Supplementary Order of Battle

In the Canadian Army, the Supplementary Order of Battle is a category of regiments that are reduced to zero strength but continues to exist administratively. This is done when the need for the regiment's continued operation is no longer relevant, and the regiment is re-manned only when the Department of National Defence deems the unit is required again. The Supplementary Order of Battle was instituted during the army rationlizations in the 1960s as an alternative to outright disbandment. If a regiment is re-manned and moved from the Supplementary Order of Battle, it takes its old place in the order of precedence and its colours, traditions and battle honours remain as if there had been no interruption of service.^[1]

In contrast, regiments that are completely disbanded are not placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle. For example, the Canadian Airborne Regiment was completely disbanded in the aftermath of the Somalia Affair in 1993, and is not placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

Three regiments have been removed from the Supplementary Order of Battle by amalgamating them with existing Primary Reserve units: the Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment), on the order since 1965, was merged into the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) in 2002. The 19th Alberta Dragoons, also on the order since 1965, was merged into the South Alberta Light Horse in 2006. The Royal Rifles of Canada, on the order since 1966, was merged into the Voltigeurs de Québec in 2019.

On September 5, 2008, Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced that The Halifax Rifles (RCAC) would be reorganized as an active unit. The Halifax Rifles are the first, and so far only, regiment to rejoin the Primary Reserve from the Supplementary Order of Battle.

Regiments on the Supplementary Order of Battle

Royal Canadian Armoured Corps

Armoured units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

Regiment	Formed	To SOB	Headquarters
4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards	1875	1965	Ottawa[2]
12th Manitoba Dragoons	1903	1964	Winnipeg[3]
14th Canadian Hussars	1910	1968	Swift Current[4]

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery

Regiment	Formed	To SOB	Headquarters
3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery	1951	1992	Shilo, Manitoba[5]
4th Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery	1952	1970	Petawawa, Ontario[6]
8th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1912	1970	Hamilton, Ontario[7]
12th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1905	1965	Fredericton, New Brunswick[8]
14th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1912	1968	Yarmouth, Nova Scotia[9]
18th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1920	1970	Lethbridge, Alberta[10]
21st Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1936	1970	Wingham, Ontario[11]
24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1914	1965	Trail, British Columbia[12]
27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1910	1970	Farnham, Quebec[13]
29th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1898	1965	Sarnia, Ontario[14]
34th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1942	1965	Montreal, Quebec[15]
37th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1905	1965	Montreal, Quebec[16]
39th Field Artillery Regiment (Self-Propelled), RCA	1914	1965	Winnipeg, Manitoba[17]
40th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1936	1981	Kenora, Ontario[18]
44th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1946	1965	St. Catharines, Ontario[19]
46th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1936	1968	Drummondville, Quebec[20]
50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales Rangers), RCA	1866	1970	Peterborough, Ontario[21]
53rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA	1946	1968	Yorkton, Saskatchewan[22]
57th Field Artillery Regiment (2nd/10th Dragoons), RCA	1872	1970	Niagara Falls, Ontario[23]
19th Medium Artillery Regiment, RCA	1920	1965	Calgary, Alberta[24]
33rd Medium Artillery Regiment, RCA	1946	1965	Cobourg, Ontario[25]
42nd Medium Artillery Regiment, RCA	1931	1965	Toronto, Ontario[26]
1st Artillery Locating Regiment, RCA	1946	1965	Toronto, Ontario[27]

Royal Canadian Infantry Corps

Infantry units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

Regiment	Formed	To SOB	Headquarters
Canadian Guards	1951	1970	Petawawa[28]
Victoria Rifles of Canada	1862	1965	Montreal[29]
Régiment de Joliette	1871	1964	Joliette[30]
Perth Regiment	1886	1965	Stratford, Ontario[31]
South Saskatchewan Regiment	1905	1968	Estevan[32]
Winnipeg Grenadiers	1908	1965	Winnipeg[33]
1st Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada	1915	1965	Toronto[34][35]
Yukon Regiment	1962	1968	Whitehorse, Yukon[36]

See also

• Canadian Militia
• Canadian Army
• Primary Reserve
• History of the Canadian Army
• Militia Act of 1855
• Otter Commission 1920
• National Defence Act 1923
• Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army 1954
• Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces 1968