31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)

31 Combat Engineer Regiment (31 CER or "The Elgin's"),[1][2] is currently a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, supporting 31 Canadian Brigade Group of the 4th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Central Area). It consists of two squadrons: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas, Ontario. The Elgin's existed before the Confederation of Canada, tracing their origin to 1866 when the Militia Act officially created the 25th, Elgin, Battalion of Infantry from five local militia companies.

31 Combat Engineer Regiment
31e Régiment du Génie
Cap badge of the Elgin Regiment from World War I
Active1866 -
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Military Engineers
RoleCombat Engineers
SizeTwo Engineer Squadrons
Part of31 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQSt. Thomas, Ontario: HQ and 7 ES; Waterloo, Ontario: 48 FES.
Nickname(s)The Elgins
Motto(s)Ubique "Everywhere" and Officium Premum "Duty First"
Anniversaries4 December (St. Barbara's Day)
EngagementsWorld War I

World War II
War in Afghanistan

Commanders
Commanding OfficerLCol Scott Burke
Honorary ColonelAndrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin
Honorary Lt. ColonelHLCol Mark Sargent
RSMCWO Arthur Churcher
Insignia
Abbreviation31 CER (The Elgins)

The history of The Elgin's
Year Change
1812 31 CER perpetuates the Royal Corps of Artificers and Craftsmen
1866 25th Elgin Battalion of Infantry
1900 25th Elgin Regiment
1903 (disbanded)
1904 25th Elgin Regiment (re-formed)
1915 Canadian Expeditionary Force:
18th, 33rd, and 91st Battalions raised
1920 The Elgin Regiment
1921 Canadian Expeditionary Force:
1st Battalion (perpetuating 91st Battalion CEF)
2nd (Reserve) Battalion
1942 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)
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.[3]
2013 31 CER (The Elgin's) perpetuates 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (The Kangaroos)

The Elgin Regiment held the following battle honours from the Great War.[4] After conversion to combat engineering, these honours became dormant, being replaced by the CME's honorary distinction Ubique.

Perpetuations

War of 1812
  • Provincial Corps of Artificers[1]

Fenian raids
  • 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company at St. Thomas, formed 17 July 1856 which merged with No. 2 Company or (Volunteer Marine Company at Port Stanley), No. 3 Company (or Volunteer Militia Company of Infantry at Vienna), No. 4 Company (or Tilsonburg Infantry Company) and No. 5 Company (or Aylmer Infantry Company) to form 25th Elgin Battalion of Infantry in 1866.[5]

The Great War

Second World War

Alliances

Afghanistan

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 CER's.

Afghanistan rotations
Year Rotation Members
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

See also

Notes
  1. Selected to be borne on colours and appointments

References
  1. "31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)". Government of Canada. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. "31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)". Canadian Army. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. "Restructuring The Army Reserve Engineers" (PDF). CMEA. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. Appendix to General Order No. 71 of 1930, page 7
  5. Defence, National (January 28, 2019). "31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)". www.canada.ca.
  6. "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  7. 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"


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