Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders

Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, 4th Canadian Division and is headquartered in Cornwall, Ontario.

Regimental badge
Superimposed upon a background of thistle, leaves and flowers the letters SDG; below, a raven on a rock superimposed on a maple leaf. A half scroll to the left of the maple leaf is inscribed  DILEAS; another to the right inscribed GU BAS; above, a semi-annulus inscribed GLENGARRY FENCIBLES and surmounted by the Crown. The whole superimposed upon a Saint Andrew's cross,

Lineage
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders was raised in Cornwall, Ontario, on 3 July 1868, as the 59th "Stormont and Glengarry" Battalion of Infantry. It was redesignated as the 59th "Stormont" Battalion of Infantry on 22 June 1883; as the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion of Infantry on 23 March 1888; and as the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment on 8 May 1900. Following the Great War it was redesignated as The Stormont and Glengarry Regiment on 12 March 1920; as The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders on 15 February 1922; as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders on 7 November 1940; as The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders on 24 May 1946; and as The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (Machine Gun) on 1 September 1954 before returning to its designation as the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders on 1 August 1959.

War of 1812

 * 1st Regiment of Dundas Militia
 * 1st Regiment of Glengarry Militia
 * 2nd Regiment of Glengarry Militia
 * 1st Regiment of Prescott Militia
 * 1st Regiment of Stormont Militia
 * Glengarry Light Infantry

Great War

 * 154th Battalion (Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry), CEF

Fenian Raids
In 1866, the various companies in the counties were called out for service along the St Lawrence River frontier, serving at Prescott and Cornwall. The 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion was again called out on active service on 24 May 1870. It served on the St. Lawrence River frontier at Prescott and Cornwall until it was removed from active service on 1 June 1870.

Great War
Details of the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.

The 154th (Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry) Battalion, CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 25 October 1916 where it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 31 January 1917, when its personnel were absorbed by the '6th Reserve Battalion, CEF'. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 17 July 1917.

Second World War
Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, as The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF (Details), for local protection duties. Those details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.

The regiment mobilized The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF on 7 November 1940. The unit embarked for Great Britain on 19 July 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France, as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 January 1946.

The regiment mobilized the 3rd Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CIC, CAOF on 1 June 1945 for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. This battalion was disbanded on 24 May 1946.

Conflict in Afghanistan
The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.

History
After the surrender at Yorktown, veterans of the King's Royal Regiment of New York and the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), were given land on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River so they could defend Upper Canada from the new enemy to the south. In 1804, veterans of the Glengarry Fencibles, a Highland regiment that served in Europe with the British Army, settled just north of the American Revolutionary War veterans. The first militia unit west of Montreal was organized at Cornwall in 1787 under the command of Major John Macdonnell, late of the K.R.R.N.Y.

War of 1812
When the War of 1812 broke out in June 1812, the Militiamen from the area gathered to prevent an invasion of their homeland and the companies were formed into the various county militias. These regiments fought throughout the war, with many men from the regiments being transferred to the Incorporated Battalion of Canadian Militia fighting in the Niagara Peninsula at the Battle of Lundy's Lane.

The militias of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry were on active duty within the counties and fought in battles in Dundas County, Stormont County, and New York. Their principle engagements were:

1812
 * Battle of Matilda
 * First Battle of Ogdensburg
 * Battle of French Mills

1813
 * Second Battle of Ogdensburg
 * Battle of Point Iroquois
 * Skirmish at Doran's Farm
 * Battle of Hoople's Creek
 * Battle of Crysler's Farm
 * Occupation of Cornwall

1814
 * Raid on Madrid
 * Salmon River Raid

For a long time, breaks in unit continuity with the pre-Confederation period denied the regiment the "Niagara" battle honour and the status of oldest anglophone militia regiment in Canada. However, on the occasion of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in 2012, the Government of Canada permitted Canadian regiments to perpetuate and officially commemorate 1812 militia and Fencible units thus awarding the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders three War of 1812 battle honours, including the battle honour NIAGARA which had been awarded to the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles.

After 1814, and Stormont and Dundas counties soon had two militia regiments each and Glengarry County had four.

Rebellions of 1837–1838
All units fought the rebels of 1837–1838, two in Lower Canada at the Battle of Beauharnois and three at the 1838 Battle of the Windmill, where 10 militiamen were killed and 13 wounded.

Fenian Raids
The 1855 Militia Act introduced voluntary service, and the United Counties raised many independent companies in 1862 following the Trent Affair. The volunteer militia regiments raised in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry during the 1850s-60s were:
 * Cornwall Troop of Volunteer Militia Cavalry – raised on 15 February 1856, under Capt. James J. Dickinson, with Lt. William D. Wood and Cornet John Kewan. The troop provided an honour guard for the visit of the Prince of Wales to Dickinson's Landing in 1860. This troop was disbanded in March 1865
 * Williamsburg Troop of Volunteer Militia Cavalry – raised on 16 October 1856, under Capt. George W. Brouse, with Lt. J.A. Weegar and Cornet J.G. Merkley. This troop was disbanded in 1858
 * 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Williamsburg – raised on 16 October 1856, under Capt. Martin Carman, with Lt. William Gordon and Ens. William Casselman. Capt. Carman was replaced by Capt. James Holden in 1857. This company was disbanded in April 1864
 * Morrisburg Rifle Company – raised on 22 January 1862, under Capt. Alex. Farlinger, with Lt. Asaph B. Sherman and Ens. Charles P. Empey. This company was disbanded in November 1862
 * 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Cornwall – raised on 22 January 1862, under Capt. Darby Bergin, with Lt. James A. Macdonell and Ens. William McGillivray. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868
 * 2nd Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Cornwall – raised on 31 January 1862, under Capt. Edward Oliver, with Lt. George S. Jarvis and Ens. D.B. MacLennan. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868
 * Volunteer Militia Foot Artillery Company of Morrisburg – raised on 14 February 1862, under Capt. Thomas S. Rubidge, with Lt. Henry G. Merkley and 2nd Lt. Guy N. Loucks. This company was disbanded on 23 October 1868
 * Volunteer Militia Foot Artillery Company of Iroquois – raised on 8 May 1862, under Capt. Alex. Macdonell, with Lt. Rufus Carman and 2nd Lt. Samuel I. Boyd. This company was disbanded on 27 March 1874
 * Cornwall Infantry Company – raised on 14 November 1862, under Capt. Jacob F. Pringle, with Lt. D.B. McLennan and Ens. Hugh R. Macdonell. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868
 * Alexandria Infantry Company – raised on 19 November 1862, under Capt. Lauchlin McDougald, with Lt. William McL. Grant and Ens. D.A. McDonald. This company was disbanded in September 1865
 * Morrisburg Infantry Company – raised on 19 November 1862, under Capt. Isaac N. Rose, with Lt. William D. Mickle and Ens. Samuel Garvey. This company was disbanded in April 1864
 * Dixon's Corners Infantry Company – raised on 2 January 1863, under Capt. Robert Lowery, with Lt. Adam J. Dixon and Ens. Josephus Rose. This company was disbanded in April 1864
 * Kenyon Infantry Company – raised on 22 January 1863, under Capt. Angus K. Macdonald, with Lt. Ronald R. Macdonald and Ens. John A. Macdougald. This company was disbanded in April 1864
 * Lancaster Infantry Company – raised on 6 July 1866, under Capt. D.B. McLennan, with Lt. R. McLennan and Ens. J.J. McNaughton. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868
 * Williamstown Infantry Company – raised on 6 July 1866, under Capt. George H. McGillivray, with Lt. Donald Macmaster. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868
 * Aultsville Infantry Company – raised on 20 July 1866, under Capt. John J. Adams, with Lt. James H. Bredin and Ens. William D. Wilson. This company formed part of the 56th Grenville Battalion
 * Dickinson's Landing Infantry Company – raised on 20 July 1866, under Capt. William S. Wood, with Lt. Oscar Fulton and Ens. C. Archibald. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868
 * Dunvegan Infantry Company – raised on 21 August 1868, under Capt. Donald McDiarmid, with Lt. Duncan J. McCuaig and Ens. John J. McCuaig. Formed part of the 59th Battalion in 1868

In 1866, the various companies in the counties were called out for service along the St Lawrence River frontier, serving at Prescott and Cornwall. An attack on Prescott and subsequent advance to Ottawa was prevented by the presence of a considerable force of volunteers from Dundas, Stormont, and Glengarry, and a British gunboat on the river. The Fenians then moved eastward to Malone and vicinity, and an attack on Cornwall was expected, but the presence of three thousand troops there again dissuaded them from attacking.

The following local companies served on active duty during the 1866 raid: After the 1866 invasion, some of these companies amalgamated in 1868 to form the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion and was again called out on active service on 24 May 1870. It served on the St. Lawrence River frontier at Prescott and Cornwall until it was removed from active service on 1 June 1870.
 * 59th Cornwall Battalion – at Cornwall, would become the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion
 * Cornwall Company of Infantry and Rifles – at Cornwall, James Pliny Whitney served with the unit
 * Morrisburg Garrison Artillery – at Prescott
 * Iroquois Garrison Artillery – at Prescott
 * Cornwall Mounted Patrol (Cavalry) – at Cornwall

Nine men from the Stormont and Glengarry Regiment served in the Second Boer War.

Great War
At the outbreak of the Great War, the regiment – in Highland dress since 1904 –  guarded the St. Lawrence canals until December 1915, when the United Counties raised the 154th Battalion for the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

The 154th Battalion went overseas but was broken up to reinforce the "Iron Second," the 21st and 38th Battalions and the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Of the 154th Battalion soldiers, 143 were killed and 397 wounded; their efforts are commemorated in 24 decorations and six battle honours.

More than 100 members of the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment were killed while serving with the CEF, including Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, who won the Victoria Cross in 1918. Nunney joined the 59th in 1913 and was transferred to the 38th Battalion, which is perpetuated by The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own), so the Camerons correctly claim him; however, his medals hang today in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess of the SD&G Highlanders.

Second World War
When the Second World War began, the Regiment once again guarded the St. Lawrence canals. Mobilization came in June 1940, and the Regiment absorbed companies from the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment and the Brockville Rifles to form an overseas battalion that went to England in 1941 as part of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

The SD&G Highlanders landed in Normandy on D Day and was the first regiment to enter Caen, reaching the centre of the city at 1300 hours, July 9, 1944.

Fifty-five days later, 112 SD&G Highlanders had been killed in action and 312 more wounded in the Falaise Gap. The Regiment fought across France via Rouen, Eu, Le Hamel and Boulogne, moved into the Netherlands and took part in the amphibious landing across the Savojaardsplaat, and advanced to Knokke by way of Breskens. It moved next to Nijmegen to relieve the airborne troops, and helped guard the bridge while the Rhine crossing was prepared. The Regiment then fought through the Hochwald and north to cross the Ems-River and take the city of Leer.

At dawn on May 3, 1945, German marine-units launched an attack on two forward companies of the SD&G Highlanders, occupying the village of Rorichum, near Oldersum, that was the final action during the war, VE Day found the SD&G Highlanders near Emden.

It was said of the Regiment that it "never failed to take an objective; never lost a yard of ground; never lost a man taken prisoner in offensive action."

Altogether 3,342 officers and men served overseas with the SD&G Highlanders, of whom 278 were killed and 781 wounded; 74 decorations and 25 battle honours were awarded. A total of 3,418 officers and men served in the 2nd Battalion (Reserve); of them, 1,882 went on active service and 27 were killed. A third battalion raised in July 1945 served in the occupation of Germany and was disbanded in May 1946.

Post war
In 1968, to mark the regiment's centenary, the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders received the Freedom of the City of Cornwall.

Conflict in Afghanistan
The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014. Cpl Eric Monnin was awarded the Medal of Military Valour for his actions on 9 July 2010 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan while serving with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment.

Sgt. Marc Daniel Leger from Lancaster served as a soldier in the Highlanders from March 1991 – February 1993, when he transferred to the PPCLI.

59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion of Infantry (3 July 1868)
Maj. Darby Bergin as the first Commanding Officer,
 * No. 1 Company (Cornwall) (first raised on 22 January 1862, as the 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Cornwall) – Capt. Daniel McCourt
 * No. 2 Company (Cornwall) (first raised on 31 January 1862, as the 2nd Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Cornwall) – Capt. D.A. Macdonald
 * No. 3 Company (Cornwall) (first raised on 14 November 1862, as the Cornwall Infantry Company ) – Capt. Alex. F. McIntyre
 * No. 4 Company (Lancaster) (first raised on 6 July 1866, as the Lancaster Infantry Company) – Capt. Alex. B. McLennan
 * No. 5 Company (Williamstown) (first raised on 6 July 1866, as the Williamstown Infantry Company) – Capt. George H. McGillivray
 * No. 6 Company (Dickinson's Landing) (first raised on 20 July 1866, as the Dickinson's Landing Infantry Company) – Capt. William S. Wood
 * No. 7 Company (Dunvegan) (first formed on 21 August 1868, as the Dunvegan Infantry Company) – Capt. Donald McDiarmid

The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (15 February 1922)

 * 1st Battalion (perpetuating the 154th Battalion, CEF)
 * 2nd (Reserve) Battalion

Battle honours
In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles. Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colour.

War of 1812
•

•

• (awarded in commemoration of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles)

• The non-emblazonable honorary distinction

Great War
•

•

•

•

•

•

Second World War
•

•

• The Orne (Buron)

•

• Faubourg de Vaucelles

•

• The Laison

• Chambois

• Boulogne, 1944

•

• Savojaards Plaat

• Breskens Pocket

•

• Waal Flats

• The Hochwald

•

• Zutphen

• Leer

•

Conflict in Afghanistan
•

Regimental headquarters
Cornwall Armoury; 505 Fourth Street East, Cornwall, Ontario K6H 2J7

Coordinates: 45.02472°N, -74.71889°W

Regimental museum
The museum collects, preserves and exhibits military artifacts and archival material related to the Regiment and its predecessor units in the three counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry as well as material related to the military experiences of the residents of the three counties.

Tartan
Macdonell of Glengarry

Monuments, plaques, badges, honour rolls

 * Glengarry Fencibles
 * Provincial Plaque at Cornwall Armoury
 * 154th Battalion
 * Plaque and Honour Roll at Cornwall Armoury
 * Monument in Alexandria, Glengarry County
 * 1st Battalion
 * Plaque and Honour Roll at Cornwall Armoury
 * Honour Roll at Brockville Armoury
 * Plaque and Honour Roll at Royal Canadian Legion Number 9, Kingston
 * Badge at Memorial Centre, Peterborough
 * Badge on D-Day tank "Bold" at Courseulles, France
 * Plaque and Badge on Chateau de Paix de Coeur and
 * Monument at "Rue des Glengarrians", Les Buissons, France
 * Memorial Tablet at Abbaye d’Ardenne
 * Monument, Badge and Plaque at Avenue President, Coty and Rue d’Authie, Caen, France
 * Mannequin at Bayeux Memorial Museum of The Battle of Normandy, France
 * Monument at "Place du Glens" at Urville, France
 * Plaque at Le Mairie
 * Plaque in the Hotel de Ville, Rouen, France
 * Plaque and Badge in the Citadel, Boulonge, France
 * Badge on Belgian Resistance Monument, Knokke/Heist, Belgium
 * Plaque at Town Hall, Breskens, Netherlands
 * Plaque at Town Hall, Hoofdplaat, Netherlands

The 59th Battalion Colours are laid up in the Officers' Mess and the 154th Battalion Colours are laid up in the Trinity Anglican Church, Second Street, Cornwall, Ontario.

Media

 * Up the Glens: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, 1783–1994 by W ; Patterson, W J Boss (1995)
 * The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders 1783–1951 by Lieut.-Colonel W., C.D. Boss (1952)