See Timeline home page for references.
1925-1929|1930-1934|1935-1939|1940-1944 |1945-1949
22 May – New Regimental Standing Orders written
1926
29 April – The Regimental Band played God Save the King at the opening of Toronto’s Maple Leaf Stadium. [BlogTO article]
22 June – A detachment from The Buffs led by Captain H. de R. Morgan arrived to pay a fraternal visit to the QOR [2] p130
26 June – The Regiment and many notables paraded at Sir Henry Pellat’s country home in King to celebrate his Regimental Jubilee (50 years) [2] p130
August – Then QOR Lieutenant J.G.K. Strathy reports on his parachute jump from an AVRO biplane as part of a Pilot Officer course at Camp Borden. [QOR Archives]
Regimental trip to Ottawa [2] p129
1927
Regimental trip to Brantford [2] p129
1928
27 July – Her Majesty Queen Mary graciously consented to become Colonel-in-Chief [2] p131
Regimental trip to Niagara [2] p129
1929
8 May – Honorary Colonel General Sir William Dillon Otter, KCB, CVO, VD and first adjutant of the QOR, died. This was followed a few days later by a fully military funeral. [2] p132
22 August – Major General Sir Henry Mills Pellatt is appointed Honorary Colonel [2] p136
11-13 October – Regimental trip to Buffalo hosted by the 17th Regiment of Infantry, US National Guard, including participation in the 50th Anniversary of Edison’s discovery of the incandescent lamp [2] p129
Provided Guard of Honour of the Royal Winter Fair [2] p129
1931
18 October – Cross of Sacrifice at St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Bloor St, Toronto) is dedicated [2] p133
1932
13 March – The Shrine containing The Book of Remembrance is dedicated at St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Bloor St, Toronto) [2] p133
1934
Military Tournament held [2] p129
Regimental trip to Galt [2] p129
5 May – Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King George V – 15 members of the regiment receive Silver Jubilee Medals [2] p134
10 October – To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Regiment, a detachment of fourteen QOR departs for a visit to The Buffs led by Lieutenant Colonel P. R. Hampton, returning 11 November. [2] p132
- Captain J.G.K. Strathy
- Lieutenant J.M. Delamere
- Company Sergeant Major J.H. Adams
- Company Sergeant Major B. Couchman
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant W.T. Gildner
- Sergeant R.H. Wallace
- Sergeant F. Bryant
- Sergeant M.D. Thompson
- Sergeant E.T. Harshman
- Sergeant LG. Smith
- Corporal F.C. Lennox
- Corporal H. Fox
- Corporal W.W. Harrison
1936
7 February – Special parade for the proclamation of the accession of King Edward VIII [2] p134
Regimental trip to Lindsay [2] p129
September – The Vickers Gun Team under Lieutenant H. R. Downie took first place in the Canadian Infantry Association Competition.
15 December – 1st and 2nd Battalions amalgamated (General Order 162/36) [2] p375
1937
15 April – Regimental Headquarters disbanded (General Order 162/36) [2] p375
12 May – Coronation Day of King George VI was celebrated by a Garrison Parade in Queen’s Park. The Canadian Coronation Contingent had one QOR member – Sergeant F. A. Steele [2] p134
1939
8 March – Major General Sir Henry Mills Pellatt dies two months after his 80th birthday [2] p135
9 March – Major General Robert Rennie is appointed Honorary Colonel [2] p136
11 March – Sir Henry’s military funeral is attended by thousands [2] p135

22 May – His Majesty King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Toronto and the Queen’s Own had the privilege of providing the Guard of Honour at their departure from Union Station. The Guard led by Major W. L. Bryan with Lieutenant C. O. Dalton and Second Lieutenant E. A. Dunlop, consisted of 100 men and both bands in full dress. During the visit the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel I. M. Macdonell was presented to His Majesty and the regiment also lined part of University Avenue for the Royal Procession [2] p136
10 September – Canada declares war against Germany
See 1940 War Diary transcription for activities of the 1st Battalion.
10 August – Duchess of Richmond drops anchor in Botwood harbour and 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada disembark on their first “overseas” posting (as Newfoundland wasn’t part of Canada yet.) [2] p146


1941
See 1941 War Diary transcription for activities of the 1st Battalion.
1942
See 1942 War Diary transcription for activities of the 1st Battalion in Europe.
1943
See 1943 War Diary transcription for activities of the 1st Battalion in Europe.
1944
See 1944 War Diary transcription for activities of the 1st Battalion in Europe.
See 1945 War Diary transcription for activities of the 1st Battalion in Europe.
1 June – 4th Battalion (CAOF) created as part of 2/7 Canadian Infantry Brigade to serve in the occupation force, at first stationed at Amersfoort, Holland. Lieutenant Colonel J.N. Medhurst, OBE, ED appointed Commanding Officer. [2]
(See 4th Bn CAOF for more details on their existence.)
16 July – 4th Battalion moves to Aurich, Germany [2]
1 December – Lieutenant Colonel F. G. Rolph becomes Commanding Officer of the Regiment.
25 December- Lieutenant Colonel Medhurst becomes acting Brigade Commander and Major Gauthier becomes acting commander of 4th Battalion [2]
1946
27 April – 4th Battalion CAOF hans over duties to The Royal Scots Fusiliers and begins return to England [2]
10 May – 4th Battalion complete strength was struck off to the Depot at Witley Camp and the unit ceased to exist [2]
15 May – Colonel J. W. McClain, OBE, ED take a reduction in rank to become Commanding Officer replacing Lieutenant Colonel F. G. Rolph [2] p283
9 June – First D-Day Memorial Service held at St. Paul’s Church (these services continued until 1959) [2] p283
14 June – Soldiers who had served in 4th Battalion embark at Southampton [2] p283
23 June – 4th Battalion, QOR of C returns home to Toronto from Europe and are properly welcomed by the 2nd Battalion [2] p283
1947
19 May – Lieutenant Colonel William T. Barnard, ED, CD replaces Lieutenant Colonel McClain as Commanding Officer [2] p344
Fall – Queen’s Own provided an Honour Guard commanded by Captain R. D. Medland, DSO for Lieutenant Governor Ray Lawson at the Royal Winter Fair
25 October – WOI Harry Fox, MBE retired as Regimental Sergeant Major and was succeeded by WOI J. Barnes [2] p283
Late Fall – A painting of the D-Day landing, 6 June 1944, by Mr. Orville Fisher, a Canadian war artist, was unveiled in the Officers’ Mess. [2] p283 (This now hangs in the Regimental Museum at Casa Loma)
1949
17 December – Major General Robert Rennie CB, CMG, DSO, MVO, VD, 10th Commanding Officer, died in his 87th year. At the request of the family, the funeral was private. [2] p284
Love reading these QOR pages I had a very good friend From Victoria B.C. his name was Jack Cockrell Whom landed on Juno Beach not on June 6 but on June 7 He passed away now
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
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The entry for 10 Aug. 1940 misspells the name of the community. It is Botwood, not BOTSWOOD!
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Thanks for the catch – fixed!
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I have a copy of my grandfathers discharge certificate, pictures of the medals he earned, as well as photos of him. date take unknown, but he served int he Q.O.R from September 28th 1943 – August 29th, 1945.
i have been informed that he was in charge of blowing up rocket trailers, tho he didn’t know that is what they were at the time. he was captured and taken to Stalag 13, he never really talked about his time there.
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I recently came into posession of a watercolour painting of a mounted officer of the 2nd Life Guards by F G Rolph and wondered if this might be the same person as the Lt Col F G Rolph cited in this page? I have also come across a further reference to a member of the board of the Ontario School of Art. I am adding 2 and 2 together here and hoping I am coming up with 4 . Can anyone confirm?
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I found a picture in my father’s paper’s of the QOR of Canada at a ‘Depot’ of the same name, presumably in Calgary, taken by E W Cadman Oliver #51 . None of the names on the back are familiar, and my father, while born in Calgary, served in the RCNVR 1941-45. Any ideas where I can find more information? The uniforms appear to be post WW II.
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