Many regiments have over the years earned nicknames; some laudatory, some derogatory, but all colourful. Sometimes, the nicknames themselves have overshadowed the actual regimental title, e.g. the "Van Doos" for the Royal 22e Régiment. In some cases the nickname actually replaced it: in 1881, the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot became officially known by its nickname, The Black Watch.
What follows is a list of nicknames of Canadian regiments, arranged alphabetically by regimental title. A brief explanation of the origin of the nickname, where known, is included.
Regimental nicknames
RegimentNickname(s)1st Hussars 1st Hosers5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA Five Tribe7th Toronto Regiment7 Guns 7 Tor The Black Hand8th Canadian HussarsCrazy 8s:Wiktionary Appendix:Canadian English military slang after the card game. The Hussies: a general military slang for Hussar Regiments Eight C.H. Channel 812e Régiment blindé du Canada 12th Rubber Boot Company48th Highlanders of CanadaThe Glamour Boys The Dirty Four Dozen
A-G RegimentNickname(s)The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers)The Algoons (from World War II) The GonksThe Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) Ash CansThe British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)Big Chinese Restaurant Billion Chinese Regiment: Derogatory. In reference to the large Asian population to inhabit Vancouver. BCR's The DukesThe Brockville RiflesThe Brocks The Broken RiflesThe Calgary Highlanders (10th Canadians) Calgary Highgranders The Cal HighsThe Canadian Grenadier Guards The Guards Canadian Girl Guides Can’t Get Girls Can't Goddam GraduateThe Essex and Kent Scottish Eeks and SqueaksThe Fort Garry Horse The Garry’sGovernor General's Foot Guards GooGooFooGoos / Gugga Fuggas Gustav Gone For GoodThe Governor General's Horse Guards Gugga HuggasThe Grey and Simcoe Foresters Farmer Johns The Gay and Simple Farmers
H-Q RegimentNickname(s)The Hastings and Prince Edward RegimentPlough Jockeys: from World War II, bestowed because of the regiment's rural rootsRegimental website: The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Hasty P's: a play on their name and the short 'bathroom breaks' during wartime Hasty Pasties: another play on their name. Hasty PreediesThe King’s Own Calgary Regiment Kay OhsThe Lake Superior Scottish Regiment The Lake Sups / The Lake SoupsThe Lincoln and Welland Regiment The Lincs The Lincoln Welders The Lincs and WinksLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Lady Strathcona’s Riding Club Strathcona's Strats Straths (WWII era)The Lorne Scots Regiment The Forlorn Scots Horny Lornies: Derogatory. this likely originated from an urban legend regarding their yellow hackles, thought to be a battle disgrace (I can't find any record of such a disgrace).The Loyal Edmonton Regiment The Loyal Eds The Loyal Eddies The EddiesOntario RegimentOn TarsPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPing Pong Champions of Long Island The Patricias The Princess Pats The Pats Dirty Cowboy: likely referring to the region their primary HQ resides in. The Picklies. Derogatory, in reference to the unit acronym "PPCLI" being pronounced as one word. The Vicious Patricias. The PPCNR, a play on words from the initials of the regiment and one of the railroads to their western HQThe Queen's Own Rifles of Canada The Queen’s Own Rentals Quickest out of Ridgeway: Derogatory: referring to the Battle of Ridgeway.
R-Z RegimentNickname(s)Royal 22nd Regiment The Vandoos, a play on the English of “vingt deux” which is French for 22 Les Vingt-DeuxThe Royal Canadian Dragoons The RCD’s DragoonThe Royal Canadian RegimentThe RCR: the official short title of the regiment The Royals The Junior Royals Rocking Chair Rangers Shino Boys: a First World War nickname given to The RCR by soldiers of other units, noting the regiment's high standards of dress and deportment Cited in Fighting the Hun From Saddle and Trench by Sgt. William R. Jones Run Chicken Run: Derogatory, a play on words deriving from the regiment's acronym and the purported illegal activity of a soldierThe Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) The Riley’sRoyal Newfoundland Regiment The Blue PutteesThe Royal Regiment of Canada The RoyalsRoyal Regina Rifles The Regina’s The John's: from the Second World War most members were from Saskatchewan farming backgrounds ie "Farm John"Royal Westminster Regiment The WestiesRoyal Winnipeg Rifles The Little Black DevilsThe Seaforth Highlanders of Canada The Seaforth’s The BullwinklesSouth Alberta Light Horse The Sally Horse Sally Ho Sally H.Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Then Glens Sand, Dust & GravelThe Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own) The Tor Scots The Trot ScotsThe Sherbrooke Hussars Sher H The Sherbie HerbiesLes Fusiliers de Sherbrooke Fuzz de Sher The Fuzzy WuzziesWest Nova Scotia Regiment The West Novas
See also
List of nicknames of British Army regiments List of warships by nickname Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia Nicknames of U.S. Army divisions
Notes
References Montague, Art (2011). Canadian Forces: An Historical Salute To Those On The Front Line. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia: MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc. Mowat, Farley (1955). The Regiment. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.