The list of Regimental Sergeants Major, (known simply as Sergeant Major until 1908), is nearly complete however we’ll continue to try our best to fill in the gaps. From 1 May 1906 until 15 December 1936 the Regiment expanded to 2 Battalions and by 1908 the term Regimental Sergeant Major came into use for the first time and separate Sergeants Major were appointed for the 1st and 2nd Battalions. During both WWI and WWII there were multiple Battalions and from 1953 to 1970 there were two Regular Army Battalions and a Training Depot.
- 1861-1863 Sergeant Major William Ramsay
- 1863 (20 Nov)-1864 Sergeant Major Joseph Crawford
- 1864-1865 Sergeant Major James Christie
- 1865-1866 Sergeant Major James F. Smith
- 1866-1867 Sergeant Major Robert Taylor
- 1867-1877 Sergeant Major John. B. Maloney
- 1879-1885 Sergeant Major Patrick Cunningham
- 1886-1889 Sergeant Major John F. Crean
- (1887 23 May) Acting Sergeant Major W. P. Hewgill
- 1889-1890 Sergeant Major Samuel C. McKell
- 1891-1892 Sergeant Major Warring G. Kennedy
- 1893-1895 Sergeant Major Hugh M. George
- (1896 27 Feb) Acting Sergeant Major J. E. Thompson
- 1896-1897 Sergeant Major J.O. Thorn
- 1898-1903 Sergeant Major W.A. Porter
- 1904-1908 Sergeant Major A. W. Bell
- 1907-1908 Sergeant Major W.H. Hewitt
- 1907-1908 Sergeant Major R. M. Young
- 1908-1910 Regimental Sergeant Major A. E. Brittain
- 1908-1915 Battalion Sergeant Major A. W. Bell (1st Bn)
- 1908-1913 Battalion Sergeant Major G Creighton (2nd Bn)
- 1912-1913 Regimental Sergeant Major A. B. Blake-Forster
- 1908-1915 Battalion Sergeant Major A. W. Bell (1st Bn)
- 1908-1913 Battalion Sergeant Major G Creighton (2nd Bn)
- 1914-1915 Regimental Sergeant Major WO G. Creighton
- 1908-1915 Battalion Sergeant Major A. W. Bell (1st Bn)
- 1914-1922 Battalion Sergeant Major G. F. Atkins (2nd Bn)
- 1916-1922 Battalion Sergeant Major E. A. Butler (1st Bn)
World War One (Canadian Expeditionary Force Battalions)
- 1914-1915 Regimental Sergeant Major A.B. Blake-Forster
- 1915-1916 Regimental Sergeant Major C. E. Cooper, MC
- 1916 Regimental Sergeant Major H.C. Good, DCM
- 1916-1917 Regimental Sergeant Major D. Nolan, DCM, MSM
- 1917-1918 Regimental Sergeant Major G. P. Blanchard, DCM
- 1918-1919 Regimental Sergeant Major F. Williams, MC, DCM
Reinforcement Battalions
- 1915-1916 Regimental Sergeant Major D. Cameron (83rd Bn)
- 1915-1916 Regimental Sergeant Major E. Scrutton (95th Bn)
- 1916-1917 Regimental Sergeant Major A.B. Reeves (166th Bn)
- 1916-1917 Regimental Sergeant Major G. Eakins (198th Bn)
- 1916-1917 Regimental Sergeant Major H. Serjent (255th Bn)
Post World War I
- 1922-1926 Regimental Sergeant Major W. Mackintosh, MM
- 1916-1925 Battalion Sergeant Major E. A. Butler (1st Bn)
- 1914-1922 Battalion Sergeant Major G. F. Atkins (2nd Bn)
- 1925-1929 Battalion Sergeant Major W.J. Purvis (2nd Bn)
- 1926-1932 Regimental Sergeant Major E. A. Butler
- 1925-1929 Battalion Sergeant Major W.J. Purvis (2nd Bn)
- 1929 Battalion Sergeant-Major G. D. Neilans (2nd Bn)
- 1929 Battalion Sergeant-Major W. J. Purvis (1st Bn)
- 1932-1933 Regimental Sergeant Major G. F. Atkins
- 1933-1937 WOI John D. Kennedy
- 1937-1940 WOI Gordon Ross Alexander
World War Two
1st Overseas Battalion
- 1940-1942 – WOI Gordon Ross Alexander
- 1942-1943 – WOI H. (Harry) Fox, MBE
- 1943-1946 – WOI E. (Ted) W. Hartnell, MBE
2nd Reserve Battalion
- 1940-1942 – WOI J. H. Bate
- 1942 (Feb) – WOI W. J. Griffith
- 1942-1946 – WOI G. A. Brinkworth, EM
3rd (Active) Battalion
- 1942 WOI George M. Foster
Post World War II
- 1946-1947 – WOI H. (Harry) Fox, MBE
- 1947-1951 – WOI J. W. Barnes, EM
1st Battalion (Regular)
- Mar 1954 to Sep 1958 – WOI H. C. (Rusty) Rowbotham, CD (to Depot)
- Sep 1958 to Jul 1962 – WOI (later Captain) C.J. Hampton, CD
- Jul 1962 to 1965 – WOI K. H. McLeod, CD
- 1966 to 1967 – WOI J. Lang, CD
- 1968 to 13 May 1969 – CWO J. Lang, CD
- 1969 – 1970 – CWO W. H. Carlton, CD
2nd Battalion (Regular)
- Oct 1953 to Jan 1954 – WOI G. E. Miller, CD
- Jan 1954 to Jun 1955 – WOI W. Demmy, DCM, CD (to Depot)
- Jun 1955 to Jan 1961 – WOI (later Captain) D. Page, CD
- Jan 1961 to Nov 1963 – WOI (later Captain) G. F. Collings, CD
- Nov 1963 to Aug 1965 – WOI G. A. Naylor, CD (to Depot)
- Aug 1965 to 1967 – WOI F. J. Thomas, CD
- 1968 to – CWO F. J. Thomas, CD
Regimental Depot (Regular)
- Apr 1954 to May 1955 – WOI K. Byron, CD
- Jun 1955 to Sep 1958 – WOI W. Demmy, DCM, CD
- Sep 1958 to Jul 1962 – WOI H. C. (Rusty) Rowbotham, CD
- Jul 1962 to Aug 1965 – WOI (later Captain) C. J. Hampton, CD
- Aug 1965 to 1966 – WOI G. A. Naylor, CD
- 1966 to 1967 – WOI F. J Thomas, CD
- 1968 to 2 Dec 1968 – MWO V. J. Ramsbottom, MMM, CD
3rd Battalion (Reserve)
- 1951-1955 – WOI D. “Dunc” Green, MM, CD
- 1955-1958 – WOI W. Tubbs, CD
- 1958-1961 – WOI J. P. “Jimmy” Moore, CD
- 1961-1964 – WOI T. F. Burroughs, CD
- 1964-1966 – WOI H. A. “Rick” Dory, CD
- 1966-1969 – CWO J. “Jimmy” Green, CD (son of D Green)
- 1969-1971 – CWO J. S. (Syd) Byatt, CD
- 1971-1974 – CWO S. (Stan) E. Morris, CD
- 1974-1977 – CWO M. (Mike) L. Holland, CD (later Captain)
- 1977-1980 – CWO E. (Erik) R. C. Simundson, CD (later Major)
- 1980-1985 – CWO H. (Harry) McCabe, MMM, CD (later Major)
- 1985-1987 – CWO R. (Robert) Chan, CD (later Captain)
- 1987-1991 – CWO B. (Brian) W. Budden, CD
- 1991-1994 – CWO J. (Josh) C. Figa, CD
- 1994-2001 – CWO A. (Andy) Sarossy, CD (later Captain)
- 2001-2004 – CWO J. (John) C. Wilmot, CD (later Captain)
- 2004-2008 – CWO S. (Scott) F. Patterson, CD
- 2008-2011 – CWO S. (Shaun) C. M. Kelly, CD
- 2011-2014 – CWO M. (Mark) Shannon, CD
- 2014-2017 – CWO P. (Paul) Martin, CD
- 2017-2020 – CWO D. (Donovan) O’Halloran, CD
- 2020-Present – CWO J. (Jeff) Johnston, CD
How the rank of Sergeant Major looked throughout our history:

I am looking for information on Regimental sgt.major William Black. I am his great grandson. He apparently was Reg Sgt Major through multiple wars, and his uniform and medals are in a museum in Vancouver. At least that was told to me many years ago. I live in the U.S and I am trying find the museum.
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Hi Gary,
I don’t believe William was Queen’s Own but you could try the Seaforth Highlanders, they have a museum in Vancouver.
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I’m trying to find information on Wilfred W. Wagg Sergeant Q.O.R of Canada . I didn’t see it, maybe you know where or how to find any info. He was my Grandfather and died the 1st of June 1962.
Thank you
Josh
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Great webpage for historical information! The title of your page should read, “Regimental Sergeant’s Major”. the current spelling is incorrect.
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Thanks Kent!
As for the title of the page, the Canadian military follows the British Army’s use of Sergeant Majors. The US military uses Sergeants Major (no apostrophe.)
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Just noticed Kent Stewart’s comment on spelling. There should be no apostrophe in “Sergeants”. That would be a possessive form. The correct plural is as it appears: “Regimental Sergeants Major”.
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thanks Michael, you are correct!!
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1st Bn – Rowbotham – 1954-58 then to Depot.
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