31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)

31 Combat Engineer Regiment (31 CER or "The Elgins"), is currently a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, supporting 31 Canadian Brigade Group of the 4th Canadian Division (formerly Land Force Central Area). It consists of two squadrons: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas, Ontario. The Elgins existed before the Confederation of Canada, tracing their origin to 1866 when the Militia Act officially created the 25th, Elgin, Battalion of Infantry from five local militia companies.

31 Combat Engineer Regiment 31^e Régiment du Génie
Cap badge of the Elgin Regiment from World War I
Active	1866 -
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Military Engineers
Role	Combat Engineers
Size	Two Engineer Squadrons
Part of	31 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQ	St. Thomas, Ontario
Nickname(s)	The Elgins
Motto(s)	Ubique "Everywhere"
Anniversaries	December 4th (St. Barbara's Day)
Engagements	World War I World War II War in Afghanistan Battle of Panjwaii Operation Medusa
Commanders
Commanding Officer	LCol B Ashford
Honorary Colonel	Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin
Honorary Lt. Colonel	Mark Sargent
RSM	CWO Johnathan Kisslinger
Insignia
Abbreviation	31 CER

The history of The Elgins

Year	Change
1812	31 CER perpetuates the Royal Corps of Artificers and Craftsmen
1866	25th Elgin Battalion of Infantry
1900	25th Elgin Regiment
1903	(disbanded)
1904	25th Elgin Regiment (re-formed)
1915	Canadian Expeditionary Force: 18th, 33rd, and 91st Battalions raised
1920	The Elgin Regiment
1921	Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1st Battalion (perpetuating 91st Battalion CEF) 2nd (Reserve) Battalion
1942	25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)
1943	1st Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment
1943	25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment
1943–45	25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment) "A" & "B" Squadrons attached to 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade "C" Squadron attached to 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade "D" Squadron attached to 4th Canadian Armoured Division "E" Squadron attached to II Canadian Corps "F" Squadron attached to First Canadian Army "G" Squadron attached to 5th Canadian Armoured Division "H" Squadron attached to I Canadian Corps
1946	The Elgin Regiment (Infantry)
1954	The Elgin Regiment (27th Armoured Regiment)
1958	The Elgin Regiment (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps)
1997	31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)
2004	48 Field Squadron is re-established in Waterloo, Ontario
2006	Both Field Squadrons renamed Engineer Squadrons as part of Land Force Reserve Restructure Phase 2.[1]
2013	31 CER(The Elgins) perpetuates 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (The Kangaroos)

Afghanistan

Since the beginning of Canadian combat operations in Afghanistan in 2002, 31 CER has sent members to augment Regular Force units for deployments while also acting as a "feeder" unit, training Reserve Force members who then take full-time contracts with Regular Force CER's.

Afghanistan rotations

Year	Rotation	Members
2005	Task Force Kabul	2
	Kabul Camp Closure Team	7
2006	TF 3-06	10
2008	TF 3-08	2
2010	TF 1-10	7

Notes

1. "Restructuring The Army Reserve Engineers" (PDF). CMEA. Retrieved 2013-03-01.

Order of precedence

Preceded by 5 Combat Engineer Regiment

31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)

Succeeded by

See also

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