By Timothy J. Stewart CD
Regimental Historian
Happy belated birthday to The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Own) which turned 100-years-old on September 1.
The Regiment is headquartered at Captain Hutcheson VC Armoury on Birmingham Street. Its founding Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Harboyttle had brought the 75th (Mississauga) Battalion, the predecessor to the Toronto Scottish home from the Great War in 1919 and requested the 75th Battalion be given wartime service and become a permanent unit in the post-war militia.
TORONTO Scottish Regiment
In May 1920 the Militia Dept., authorized the forming of the Mississauga Regiment to carry on the traditions of the 75th Battalion. The Mississauga Regiment was re-designated The Toronto Scottish Regiment on September 1, 1921 at Lieutenant-Colonel Harbottle’s request because he felt Toronto had a large enough “Scottish” population to support two regiments, the other being the 48th Highlanders.
Harbottle sought and was granted affiliation with the London Scottish Regiment in England and adopted its distinctive uniform cloth of Hodden Grey in 1937 by Her Colonel-in-Chief on May 22, 1939, during the Royal Tour of Canada.
Her Majesty presented Regimental Colours (flags) to her regiment on the campus of the University of Toronto.
TORONTO Scottish Regiment marching
The Regiment was mobilized again on September 1, 1939, for war service and was one of the very first Canadian regiments to arrive in the United Kingdom prior to Christmas 1939. On April 21, 1940, the Regiment had the honour of mounting the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visited her Regiment on three more occasions during the war.
The Toronto Scottish Regiment was designated a machine-gun support battalion and because of its specialized role. A detachment took part in the raid on Dieppe, August 19, 1942, and following D-Day, June 6, 1944, until the ceasefire on May 7, 1945, the Toronto Scottish provided fire support for every action involving the 2nd Canadian Division and for other formations in the First Canadian Army.
That support included 36 medium machine guns and 16 awarded from the Great War. The active battalion of the Regiment was disbanded in December 19454, having reverted once again to an infantry militia battalion.
Following the war, Her Majesty visited her Regiment again six times, and again in 1989 on the 50th anniversary of her first visit.
Today, the Toronto Scottish is an army reserve unit that augments the regular force. Since World War II, members have served with the UN’s army in Korea and UN peacekeeping and NATO forces in Cambodia, Bosnia, Croatia, West Germany, Cyprus, Golan Heights and many other countries.
Domestically, officers and soldiers of the Regiment have been called to assist local authorities in the clean-up following Hurricane Hazel that rocked Etobicoke in 1954, the Winnipeg flood of 1997, The Eastern Ontario and Quebec ice story of 1998 and snowstorm that crippled Toronto in 1999 to name a few.
A contingent from the Regiment and Regimental family in 2000 participated in The Queen Mother’s 100th birthday in London, unveiled a plaque in Dieppe, France, and a monument in Caen, Normandy to commemorate its World War II battalion.
With the passing of our beloved Colonel-in-Chief in April 2002, His Royal Highness, Charles, Prince of Wales, was asked to accept the position of Colonel-in-Chief.
His Royal Highness Prince Edward on behalf of his brother Prince Charles visited in 2015 and in a special ceremony presented the Battle Honour Afghanistan to the Regiment. More than 60 Tor Scots served in Afghanistan.
Two years later, the Regiment was given a Direct Fire Support Tasking and is currently training soldiers on the .50 calibre machine gun, C16 grenade launcher and the TOW missile system all in preparation to deploy a platoon overseas when called upon.
For several months in 2020, members of the Toronto Scottish along with thousands of Armed Forces personnel across Canada were called on to assist in COVID-19 relief efforts. Under the operational name “Laser” Tor Scots found themselves in Ontario Long Term Care facilities assisting with custodial duties such as cleaning, washing, scrubbing and sanitizing.
Regimental fatalities through both world wars in the 20th century number more than 1,000, with another 3,000 plus wounded in body and mind. The motto of the Toronto Scottish regiment is CARRY ON and it will continue to do so as it moves into its second century of service to Canada.