| Unit Name: | The Peterborough Rangers |
| Dates: | 1867-1936 |
| Country: | Canada |
| Branch: | Canadian Militia |
| Type: | Rangers |
| Role: | Infantry |
| Command Structure: | Non-Permanent Active Militia |
| Garrison: | Peterborough, Ontario |
| Battle Honours: | See
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The Peterborough Rangers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with the 3rd Prince of Wales' Canadian Dragoons to form The Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment).[1] [2] [3]
With the passing of the Militia Act of 1855, the first of a number of newly-raised independent militia companies were established in and around the Peterborough region of Canada West (now the Province of Ontario).
On 3 May 1867, the 57th Peterborough Battalion of Infantry was authorized for service by the regimentation of seven of these previously authorized independent militia rifle and infantry companies. Its regimental headquarters was at Peterborough and had companies at Peterborough, Ashburnham, Norwood and Hastings.
On 16 January 1880, the battalion was redesignated as the 57th Battalion of Infantry Peterborough Rangers.
On 10 April 1885, the 57th Battalion of Infantry Peterborough Rangers mobilized a company for active service with The Midland Battalion where it served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force. On 24 July 1885, the company was removed from active service.
On 8 May 1900, the 57th Battalion of Infantry Peterborough Rangers was redesignated as the 57th Regiment Peterborough Rangers.[7]
On 10 August 1914, the 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), CEF was authorized for service and on 26 September 1914, the battalion embarked for Great Britain as part of the First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. On 11 February 1915, the battalion disembarked in France where it fought as part of the 1st Canadian Brigade, 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. On 30 August 1920, the 2nd Battalion, CEF, was disbanded.
On 22 December 1915, the 93rd Battalion (Peterborough), CEF was authorized for service and on 15 July 1916, the battalion embarked for Great Britain. After its arrival in the UK, the battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. On 6 October 1916, the battalion’s personnel were absorbed by the 39th Reserve Battalion, CEF. On 21 May 1917, the 93rd Battalion, CEF, was disbanded.
On 1 May 1917, the 247th Battalion (Victoria & Haliburton), CEF was authorized for service. On 1 April 1917, the battalion’s personnel were absorbed in Canada by the 235th Battalion, CEF. On 11 April 1918, the 247th Battalion, CEF, was disbanded.
On 12 March 1920, as a result of the Otter Commission and the following post-war reorganization of the militia, the 57th Regiment Peterborough Rangers was redesignated as The Peterborough Rangers and was reorganized with three battalions (two of them paper-only reserve battalions) to perpetuate the assigned war-raised battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.[8]
As a result of the 1936 Canadian Militia reorganization, on 15 December 1936, The Peterborough Rangers was amalgamated with the 3rd Prince of Wales' Canadian Dragoons and the Headquarters and C Company of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, to form The Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment) – now the 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales Rangers), RCA (on the Supplementary Order of Battle since 1970).[9] [10]