31 Combat Engineer Regiment (31 CER or "The Elgin's"), is a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Military Engineers. A Primary Reserve unit, it is part of 31 Canadian Brigade Group of the 2nd Canadian Division. It consists of two squadrons in southern Ontario: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas. Founded in 1866 as a militia infantry battalion in Elgin County, Canada West, the unit mobilized an armoured delivery unit for service in Europe during the Second World War. The militia unit was converted to armour in 1954 and then to combat engineering in 1997.
History 31 CER perpetuates the Provincial Corps of Artificers, a unit associated with the War of 1812.
The regiment existed before the Confederation of Canada, tracing its origin to 1866 when the Militia Act officially created the 25th, Elgin, Battalion of Infantry from five local militia companies. It became the 25th Elgin Regiment in 1900, but was then disbanded in 1903, but re-formed the next year.
In 1915 the 91st Battalion (Elgin), CEF was raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, and went to fight in the First World War.
It became the Elgin Regiment in 1920, and was expanded to two battalions in 1921, the 1st Battalion (perpetuating 91st Battalion CEF), and the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion.
After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the regiment was converted to armour in 1942 as the 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment).
YearChange 1943 1st Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment 1943 25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment) 1943–45 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment) "A" & "B" Squadrons attached to 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade "C" Squadron attached to 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade "D" Squadron attached to 4th Canadian Armoured Division "E" Squadron attached to II Canadian Corps "F" Squadron attached to First Canadian Army "G" Squadron attached to 5th Canadian Armoured Division "H" Squadron attached to I Canadian Corps 1946 The Elgin Regiment (Infantry) 1954 The Elgin Regiment (27th Armoured Regiment) 1958 The Elgin Regiment (RCAC) 1997 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's) 2004 48 Field Squadron is re-established in Waterloo, Ontario 2006 Both Field Squadrons renamed Engineer Squadrons as part of Land Force Reserve Restructure Phase 2. 2013 31 CER (The Elgin's) perpetuates 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment
The Elgin Regiment was awarded the battle honours Somme, 1916; Arras, 1917; Ypres, 1917; and Amiens after the First World War.Appendix to General Order No. 71 of 1930, page 7 The honours "Arras" and "Amiens" were selected to be borne on colours and appointments.
After the conversion to an engineer regiment in 1997, these honours became dormant, being replaced by the CME's honorary distinction .
During Canadian combat operations in Afghanistan, 31 CER sent members to augment Regular Force units for deployments while also acting as a "feeder" unit, training Reserve Force members who could then take full-time contracts with Regular Force combat engineer regiments.
Afghanistan rotations YearRotationMembers 2005 Task Force Kabul 2 Kabul Camp Closure Team 7 2006 TF 3-06 10 2008 TF 3-08 2 2010 TF 1-10 7
Perpetuations Provincial Corps of Artificers 91st Battalion (Elgin), CEF 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment - Canadian Forces General Message 089/23, 23 May 2023: "the perpetuation of the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment by 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) is approved"
Alliances
- The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
References