The Saskatoon Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). The regiment was formed in 1924, when The North Saskatchewan Regiment (1920–1924) was reorganized into four separate regiments. In 1955, the regiment was amalgamated with The Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers to form The North Saskatchewan Regiment.
Lineage
Originated on 1 April 1912, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as the 105th Regiment. Redesignated on 16 September 1912, as the 105th Regiment Fusiliers. Redesignated on 15 April 1914, as the 105th Regiment (Saskatoon Fusiliers). Amalgamated on 15 March 1920, with the 52nd Regiment Prince Albert Volunteers and redesignated as The North Saskatchewan Regiment. Reorganized on 15 May 1924, as four separate regiments: The Yorkton Regiment (now the 64th Field Battery, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA), The Battleford Light Infantry, The Prince Albert Volunteers, and The Saskatoon Light Infantry. Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with C Company of the 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (now The Royal Regina Rifles) and redesignated as The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun). Redesignated on 7 November 1940, as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun). Redesignated on 1 November 1945, as The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun). Amalgamated on 17 February 1955, with The Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers (Machine Gun) to form the 2nd Battalion, The North Saskatchewan Regiment (The Saskatoon Light Infantry) (Machine Gun). Amalgamated on 1 September 1970, with the 1st Battalion, The North Saskatchewan Regiment (The Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers) to form a single-battalion unit, The North Saskatchewan Regiment.
Perpetuations
5th Battalion (Western Cavalry), CEF 65th Battalion (Saskatchewan), CEF
History
Early history On 15 May 1924, The North Saskatchewan Regiment was split up and reorganized into four separate regiments: The Saskatoon Light Infantry, The Yorkton Regiment (now the 64th Field Battery, RCA), The Prince Albert Volunteers and The Battleford Light Infantry.
On 15 December 1936, as a result of the 1936 Canadian Militia reorganization, The Saskatoon Light Infantry was amalgamated with C Company, 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC and reorganized as a machine gun infantry battalion. As a result, the regiment was redesignated as The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun).
Second World War
Home front On 26 August 1939, details of The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun) were called out for service and on 1 September 1939, were placed on active service under the designation as The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun), CASF for local protection duties. On 31 December 1940, those details on active service were disbanded.
Europe On 1 September 1939, the regiment subsequently mobilized The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun), CASF for active service, and on 8 December 1939, the battalion embarked for Great Britain as part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. On 7 November 1940, the battalion was again redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun), CASF. On 25 August 1941, the battalion participated in the expedition to Spitzbergen, Norway. On 1 May 1943, the battalion was redesignated as the 1st Infantry Division Support Battalion (The Saskatoon Light Infantry), CIC, CASF. On 10 July 1943, the battalion as part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division landed in Sicily as part of Operation Husky. On 3 September 1943, the battalion and the rest of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division as part of the British Army's V Corps landed in Italy where it fought as part of the Italian campaign, later joining with the rest of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division as part of the I Canadian Corps. On 1 July 1944, the battalion was again redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun), CASF. On 4 March 1945, the battalion landed in France and upon arrival in the North West Europe theatre of operations with the rest of the First Canadian Army, it served until the end of the war. On 15 October 1945, the overseas battalion was disbanded.
Pacific On 1 June 1945, The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun) mobilized three “cannon” companies for active service with the 6th Canadian Infantry Division (Canadian Army Pacific Force). On 1 November 1945, these companies were disbanded.
Organization
The Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.) (15 December 1936)
Regimental HQ (Saskatoon) A Company (Saskatoon) B Company (Saskatoon) C Company (Melfort) D Company (Saskatoon)
Alliances - The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (1925-1955)
Uniform Scarlet tunic with blue facings
Tartan: Mackenzie (pipers' kilts, 1942-1955, with permission of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada)
Battle honours
Great War
Ypres, 1915, '17 Gravenstafel St. Julien Festubert, 1915 Mount Sorrel Somme, 1916 Thiepval Ancre Heights Arras, 1917, '18 Vimy, 1917 Arleux Hill 70 Passchendaele Amiens Scarpe, 1918 Drocourt-Quéant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Pursuit to Mons France and Flanders, 1915–18
Second World War
Landing in Sicily Valguarnera Agira Adrano Sicily, 1943 The Gully Ortona Cassino II Gustav Line Liri Valley Hitler Line Gothic Line Lamone Crossing Rimini Line Cesena Savio Bridgehead Naviglio Canal Fosso Vecchio Fosso Munio Italy, 1943-1945 Apeldoorn North-West Europe, 1945
Notes and references