31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)
31 Combat Engineer Regiment (31 CER or "The Elgins"), 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 Elgins 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 | |
| Active | 1866 - |
| Country | Canada |
| Branch | Canadian Military Engineers |
| Role | Combat Engineers |
| Size | Two Engineer Squadrons |
| Part of | 31 Canadian Brigade Group |
| Garrison/HQ | St. Thomas, Ontario |
| Nickname(s) | The Elgins |
| Motto(s) | Ubique "Everywhere" |
| Anniversaries | December 4th (St. Barbara's Day) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | LCol B Ashford |
| Honorary Colonel | Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin |
| Honorary Lt. Colonel | Mark Sargent |
| RSM | CWO Johnathan Kisslinger |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | 31 CER |
The history of The Elgins
| 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 |
| 1946 | The Elgin Regiment (Infantry) |
| 1954 | The Elgin Regiment (27th Armoured Regiment) |
| 1958 | The Elgin Regiment (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps) |
| 1997 | 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) |
| 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.[1] |
| 2013 | 31 CER(The Elgins) perpetuates 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (The Kangaroos) |
Afghanistan
Since the beginning of Canadian combat operations in Afghanistan in 2002, 31 CER has sent members to augment Regular Force units for deployments while also acting as a "feeder" unit, training Reserve Force members who 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 |
Notes
- "Restructuring The Army Reserve Engineers" (PDF). CMEA. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
Order of precedence
| Preceded by 5 Combat Engineer Regiment |
31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) | Succeeded by |
See also
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