The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve Royal Canadian Armoured Corps regiment based in Toronto and Aurora. The regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment consists of one cavalry squadron (D Squadron), as well as the Headquarters and Training Squadron. The regimental family also includes The Queen's York Rangers Band (volunteer), along with two Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps and a Royal Canadian Air Cadet squadron. The unit mottos are 'remembering their glories in former days' and 'swift and bold'. Among its own members and those of other regiments, the unit is referred to as the Rangers. The name is abbreviated as QY Rang, and sometimes pronounced .
Lineage
Pre-Confederation
The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) trace their direct origins to Robert Rogers and his Rangers in 1756 during the French and Indian Wars. Disbanded after seven years of hard service, Rogers reformed the Rangers in 1775 and they soon were carried on the British Army list as The Queen's Rangers, First American Regiment. The Rangers were particularly distinguished under John Graves Simcoe in 1777 at the Battle of Brandywine and were shipped to New Brunswick at the end of the war in 1783. When Simcoe was appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, he made a stop in New Brunswick and raised the Queen's Rangers again and brought them with him in 1793 to Upper Canada. The Rangers were stood down again in 1802 and became the York Militia. They became active again during the War of 1812 and again during the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837-38.
The York Rangers
The York County Militia was reconstituted again on 14 September 1866 as the 12th "York Battalion of Infantry". It was redesignated as the 12th Battalion of Infantry or "York Rangers" on 10 May 1872, as the 12th Regiment "York Rangers" on 8 May 1900 and, following the Great War, as The York Rangers on 1 May 1920. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with The Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment) and redesignated The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (MG). It was redesignated as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) on 5 March 1942, as The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (Reserve) on 15 September 1944, as The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) on 30 November 1945, as the 25th Armoured Regiment (Queen's York Rangers), RCAC on 19 June 1947, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (25th Armoured Regiment) on 4 February 1949, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) on 19 May 1958, The Queen's York Rangers (RCAC) on 3 September 1985 and The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) on 12 November 2004.
The Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment)
The Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment) was formed in Toronto, Ontario on 15 January 1921 as The West Toronto Regiment. On 1 August 1925, it was amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF), The York Rangers and redesignated The Queen's Rangers. It was redesignated The Queen's Rangers (1st American Regiment) on 1 December 1927. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with The York Rangers.
Lineage chart
Perpetuations
War of 1812
The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) perpetuate the Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada and the 1st and 3rd Regiments of York Militia.
The Great War
The regiment perpetuates the 20th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, the 35th Battalion, CEF, 127th Battalion (12th York Rangers), CEF and the 220th Battalion (12th Regiment York Rangers), CEF.
Commanders
In 2011, the Minister of National Defence approved the ex officio honorary appointment of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as the unit's Colonel of the Regiment in perpetuity. The appointment recognizes the regiment’s links to John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada and the regiment's commander during the American War of Independence.
Operational history
North-West Rebellion
The 12th Battalion of Infantry (York Rangers) mobilized four companies for active service on 10 April 1885. The companies served with the York and Simcoe Provisional Battalion in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force. The companies were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.