56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA

The 56th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery is a Canadian Army Reserve artillery regiment based in Brantford, Ontario. The regiment is currently part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.

The 56th Field Regiment, RCA, parades at the Sgt William Merrifield Armoury, at 18 Brant Avenue, Brantford, Ontario.

Allocated Batteries

 * 10th Field Battery, RCA
 * 54th Field Battery, RCA
 * 69th Field Battery, RCA

Lineage
The 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA originated in York, Ontario on 28 September 1866 as the 37th "Haldimand Battalion of Rifles". It was redesignated as the 37th Regiment "Haldimand Rifles" on 8 May 1900 and The Haldimand Rifles on 1 May 1920. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with The Dufferin Rifles of Canada and 'C Company' of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (now The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)) and redesignated The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada. It was redesignated the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada on 7 November 1940 and The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada on 1 June 1945. It was converted to artillery on 1 April 1946 and redesignated the 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA. On 1 October 1954, it was amalgamated with the 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA, and redesignated the 56th Field Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA. It was redesignated the 56th Field Artillery Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA on 12 April 1960 and the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA on 20 November 1975.

The Dufferin Rifles of Canada originated in Brantford, Ontario on 28 September 1866 as the 38th "Brant Battalion of Infantry". It was redesignated the 38th "Brant" Battalion of Infantry on 30 November 1866, the 38th "Brant" Battalion of Rifles on 24 March 1871 and the 38th "Brant" Battalion or "Dufferin Rifles" on 3 July 1874, the 38th Battalion "Dufferin Rifles of Canada" on 28 September 1883, the 38th Regiment "Dufferin Rifles of Canada" on 8 May 1900 and The Dufferin Rifles of Canada on 1 May 1920. On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with The Haldimand Rifles and C Company of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC.

The 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA originated in Simcoe, Ontario on 28 September 1866 as the 39th "Norfolk Battalion of Rifles". It was redesignated as the 39th Regiment "Norfolk Rifles" on 8 May 1900, The Norfolk Rifles on 1 May 1920 and The Norfolk Regiment of Canada on 15 November 1928. It was converted to artillery on 15 December 1936 and designated the 25th (Norfolk) Field Brigade, RCA. It was redesignated the 25th Reserve (Norfolk) Field Brigade, RCA on 7 November 1940, the 45th Reserve (Norfolk) Field Regiment, RCA on 5 September 1942, the 25th Field Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA on 1 April 1946 and the 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA on 28 November 1946. On 1 October 1954, it was amalgamated with the 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA.

Perpetuations
The 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA perpetuates the Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers (The Car Brigade) and the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Norfolk Militia (1812–15) from the War of 1812.

From the First World War the Regiment perpetuates the 41st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF, the 4th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF,the 36th Battalion, CEF, the 114th Battalion (Haldimand), CEF, the 125th Battalion (1st Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF, the 133rd Battalion (Norfolk's Own), CEF, and 215th Battalion (2nd Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF.

The Great War
The 4th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Britain on 3 October 1914. It disembarked in France on 12 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.

The 36th Battalion, CEF was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 19 June 1915. The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 4 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1917.

The 114th Battalion (Haldimand), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 31 October 1916. Its personnel were absorbed by the 35th Reserve Battalion, CEF and the 36th Reserve Battalion, CEF on 11 November 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 21 May 1917.

The 125th Battalion (1st Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 7 August 1916. The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until February 1917, when it was allotted to the 14th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Division in England. On 16 April 1918 its personnel were absorbed by the 8th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.

The 133rd Battalion (Norfolk's Own), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 30 October 1916, where its personnel were absorbed by the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF on 12 November 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 17 July 1917.

The 215th Battalion (2nd Overseas Battalion of 38th Regiment Dufferin Rifles), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Britain on 29 April 1917, where its personnel were absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Battalion, CEF on 18 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.

The 41st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 18 August 1915. The battery disembarked in France on 14 July 1916, where it provided artillery support as part of the 11th Brigade, CFA, CEF in France and Flanders until 24 March 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the 30th Battery, CFA, CEF and the 40th Battery, CFA, CEF. The battery was disbanded on 1 November 1920.

The Second World War
The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada mobilized The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada, CASF on 7 November 1941. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 17th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Division. The battalion was disbanded on 8 March 1945.