History - During the Second World War

The return to peace following The Great War permitted steps to be taken to enhance the status of the Regiment as a Regiment of Foot Guards. In 1924, HRH The Prince of Wales (later HM King Edward VIII) became the Colonel-in-Chief, and was able to inspect the Regiment during a visit to Canada in 1927. In 1930, HM King George V approved the alliance with the Grenadier Guards, which linkage continues today. In 1932, he approved the use of a Stand of Foot Guard Colours (presented in 1935), and of Company Colours within the Regiment.

In 1937, the Brigade of Canadian Guards was authorized (comprising the GGFG and the CGG), which Brigade Trooped in Ottawa on a number of occasions, not least for HM King George VI during the Royal Visit in 1939; the Brigade was inspected in England in November1942 by Major-General Phelan (late of the CGG) who had commanded it in Ottawa.

In addition to the continuing linkage with McGill University, a strong linkage grew with the St George's Society of Montreal. One of the benevolent Societies, St George's supported the Regiment in a number of ways; in return, the Regiment paraded to the Regimental Church on the Sunday closest to St George's Day at the end of which service the Regiment would parade past the President of the Society (often at the gates of McGill University) and then receive the Society 'At Home'. This linkage continued well into the 1960s, and members of the Society are still welcome in the Armoury.


At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Regiment furnished 20 officers and 125 other ranks to other units before its own mobilization in 1940 when, as 1st Battalion, The Canadian Grenadier Guards, it reached full strength in three weeks. It trained first on St Helen's Island in Montreal, moved subsequently to Camps Borden and Valcartier, garrisoned the Halifax Citadel, was stationed in St John, N.B., and trained in Sussex, N.B. and Debert, N.S.

On 5 February, 1942, the First Battalion became 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (CGG), a unit of 4th Armoured Brigade (which included 21st Canadian Armoured Regiment (GGFG)). In September, proudly wearing the black beret of the Armoured Corps, 22 CAR moved to England where it would continue to train in a number of areas until deployed to Normandy on 21 July, 1944. From that time until VE Day on 8 May, 1945, 22 CAR fought throughout the battles around Falaise, the move into Belgium and Holland and finally across the Rhine, earning 12 Honorary Distinctions. By this time, 22nd Canadian Tank Battalion (CGG) had been raised for the Pacific Force, but the war in the Pacific ended before it could be deployed overseas. 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment returned to Montreal in February, 1946, for demobilization and gave up its tanks.

On formation of the 1st Battalion, the Home Station Regiment became 2nd Battalion, The Canadian Grenadier Guards, which continued through the war the traditional role of the Militia to provide reinforcements to units overseas. Reinforcements for 22 CAR were drawn from other units, particularly the Halifax Rifles and Princess Louise's Fusiliers.