Nova Scotia’s oldest regiment must be re-activated

Nova Scotia was the only province to lose its Armoured Regiment and Halifax lost the only Regiment ever to bear its name and the historical association between the two, dating to the City’s founding in 1759, was ignored. War and the two World Wars were ignored. Canada’s four Atlantic Provinces lost their only remaining city named Regiment while 16 such Regiments remained with all other provinces represented.

The Honourable Joseph Howe, a former member of the Halifax Rifles and one of the provinces five Premiers to serve with the Regiment, gave this gem of wisdom to all Canadians: “A wise nation preserves its records, gathers up its monuments, decorates the tombs of its illustrious dead, repairs its great structures and fosters national pride and love of country, by perpetual reference to the sacrifice and glories of the past.” What happened to the Halifax Rifles (RCAC) in 1965 when it was removed from the militia Order of Battle was viewed then as it is today, an extreme error of judgment by the then Defence Minister Paul Hellyer.

The Regiment’s roots are with the Halifax Militia, formed in December 1749 to protect citizens of the newly formed settlement of Halifax. Through the years it evolved into formed companies, companies and eventually into six named companies: The Scottish, Mayflower, Halifax Rifles, Irish, Dartmouth, and the Chebucto Greys. From these, the 63rd Battalion was formed with seniority from 14 May, 1860.