| Synopsis of the Problem Error in Judgement The Honourable Joseph Howe a former member of the Halifax Rifles and one of the Province’s five Premiers to serve with the Regiment, gave this Gem of Wisdom to all Canadians " A wise nation preserves its records gathers up its muniments, decorates the tombs of its illustrious dead, repairs its great structures and fosters national pride and love of country, by perpetual reference to the sacrifices and glories of the past" .This admonition and Jack Granatstein's book "Who Killed Canadian History" are relevant to what happened to the Halifax Rifles(RCAC) in 1965 when it was removed from the Militia Order of Battle. It was viewed then, as it is today, an egregious error in judgement by Paul Hellyer the Defence Minister. Regimental History The Regiment’s roots are with the local Halifax Militia formed in December 1749 to protect citizens of the newly formed settlement of Halifax. Through the years, it evolved into formed companies, numbered companies and eventually into six named companies; the Scottish, Mayflower, Halifax Rifles, Irish, Dartmouth and the Chebucto Greys. From these the 63rd Battalion Halifax Rifles was formed with seniority from 14 May 1860. The Regiment saw service in; the Riel Rebellion 1885 , the South African War and World Wars 1 and 11. Emblazoned on its Guidon are Battle Honours for: N.W. CANADA 1885; SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900; MOUNT SORREL and SOMME 1916; ARRAS, Hill 70 and YPRES 1917; AMIENS, PURSUIT TO MONS and HINDENBURG LINE 1918. |
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| Nova Scotia's oldest and Canada's third oldest Regiment was moved to the Supplementary Order of Battle for seemingly political reasons. the Regiment's service in the South African War and World Wars 1 and 11 was ignored. the strategic and military importance of Nova Scotia, with its vulnerable 4000 kilometer coast line on the Atlantic, was ignored. Nova Scotia was the lone province to lose its only armoured regiment. the City of Halifax lost the only Regiment ever to bear its name and the historical association between the two, dating to the City's founding in 1749, was ignored. Canada’s four Atlantic Provinces lost their only remaining “City named Regiment” while 16 such regiments remained with all other provinces represented.( Annex A ) |
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| Reactivate the Halifax Rifles The purpose of this paper is to explain the background to the initiative of the Halifax Rifles Association to have its Regiment re-activated and to provide some facts, not previously recorded, for those who have the greatest influence on the initiative’s success or failure. Among them; Military and Political Authorities, our Nova Scotia representative in the Federal Cabinet and MPs, and the Media. |
| In 1965 the Minister of National Defence moved the Halifax Rifles (RCAC) from active status to the supplementary order of battle for no recorded reason. Archival evidence reveals that it was not a military decision. As a result; |
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| 10 August 2001 |
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