5-1, Royal Canadian Regiment Cap Badge, George V Pattern
W. Scully Maker Marked
2 Lug fastenings as made with a slider pin.
Narrow script type.
No 5 in Symbols of Service Book.
The Royal Canadian Regiment, as Canada’s only permanent force infantry regiment was called out on active duty July 29th 1914 to serve on home defence duties guarding strategic locations. Effective August 5th 1914 the establishment of the regiment was increased from 596 to 922 other ranks. On September 5th the establishment was again increased to 1,030 other ranks. On the 19th August 1914 a request was made by the Army Council in Great Britain for a Canadian regiment to release the 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment serving on Garrison duty on the Island of Bermuda for service on the Western Front. The RCR volunteered for this duty and almost all of Canada’s trained soldiers, with their invaluable pool of knowledge, sailed for Bermuda from Halifax on September 9th 1914 aboard the ‘CANADA’. These additional personnel were never part of the Permanent establishment of the regiment. On the regiment sailing for Bermuda around 300 Permanent Force soldiers remained in Canada to maintain the schools of instruction at Halifax. At Halifax Garrison duties previously performed by the RCR were taken over by a Composite Battalion raised from the militia the regimental numbers block for this battalion being 488151 488650. On its arrival in Bermuda the regiment relieved the 2nd Lincolns who returned to Canada aboard the ‘CANADA’ which sailed for England with the 1st Contingent October 3rd 1914. The RCR was to remain on Bermuda until being relieved by the 38th Battalion CEF August 12th/13th 1915. The RCR returned to Canada on August 17th where the regiment was re-equipped and attested into the CEF all receiving new CEF regimental numbers which were used for the duration of WWI. The CEF regimental numbers block for the RCR was 477001 - 480000. After being re-equipped the regiment sailed for England on August 26th 1915 where in December 1915 was assigned to the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division with which it was to serve for the duration of the war. The CEF Royal Canadian Regiment component which was authorized August 8th 1914 was disbanded under General Order 149 of September 15th 1920. During the course of WWI 121 officers and 2,992 other ranks served in the RCR of which 33 officers were killed in action and 78 wounded and 671 other ranks killed in action with 2,2023 wounded.
