Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders

Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. They have served in the War of 1812, the Great War and World War II. They are descended from many Canadian militia units and two regular British Army regiments. They are also rooted in a community that began as a soldiers' settlement.

Early history
After the surrender at Yorktown, veterans of the King's Royal Regiment of New York and the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), were given land on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River so they could defend Upper Canada from the new enemy to the south. In 1804, veterans of the Glengarry Fencibles, a Highland regiment that served in Europe with the British Army, settled just north of the American Revolutionary War veterans. The first militia unit west of Montreal was organized at Cornwall in 1787 under the command of Major John Macdonnell, late of the K.R.R.N.Y. During the War of 1812, the area militia and the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles helped the British Army fight off the Americans. For a long time, breaks in unit continuity with the pre-Confederation period denied the regiment the "Niagara" battle honour and the status of oldest anglophone militia regiment in Canada. However, on the occasion of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in 2012, the Government of Canada permitted Canadian regiments to perpetuate 1812 militia and Fencible units thus awarding the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders three War of 1812 battle honours, including the battle honour NIAGARA which had been awarded to the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles.

After 1814, and Stormont and Dundas counties soon had two militia regiments each and Glengarry County had four. All units fought the rebels of 1837-1838, two in Lower Canada and three at the 1838 Battle of the Windmill, where 10 militiamen were killed and 13 wounded.

The 1855 Militia Act introduced voluntary service, and the United Counties raised four independent companies in 1862. After the 1866 Fenian raid, which aroused great fear of invasion, these companies and four others amalgamated in 1868 to form the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion of Infantry, which was called out against the Fenians in 1870. Nine Stormont and Glengarry men served in the Second Boer War.

The Great War
At the outbreak of the Great War, the Regiment - in Highland dress since 1904 - guarded the St. Lawrence canals until December 1915, when the United Counties raised the 154th Battalion for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. (The 59th also contributed soldiers to the 2nd, 21st, 38th, 73rd and 253rd Battalions of the CEF.) The 154 th Battalion went overseas but was broken up to  reinforce the "Iron Second," the 21st and 38th Battalions and the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Of the 154th Battalion soldiers, 143 were killed and 397 wounded; their efforts are commemorated in 24 decorations and six battle honours. More than 100 members of the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment were killed while serving with the CEF, including Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, who won the Victoria Cross in 1918.

Nunney joined the 59th in 1913 and enlisted in the 38th Battalion, which is perpetuated by the The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own), so the Camerons also claim him; however, his medals hang today in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess of the SD&G Highlanders.

The 59th became The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in 1922. Despite the Great Depression, the unit thrived, moving into a new armoury in Cornwall in 1939.

Second World War
When the Second World War began, the Regiment once again guarded the St. Lawrence canals. Mobilization came in June 1940, and the Regiment absorbed companies from the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment and the Brockville Rifles to form an overseas battalion that went to England in 1941 as part of the 9th (Highland) Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

The SD&G Highlanders landed in Normandy on D Day and was the first regiment to enter Caen, reaching the centre of the city at 1300 hours, July 9, 1944. Fifty-five days later, 112 SD&G Highlanders had been killed in action and 312 more wounded in the Falaise Gap. The Regiment fought across France via Rouen, Eu, Le Hamel and Boulogne, moved into the Netherlands and took part in the amphibious landing across the Savojaardsplaat, and advanced to Knokke by way of Breskens. It moved next to Nijmegen to relieve the airborne troops, and helped guard the bridge while the Rhine crossing was prepared. The Regiment then fought through the Hochwald and north to cross the Ems-River and take the city of Leer. At dawn on May 3, 1945, German marine-units launched an attack on two forward companies of the SD&G Highlanders, occupying the village of Rorichum, near Oldersum, that was the final action during the war, VE Day found the SD&G Highlanders near Emden.

It was said of the Regiment that it "never failed to take an objective; never lost a yard of ground; never lost a man taken prisoner in offensive action." Altogether 3,342 officers and men served overseas with the SD&G Highlanders, of whom 278 were killed and 781 wounded; 74 decorations and 25 battle honours were awarded. A total of 3,418 officers and men served in the 2nd Battalion (Reserve); of them, 1,882 went on active service and 27 were killed. A third battalion raised in July 1945 served in the occupation of Germany and was disbanded in May 1946.

Post war
Designated the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (Machine Gun) in 1954 and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in 1959, the Regiment remains an infantry unit in the Highland tradition.

In 1968, to mark the regiment's centenary, the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders received the Freedom of the City of Cornwall.

The SD&G Highlanders crest
Superimposed upon a background of thistle, leaves and flowers the letters SDG; below, a raven on a rock superimposed on a maple leaf. A half scroll to the left of the maple leaf is inscribed  DILEAS; another to the right inscribed GU BAS; above, a semi-annulus inscribed GLENGARRY FENCIBLES and surmounted by the Crown. The whole superimposed upon a Saint Andrew’s cross,

Regimental headquarters
Cornwall Armoury; 505 Fourth Street East, Cornwall, Ontario K6H 2J7

Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regimental Museum
The museum collects, preserves and exhibits military artifacts and archival material related to the Regiment and its predecessor units in the three counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengary as well as material related to the military experiences of the residents of the three counties.

Tartan
Macdonell of Glengarry

Monuments, plaques, badges, honour rolls



 * Glengarry Fencibles
 * Provincial Plaque at Cornwall Armoury


 * 154th Battalion
 * Plaque and Honour Roll at Cornwall Armoury
 * Monument in Alexandria, Glengarry County


 * 1st Battalion
 * Plaque and Honour Roll at Cornwall Armoury
 * Honour Roll at Brockville Armoury
 * Plaque and Honour Roll at Royal Canadian Legion Number 9, Kingston
 * Badge at Memorial Center, Peterborough
 * Badge on D-Day tank "Bold" at Courseulles, France
 * Plaque and Badge on Chateau de Paix de Coeur and
 * Monument at "Rue des Glengarrians", Les Buissons, France
 * Memorial Tablet at Abbaye d’Ardenne
 * Monument, Badge and Plaque at Avenue President, Coty and Rue d’Authie, Caen, France
 * Mannequin at Bayeux Memorial Museum of The Battle of Normandy, France
 * Monument at "Place du Glens" at Urville, France
 * Plaque at Le Mairie
 * Plaque in the Hotel de Ville, Rouen, France
 * Plaque and Badge in the Citadel, Boulonge, France
 * Badge on Belgian Resistance Monument, Knokke/Heist, Belgium
 * Plaque at Town Hall, Breskens, Netherlands
 * Plaque at Town Hall, Hoofdplaat, Netherlands

The 59th Battalion Colours are laid up in the Officers' Mess and the 154th Battalion Colours are laid up in the Trinity Anglican Church, Second Street, Cornwall, Ontario.

Honours and Awards

1812-2013 SD&G Highlanders

The war of 1812-14

'''Most honourable order of the bath companion (C.B)

Lieutenant-Colonel MACDONELL, (Red) George

First World War

The Victoria Cross

Sergeant NUNNEY, Claude

'''Bar to Military Medal

Sergeant CATTANACH, W.J. Sergeant Countryman, G.G.

Order of The British Empire

Officer (O.B.E.) Lieutenant-Colonel SMITH, A.A.

'''Member (M.B.E.)

Captain McLACHLAN, A.

'''Military Cross

Captain FRANKLIN, W.J. Lieutenant GILLIE, G.D. Captain HUNTER, F.H. Captain IRWIN, B.L. Lieutenant JOHNSTON, W.T. Hon. Capt. MACDONALD, E.J. Lieutenant McDONALD, J.R. Captain MUNROE, F. Captain ROBINSON, F.G. Captain SPEER, G.A.

'''Military Medal

Private ANNAND, G. Sergeant AULT, H. Sergeant CATTANACH, W.J. Sergeant COUNTRYMAN, G.G. Private DeROCHIE, R. Private DEWAR, D.A. Private EASTMAN, H. Private GUINDON, W. Private JOLY, H. L/Corporal KEMP, D. Private MacDONELL, A. Private MARCELLUS, L.E. Sergeant McINTYRE, J.H. Sergeant NUNNEY, Claude Sergeant PITT, L. Private PULFORD, E. Private ROCHON, A. C.S.M. SKUCE, J. M.

'''Distinguished Conduct Medal Private LALONDE, A. Private McPHEE, A. Sergeant NUNNEY, Claude. Private RITCHIE, K. A.

'''Meritorious Service Medal

Corporal EATON, W. H.

'''Mentioned In Despatches

Captain FRANKLIN, W. J. Private McDONALD, W.

WORLD WAR II

1st battalion

Bar to Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant-Colonel CAMERON, Donald C. Lieutenant-Colonel ROWLEY, Roger

Distinguished Service Order

Major ARMSTRONG, John Gordon Major BRADEN, James Wallace Lieutenant-Colonel CAMERON, Donald C. Major CLARKE, Gordon E. Major FROMAN, J. Lieutenant –Colonel GEMMELL, Neil Morrison Major PETERSON, John Frederick Lieutenant-Colonel ROWLEY, Roger Major STOTHART, John Gilmour

Order of the British Empire

OFFICER (O.B.E.)

Colonel DUNN, Michael S.

MEMBER (M.B.E.)

Major GRAY, John M. Major IRVINE, A. Marshall Captain NICHOLSON, Douglas Major WHELPTON, E. W. Military Cross

Hon. Major BRAIN, R. T. F. Captain BRAYLEY, John A. Captain DURE, John Alexander Lieutenant GOODMAN, Frederick Clare Lieutenant HALL, Hugh Baldwin Colonel MacRAE, Donald F. Lieutenant STEPHEN, Alexander H. L. Lieutenant STEWART, Donald C. Captain WATT, John Arthur

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Private CROZIER, Gordon Cecil Sergeant HOWARTH, Fred

Military Medal

Corporal ATCHISON, Hugh Charles Corporal BAKER, Ernest Wilfred Corporal COULAS, Melvin Louis Private CAMPBELL, Gerald Robert Corporal DAVIS, Thomas R. L/Sergeant DONALD, Alvin Clifford Corporal HANDLEY, Clifford John W.O.1 (RSM) LOCKHART, Fred A. Sergeant MacDONALD, Duncan K. Corporal McLENNAN, Robert Private MacLEAN, Peter Alexander Private MENZIES, Leonard S. Private MILLER, Ernest Morris Corporal MILNE, D. J. Private MATTHEWS, Chesley Ray Private NICHOLAS, Donald Robert Sergeant POST, Charles A. Private SCOTT, Edward Davis Private SNYDER, David Harold Private WHITEACRE, James A. W.

British Empire Medal

Sergeant DAINTON, Arthur Thomas

Mentioned in Dispatches

Major ARMSTRONG, John Gordon Corporal BARR, H. A. Lieutenant-Colonel CAMERON, Donald Corporal COYNE, Leonard Joseph Corporal DAVIS, George E. Sergeant DENNY, Donald Emerson Colonel DUNN, Michael S. Lieutenant-Colonel GEMMELL, N. M. Major IRVINE, A. Marshall Captain KINGSTON, Kenneth N. Captain LAFONTAINE, Shannon P. Private MacDONALD, John Hugh Captain MacNAUGHTON, James P. Colonel MacRAE, Donald Fraser L/Corporal MARCELLUS, Robert Donald L/Corporal MAY, Eric George Private MURRAY, Douglas Donald Captain NICHOLSON, Douglas L/Corporal PASQUINO, John James Sergeant PLUMRIDGE, Thomas Private ROCK, Gerald Sidney Oswald Captain STEWART, D. L. Private STOODLEY, Herbert D.

Croix De Guerre Avec Etoile Vermeil (France)

Lieutenant-Colonel GEMMELL, Neil Morrison

Croix De Guerre Avec Etoile Bronze (France)

Private BERTRAND, Raymond Sergeant HUMMELL, Glen Colboure Sergeant JONES, Wilfred

Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)

Major IRVINE, A. M.

2nd Battalion (While serving with other Arms)

Distinguished Service Order

F/O MacGILLVRAY, D.

Distinguished Flying Cross

P/O BLANCHER, C.F. F/L CARR, John F/O CLARK, L. W.

Order of the British Empire

MEMBER (M.B.E)

G/C CAMPBELL, C. J.

Distinguished Flying Medal

P/O Harrison, A.

'''Médaille militaire (Belgium)

Captain OWEN, J.R.

Afghanistan

Medal of Military Valour

Corporal MONNIN, Eric

Origin and lineage

 * 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion of Infantry - 3 July 1868
 * 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment - 8 May 1900
 * Stormont Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders - 15 February 1922
 * Stormont Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders (MG) - 1 September 1954
 * Stormont Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders - 1 August 1959

Perpetuation

 * War of 1812: Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles (commemorated), 1st Regiment of Dundas Militia (1812–15), 1st & 2nd Regiments of Glengarry Militia (1812–15) and 1st Regiment of Stormont Militia (1812–15)


 * First World War: 154th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force