 1939, when units of the Militia were called out for active service to guard the vulnerable points in Canada. The Midland Regiment was given the task of safeguarding the R.C.A.F. Airdrome at Trenton and the Dominion Arsenal at Lindsay. Two officers and 125 other ranks proceeded overseas with the 1st Infantry Brigade.

MOBILIZATION
The Regiment received orders to mobilize to war establishment on the 20th of July, 1940, and on the 12th of August the battalion was up to full strength. For the first six months the unit trained in company areas, troops were billetted in civilian homes. The battalion headquarters, at first in Millbrook, were moved to Cobourg when the second (Reserve) battalion was authorized.
The Companies of the 1st Battalion were distributed as fellows: Headquarters Coy, Lindsay; A Coy, Cobourg; B Coy, Campbellford, Havelock and Norwood; C Coy, Port Hope; D Coy, Orono and Bowmanville.

Since mobilization the Regiment has served in all parts of Canada, guarding strategic points first in Ontario, then in the Maritimes; thereafter in Alberta and lastly in British Columbia where the unit has been engaged on coast defence duty.
During August, 1944, whilst bivouaced at Oyster River, we were advised that the 1st Battalion Midland Regiment had been relieved of coast guard duties and been incorporated in the newly authorized 16th Brigade of the Sixth Division.
The fact that we were successful in becoming a part of the Brigade is a great tribute to the consistent and vigorous training of all officers, N.C.O.s, and men of the battalion. On completion of the training at Oyster River, the unit spent a month in concentrated training at the Combined Operations
School at Courtenay, B.C.
Since 1941 the unit has been concentrated at the following places:
Ottawa—January-April, 1941
Sussex, N.B.—April, 1941
St. John, N.B.—April-October, 1941
Niagara—October, 1941-March, 1942
Edmonton—March-May, 1942
Prince Rupert, B.C.—May 1942-1943
Terrace, B.C.—May 8th-31st, 1943
Prince Rupert, B.C.—June 1943-May, 1944
Victoria, B.C.—May-July, 1944
Oyster River-—August, 1944
Courtenay—September, 1944
Port Alberni—October, 1944
Vernon, B.C.—October, 1944

Though we have not been able to go overseas as a unit, we are proud of the reinforcements who have gone forth and done credit to the Midland Regiment. We regret that we cannot list the names of all, some of whom we hear occasionally; however we wish to show the great number of Midlanders who have gone forth as reinforcements to other units:

	Officers	O.R.'s
1st Infantry Brigade H. & P. E. Regiment Queen's Own S. D. & G. General Reinforcements Paratroops C. A. C. Services Winnipeg Grenadiers R. M. R. Hong Kong Irish Regiment	2 6 4 3 4 - 6 1 1 - - 2	250 224 156 142 199 75 - 100 34 19 52 100

We have also sent officers and other ranks to many units and services in Canada; in particular we sent 67 N.C.O.'s to the Queen's Own and the Princess of Wales' Own Regiments when they were authorized to mobilize.
Twenty-four former privates have worked their way up through the ranks and have received commissions, the majority of whom are now serving in the European theatres of war.
Below you will read the roll of those who went to Hong Kong. Some of these have made the supreme sacrifice; the majority are prisoners-of-war.
We hope that some day this unit will be given the chance to square this account with the Japs on their home ground.
 

LANYARDS Colours Officers W.O.'s and N.C.O.'s Privates

Blue and Red Three knots Two knots 0ne knot

MIDLAND REGIMENT MEN POSTED TO THE ROYAL RIFLES AND TAKEN PRISONER IN HONG KONG
Alley, R. D.; Archibald, J.
Baker, J. V.; Bevan, C. F.; Burns; J. F.
Chard, J. F.
Dainard, D. B.; Dupont, E. G.
Gagne, W. H.; Galbraith, H.; Glenn, J. E.; Grey, W.; Grieves, R. N.; Grieves, W. J.
Hay, J. N.; Hebert, J. R.; Henderson, E. J.
Inche, K. R.
Jamieson, D. A.; Jiggins, F.; Jones, T.
Kane, M. J.
Lalonde, G. J.; Lancour, W. R.; Lee, W. J.; Linn, J. W.; Lloyd, S. G.; Lott, E. C.
Marshall, H. J.; Marston, J. C.; McArthur, F. A.; McCorkell, H. G.; McGregor, H. M.; McKay, A. J.; Medhurst, G.; Moir, H. M.; Moore, R. H.; Murray, M.
Pomeroy, G. R.
Reid, L. G.
Schofield, R. J.; Scobie, J.; Southworth, D.
Tainsh, W. G.; Thompson, C. W.; Turcotte, A. D.
Vanclief, D.
Walton, J.; Wellman, D.; Whalen, J. R.; Wurm, G. A; Wurm, V.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them

MIDLAND'S MARCHING SONG
(Tune—McNamara's Band)
We're men of the Midland Regiment,
The finest in the land;
When we go on a route march
We seldom take a band:
Our hearts are full of music,
And we sing so merrily—
It makes your heart skip a beat
As we march along the way.

Now who wouldn't join the army?
That's what I'd like to know!
The Empire says we need you boys,
We're putting on a show.
So we threw away our civvy clothes
And donned the army serge,
And you can join the army
Whenever you get the urge.

The Midland A's, The Midland Bees,
The Midland C's and Dees—
They're all a bunch of fighting men
Who'll bring Hitler to his knees.
Of course we have Headquarters,
And Support is not forgot;
And when we get together ...
We're the damndest fighting lot.
Sgt. S. Castle

DISTINGUISHING FLAGS
Commanding Officer: Standard of St. George with unit crest superimposed thereon.
Second in Command: White flag with diagonal red cross.
Regimental Sergeant-Major: Green flag with red cross.
Orderly Room: Red flag with white cross.
Medical Inspection Room: Geneva Flag1 (Red Cross).
Canteen: Blue and white checkered.
Bn, Hq. and Headquarters Company: Vertical bars—red, white and red.
Support Company: Red and white checkered.
A Company: Horizontal bars—blue, white, blue.
B Company: Horizontal bars—red, white, red.
C Company: Horizontal bars—yellow, white, yellow.
D Company: Horizontal bars—green, white, green.

THE 2nd Bn (R) MIDLAND REGIMENT
Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. A. H. Bounsall, E.D.
The Second Bn (R) has been carrying on at home, keeping alive there the spirit of the Midlands. By voluntary training of the men in the Midlands home district, it is supplying good reinforcements for the regiments on Active Service in all theatres of war.