Regimental Headquarters

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56th Field Artillery Regiment
Brantford, Ontario

The regiment was formed in Brantford, Ontario on 1 April 1946 as the “56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA” and consisted of the 54th, 69th, and 169th Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries, the former two in Brantford and the latter located in Paris, Ontario.

On 1 October 1954 the regiment and its three batteries amalgamated with the 25th Medium Regiment (Norfolk Regiment), RCA 41st and 42nd Medium Batteries, RCA, to form 56th Field Regiment (Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles), RCA, with 54th, 69th and 169th Field Batteries, RCA, located in Brantford, Simcoe, and Paris respectively (the 69th having been transferred from Brantford to Simcoe and the 25th Medium Regiment disbanded).

In 1964 the 169th Battery was relocated from Paris to Brantford and then later disbanded in 1970.

On 1 April 1970 the regiment amalgamated with the 57th Field Artillery Regiment (2nd/10th Dragoons), RCA, 10th, 171st and 172nd Field Artillery Batteries, RCA, to form the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, 10th, 54th and 69^th Field Artillery Batteries, RCA, located in St. Catharines, Brantford and Simcoe respectively.

The 10th Battery was formed on 6 December 1861 as the Volunteer Militia Field Battery of Artillery of Port Colborne and redesignated the 10th (St. Catharines) Battery C. F. A. on 2 February 1920. The 54th Battery was formed as the 32nd Battery, C. F. A. on 1 April 1912 then later redesignated as the 54th Battery, C. F. A. also on 2 February 1920. On the same date in 1920 the 69th Battery, C. F. A. was authorized but organization was held in abeyance until 1 December 1937.

The 56th Field Artillery Regiment perpetuates many infantry and cavalry units as well as artillery in the Brant, Norfolk and Niagara areas of Ontario with colorful histories dating back to the Eighteenth Century with “Captain Thomas Welsh’s Company of the Regiment of Norfolk Militia”.

In the First World War the 10th Battery was part of the 3rd Brigade of the First Division. The 54th Battery (then the 32nd Battery) formed the nucleus of the 13th Battery of the 4th Brigade of the Second Division. Both batteries later became part of the Fourth Division.