The Regina Rifle Regiment originated as a regiment of infantry in 1905 later becoming the 95th Regiment. During the First World War many of the members volunteered for service with the 28th Battalion CEF. On 15 May 1924 it was renamed the Regina Rifle Regiment perpetuating the 28th Battalion along with the 68th and 195th battalions.
28th Battalion at Vimy Ridge, 1917.
Between the two World Wars, the Regina Rifles mainly functioned as a reserve unit, with training on Thursday and Friday nights. When the Second World War was declared in September 1939, the regiment waited for orders to mobilize.
On 1 June 1940, the Regina Rifles were placed on active service. Men from across the prairies were recruited to companies in Regina, North Battleford, and Prince Albert. In just a few weeks, nearly 500 men had enlisted in Regina – most were farm labourers, Indigenous peoples, and tradesmen – all accustomed to hard physical work.
Canadian War Propaganda Poster, 1942.
The men began training at Camp Dundurn in Saskatchewan, learning route marches and parade square drills.
B Company, Regina Rifles, Dundurn. 1940.
In September 1940, the 1st Battalion moved to a newly constructed military camp in Debert, Nova Scotia for further training.
Camp Debert, Nova Scotia.
The regiment’s iconic battle cry ‘Up the Johns!’ originated during the First World War. It has become a well known phrase locally.
Regina Rifles in France, 1944.
On 24 August 1941, the Regina Rifle Regiment travelled overseas as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division of the 1st Canadian Army aboard the Empress of Russia, docking near Aldershot in Southern England.
The Empress of Russia. 1913.
The Regina Rifles continued their training in England and Scotland, gradually getting used to the wet weather. They practiced ship disembarkation, drills, field firing exercises, and street fighting.
Regina Rifles training in England, 1943.
On 25 May 1944, the camp was sealed for security and soldiers were briefed on their mission: breaking into Western Europe. By 4 June the battalion was ready for the landing.
Lieutenant R.R. Smith briefing soldiers on the D-Day invasion strategy.
On 6 June 1944, D-Day, the Regina Rifles landed in the first wave on Juno Beach as part of the largest amphibious invasions in Military History, tasked with breaking through Germany’s heavily fortified “Atlantic Wall.”
D-Day: The Assult, painting by war artist Orville Fisher.
The Regina Rifles landed under heavy fire on the NAN GREEN sector of Juno Beach just after 8:00 a.m. that morning. Split into four companies, the regiment successfully achieved their objectives on the beach and advanced to liberate the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer.
Canadian Soldiers Preparing to Land on Juno Beach, 6 June 1944.
The fighting was intense, and the Rifles lost 102 men on the first day. In the 14 hours from landing to securing defensive positions for the night, the Regina Rifles had moved about 7 miles inland to their intermediate objective.
Wreckage on Juno Beach.
D-Day was a success but the fighting was far from over. Continuing to fight inland through western Europe, the regiment took part in the capture of Caen, the battles of the Orne, the Leopold Canal, and the Scheldt.
Regina Rifles in Caen, France 1944.
The Sheldt estuary was crucial in opening the shipping port at Antwerp. The Regina Rifle Regiment was part of the 3rd Canadian Division tasked with opening the Sheldt in October 1944.
Clearing the Sheldt estuary, October 1944.
The fighting was fierce, marked by close combat, heavy artillery fire, and continuous counterattacks. The Regina Rifles reported approximately 300 casualties in six days. The eventual victory at the Leopold Canal was one of the most bitter and costly engagements for the First Canadian Army.
Harvey Dreaver of the Mistawasis First Nation enlisted with the Regina Rifles Regiment in June 1940.
Dreaver landed on D-Day as section leader of D Company. His men were pinned down by fortifications and of the 120 men in D Company, only 49 made it to shore.
Harvey Dreaver
Harvey fought in many of the major battles in Normandy, pushing inland until he was killed in action during the battle of the Leopold Canal on 6 October 1944 at the age of 28.
Harvey Dreaver’s grave in Adegem Canadian War Cemetary.
In the early months of 1945, the Regina Rifles pushed through Holland into Germany, fighting in key battles at Moyland Wood and along the Rhine, until victory was achieved in Europe on May 8, 1945.
Infantrymen of The Regina Rifle Regiment preparing to attack Moyland Wood near Calcar, Germany, 16 February 1945.
The price of victory in Europe was steep. In the eleven months of fighting after D-Day, the Regina Rifles lost 458 men. Regina’s Leader Post newspaper published a special “Regina Rifles Edition” the night that the regiment finally came home on 31 December 1945.
Following the end of the war the unit returned to Canada and returned to a reserve role. In addition to the number of killed add that many others suffered physical and psychological wounds.
Juno Beach War Memorials in Corseulles-sur-Mer – Regina Rifles Regiment Memorial
The regiment holds 39 battle honours and is recognized as one of the most distinguished infantry regiments in Canada.
RRR Cap Badge
In June 2024, marking the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, the Royal Regina Rifles visited Juno Beach and placed a statue in Normandy in their honour. They called the initiative OPERATION CALVADOS. To learn about this and watch the feature-length documentary, click here: RRR Documentary.
Research and content provided by Emily Reid of the University of Regina.
Honouring the Canadian Armed Forces and its members past and present
© 2025 The Royal United Services Institute of Regina
