There is currently one active cadet corps affiliated with the Queen’s Own Rifles – 2881 Queen’s Own Rifles Cadet Corps.
Former Cadet Corps of Queen’s Own Rifles
Over the years, the Queen’s Own Rifles has included several Cadet Corps that are no longer in existence or affiliated with the regiment. We have been able to include chapters on some of these – but the longer history of several other Corps is lost in time.
Here is the roll call of the other Corps:
380 Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Cadet Corps
- Formed in Toronto 4 January 1913
- Disbanded 29 December 1930
- Little else is know about this Corps.
1860 Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Cadet Corps
- The Corps was formed in 1970. It was originally formed as No. 2867 under the sponsorship of East York Mayor True Davidson, but was subsequently renumbered to 1860 to reflect the year in which the Queen’s Own Rifles was formed.
- The Corps was sponsored by the Queen’s Own Rifles, the RCMP and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344 and paraded at Moss Park Armoury. It was disbanded in 1990.
- Chief Instructors/Commanding Officers:
- 1972 (Feb) – Captain A.C. Beeston, CD
- 1984 (Apr) – Captain Dave A. Hayden, CD
2216 Jarvis Collegiate Institute Cadet Corps
- A corps numbered 48 existed at Jarvis Collegiate Institute since 1899.
- During the Second World War, each of 48 Corps’ 12 companies was affiliated with a regiment, and A Company, 1st Battalion was affiliated with the Queen’s Own Rifles.
- Many of the Corps’ companies were disbanded at the end of the war, but A Company converted into 2216 Corps, maintaining its affiliation with the Queen’s Own Rifles.
- As late as 1960, the Corps paraded over 400 Cadets, but in 1965 the Corps was disbanded.
2217 Riverdale Collegiate Institute Cadet Corps
- This Corps was formed in 1945 from a company of 48 Jarvis Collegiate Institute Cadet Corps, and was affiliated with The Queen’s Own Rifles in 1947.
- The Corps was disbanded in 1965.
2219 Central Technical High School Cadet Corps
- This is another Corps formed in 1945 from a company of 48 Cadet Corps. It became affiliated with The Queen’s Own Rifles in 1956, and numbered over 500 Cadets in the 1960s. A platoon of the Corps marched in the regiment’s 1960 centennial church parade at which Field Marshal Montgomery served as reviewing officer. The Corps was disbanded in 1966.
2223 Harbord Collegiate Institute Cadet Corps
- A Corps was first formed at Harbord Collegiate in 1898. In 1910, two Cadet Officers represented Canada at the Bisley “Boy’s Rifle” competition in England where they met Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who granted the Corps the privilege of wearing his coat of arms on its flag and be known as “The Harbord Lord Roberts Cadets”.
- The Corps became affiliated with The Queen’s Own Rifles in 1948, and numbered over 400 in the 1960s. A platoon of the Corps marched in the regiment’s 1960 centennial church parade that was reviewed by Field Marshal Montgomery. The Corps was disbanded in 1966.
2412 New Toronto Secondary School Cadet Corps
- Formed May 19th, 1951. Disbanded May 31st, 1967
- The only reference to affiliation with The Queen’s Own Rifles was in the 1965 Powder Horn annual publication.
2483 (Esquimalt) Cadet Corps
- This Corps was originally formed in 1953 and had various affiliations until becoming a PPCLI Cadet Corps on 1 August 1958.
- On 9 November 1963, due to the rotation of PPCLI to Europe, a transfer of sponsorship and affiliation was effected to The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. The Corps designated as 2483 Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada (Esquimalt) CC.
- In 1970 the Corps sponsorship was assumed by 3 PPCLI and the Corps was renamed 2483 PPCLI (Esquimalt) CC.
- Officers Commanding during the QOR period included:
- Capt Fred Fotheringham (1953-63)
- Capt Jim Caldwell (1963-64)
- Capt R.C. Watt (1969-75)
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive 