31 Canadian Brigade Group

31st (Reserve) Brigade Group 31 Canadian Brigade Group
File:31 Canadian Brigade Group (logo).jpg Brigade group badge
Active	1942–1946 1 April 1997–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Headquarters
Part of	4th Canadian Division
Garrison/HQ	Wolseley Barracks, London, Ontario
Mottos	Pro aris et focis (Latin for 'for hearth and home')
Insignia
NATO Map Symbol	31 CBG File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Brigade Group or Brigade Combat Team.svg 4 Cdn Div File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- Infantry (NATO APP-6).svg

31 Canadian Brigade Group (31 CBG; French: 31^e Groupe-brigade du Canada) is part of the 4th Canadian Division, under the Canadian Army. It encompasses the southwestern portion of Ontario, and is headquartered in London, Ontario. The 31 CBG area of responsibility stretches from Hamilton to Windsor. The brigade has approximately 2,400 soldiers. Colonel Blair Ashford, CD is Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group. The brigade sergeant-major is Chief Warrant Officer Tracy Sharp, CD

History

Second World War

31st (Reserve) Brigade Group was created, within 1 Militia District, on 1 April 1942 when the reserve force in Canada was reorganized for the war. Like today, the formation consisted of part-time soldiers who were paraded and trained on evenings and weekends. The brigade group was closed down on 28 November 1945 and the headquarters itself closed on 8 June 1946. During its existence, the brigade group was headquartered in London, Ontario and it held the following organization:

• Canadian Infantry Corps
  • 1st (Reserve) Battalion, The Middlesex and Huron Regiment
  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) MG
  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Essex Scottish Regiment
  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Scots Fusiliers of Canada
• Canadian Armoured Corps
  • 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment (Tank))
• Royal Canadian Artillery
  • 31st (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA
• Royal Canadian Engineers
  • 7th/11th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE
• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
  • Brigade Group Company, 1st (Reserve) Divisional, RCASC
• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
  • 24th (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC
• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
  • E and J sections, No.1 (Reserve) District Signals, RCCS
• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
  • No.2 Group,
  • No.2 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME
  • No.1 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME
  • No.2 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME
  • No.3 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME
  • No.4 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

1997 to Present

31 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG) was recreated on 1 April 1997, with its headquarters located in London, replacing the London Militia District (LMD). Resulting from a major restructuring of the army, it was established as one of ten reserve brigade groups organized across Canada.

Brigade composition

Overview

31 CBG is an infantry-focused reserve brigade comprising 12 units in addition to the brigade headquarters in London. These units are spread out over southern and south-western Ontario, in London, Sarnia, Windsor, Guelph, Hamilton, St. Thomas, Waterloo, Burlington, Stratford, Owen Sound, Barrie, Cambridge, Kitchener, and Chatham. The Grey and Simcoe Foresters also provide support to the 4th Canadian Division as part of the Arctic Response Company Group, supporting communities in northern Ontario and northern Canada.

Units

31 Canadian Brigade Group	Branch	Location
31 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters	Headquarters	London, Ontario
1st Hussars	Armoured reconnaissance	London and Sarnia
The Windsor Regiment (RCAC)	Armoured reconnaissance	Windsor
11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	Artillery	Guelph and Hamilton
31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)	Engineer	St. Thomas and Waterloo
31 Signal Regiment	Communications	Hamilton and London
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)	Infantry	Hamilton and Burlington
4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment	Infantry	London and Stratford
The Grey and Simcoe Foresters	Infantry	Owen Sound and Barrie
The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada	Infantry (mortar)	Cambridge and Kitchener
The Essex and Kent Scottish	Infantry	Windsor and Chatham
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)	Infantry	Hamilton
31 Service Battalion	Combat service support	Hamilton, London, and Windsor

See also

• List of armouries in Canada
• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army
• Canadian Armed Forces