100th (Prince of Wales’s Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot

Origins

During the Indian Mutiny (1857-59), there was a sudden surge in Canadian loyalty to Britain, to the extent that Canada wanted to raise a unit to send to India. However, by the time the new regiment was ready to embark, the Mutiny had already been suppressed and the unit sailed for England instead.

Since Canada was still a colony, the regiment was a British Army unit right from the start, with the number 100 and the title ‘Prince of Wales’s’, after the future King Edward VII.

The 100th Foot served in Gibraltar from 1859 to 1863 and was then transferred to Malta. The regiment was posted back to Canada in 1866 and participated in the ceremonials inaugurating the Dominion of Canada on 1 July 1867. On that day, it decorated its headdress with maple leaves, the national symbol of Canada.

Although the number of Canadians serving in the regiment declined over the years, the 100th Foot maintained a great pride in its Canadian origins. It had a tradition of decorating its Colours with maple leaves and its cap badge also featured a maple leaf.