Regimental Headquarters

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7th Toronto Regiment
Toronto, Ontario

The 7th Toronto Regiment, RCA traces its historical roots to the Volunteer Incorporated Artillery Company formed in 1813 under the command of Captain Alexander Cameron. On December 5th, 1837 under the command of Major T. Carfrae the 1st Toronto Artillery Company, as the Volunteer Incorporated Artillery Company had become, put an end to the Mackenzie Rebellion by firing upon Montgomery’s Tavern. Following the 1855 Militia Act the Company was redesignated The Toronto Field Bty, which in turn became No. 9 “Toronto” Field Bty in 1894 and the 9^th “Toronto” Field Bty in 1895. On 1st July 1889 the 9th “Toronto” Field Bty CA, along with the 4th “St. Catharines” Field Bty CA and the 7th “Hamilton” Bty CA formed the 2nd Bde Div of Field Artillery, Canadian Artillery.

In World War I, the 9th Bty equipped with 18 pdrs fought as part of 3rd Fd Bde, 1st Cdn Div until 1917 when it was transferred to the 3rd Fd Bde, 4th Cdn Div for the remainder of the war with 4.5 in. howitzers. 15th, 30th, and 53rd Btys were formed in 1916, all with 18 pdrs. The 15th were assigned to 4th Fd Bde, 2nd Div, the 30th went to 6th Fd Bde, 3rd Div, while the 53rd went to 13th Fd Bde, 5th Div. Thus the Toronto gunners were represented in all W.W.I Canadian Divisions. In addition, the 1st Siege Bty equipped with 9.2 in. howitzers fought with 1st Bde, Cdn Garrison Artillery, Cdn Corps Heavy Artillery.

A formation was authorized on 15 March 1931 as the ‘7th Toronto Regiment, CA’. It was  redesignated:

‘7th (Toronto) Regiment, CA’ on 1 October 1933; ‘7th (Toronto) Regiment, RCA’ on 3 June 1935; ‘7^th (Reserve) (Toronto) Regiment, RCA’ on 7 November 1940; and ‘7th (Reserve) (Toronto) Group, RCA (CA)’ on 1 October 1942; converted and redesignated ‘Royal Canadian Artillery, 2nd Division’ on 1 April 1946; and ‘Royal Canadian Artillery, 2nd Armoured Division’ on 19 June 1947. The formation was disbanded on 1 October 1954.

In W.W.II 9 Bty fired both 25 pdrs and 105mm SP, with 3rd Field Bde, 11th Army Field Regt, 1st Canadian Corps Artillery, both in Italy, where at one time they were part of the 8th Army, the “Desert Rats”, and later in Northwest Europe as part of the 1st Canadian Army Artillery. 15 Bty became part of the 7th Anti-Tank Regt and saw action with 2, 6, and 17 pdrs and the M-10 SP 3 in. 23 Bty served with both 1st and 5th Med Regts firing 6in. how. And 5.5 gun while 25 Bty with similar weapons served with 18th Fd Regt and 2nd Med Regt, 1st AGRA. Both 30 and 53 Btys became LAA btys with 40mm Bofors, one with 6 LAA Regt, 2nd Corps Artillery and the other with 4th Fd Regt, 3rd LAA Regt, 2 Div and 11th LAA Regt.

Throughout W.W.II a Reserve regiment was maintained in Toronto to recruit and train replacements for the batteries overseas.

Following the end of W.W.II, Headquarters RCA, 2nd Div was set up in Toronto with 29th Fd Regt, 32nd Fd Regt, 42nd Med Regt, 49th HAA Regt, and 69th Survey Regt. all located within Toronto. In 1947 reorganization saw the loss of the 49th HAA, the 69th became an Observation Regt while the designation SP was added to the 29^th and 32nd Regts. In 1950 the 1st Anti-Aircraft Gun Operations Room was established. The next reorganization in 1954 saw the loss of the 32nd Fd and the 1st AAOR. The 69th became the 1st Locating Regt with 134 Svy & Rad Bty and 208 Loc Bty.

In May 1951, the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group was raised to become Canada’s contribution to the NATO forces stationed in Europe. As part of that the 209th Fd Bty was formed from members of 9 Bty and conducting its initial training in Toronto before joining the 79th Fd Regt, which sailed along with rest of the Bde to Germany in December of that year. Subsequently, the 79th Fd Regt was renamed the 3rd Regt RCHA and 209th Bty became G Bty. 3 RCHA served in Korea from May to November 1954.