is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is at the Quebec City Armoury in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The name of the regiment commemorates another older French-speaking Canadian militia light infantry unit, the Canadian Voltigeurs (raised in 1812 and disbanded in 1815). The founder of the Canadian Voltigeurs, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, was the father of the two men who raised . The regiment was formed in March 1862, with its headquarters in Quebec City, by the amalgamation into a regiment of eight independent volunteer militia rifle companies. The first of these companies was originally raised in December 1861. Between 1862 and 1867 these companies were frequently disbanded, reformed and renumbered. In 1942 it provided an armoured regiment.

The regiment has provided soldiers for service with the United Nations and NATO in places like the Golan Heights, Cyprus, the former Yugoslavia, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Haiti.

Cap badge

Description

The arms of Salaberry within an annulus Vert fimbriated and inscribed in capital letters Argent, all surmounting the cross of the Order of St. Louis Argent, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and above a scroll Argent inscribed with the Motto in capital letters Gules.

Symbolism

The Crown represents service to the Sovereign. The Voltigeurs Canadiens (1812-1815), who were organized as a temporary British Army regular unit and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry for service during the War of 1812, had the reputation of repeatedly repulsing superior American forces. His son, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles René-Léonidas de Salaberry, was the first commanding officer of the regiment when it was formed in 1862. The badge, incorporating the arms and motto "" of the family of d'Irumberry de Salaberry, was adopted in 1892 in recognition of this family's services to the military of Canada and the regiment. The Order of Saint Louis, instituted by King Louis XIV of France in 1693, was a notable honour in New France. "" is a form of the regimental title.

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File:V de Q camp flag.jpg|Regimental camp flag

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Perpetuations

War of 1812: Les Voltigeurs de Québec perpetuate the Provincial Corps of Light Infantry (Canadian Voltigeurs), the 1st and 2nd Battalions (City of Quebec) (1812–1815), the Beauport Division (1812–1815) and the 6th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia.

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File:M 51 12 9e voltigeur quebec 1ed.jpg|1914

File:Voltigeurs de Québec3.JPG|La Musique des Voltigeurs de Québec at the Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands in August 2012.

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Fire

During the night of April 4, 2008, the Quebec City Armoury, (formerly Grande-Allée Armoury ()), built in 1887, was destroyed during a fire. In October 2008, regimental institutions and their insurance firm started a lawsuit against the Department of National Defence, for damages, blaming negligence on the part of the government for failing to let the insurance firm personnel inspect the site after the fire. In November 2012, the Government of Canada announced that the armoury would be rebuilt and would remain the historic home of the regiment. The re-built armoury was scheduled to be completed by 2017 and was reopened on 12 May 2018, with the ceremonial reopening presided by the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, who was the reviewing officer and keynote speaker.

Battle honours

Affiliation

  • The Royal Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot). - Les voltigeurs were allied to The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (DWR) and The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (PWO) prior to the 2006 merger of the PWO, Green Howards and DWR into The new Yorkshire Regiment.

Bibliography

  • Les Voltigeurs De Québec : Premier Régiment Canadien-Français by Jacques Castonguay (1987)

Legacy

The Royal Canadian Mint issued a 5-cent silver proof coin celebrating Les Voltigeurs de Québec in 2000; the coin features a baton, drums, and a sash of the Regimental Insignia of Les Voltigeurs de Québec.

Notes and references

  • Regimental website
  • Historica’s Heritage Minute video docudrama about Les Voltigeurs de Québec. (Adobe Flash Player.)

Order of precedence