31 Canadian Brigade Group
31 Canadian Brigade Group is part of the 4th Canadian Division, under the Canadian Army. It encompasses the southwestern portion of Ontario, and is headquartered in London, Ontario. The 31 CBG area of responsibility stretches from Hamilton to Windsor. The brigade has approximately 2,400 soldiers. Colonel Blair Ashford, CD is Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group. The brigade sergeant-major is Chief Warrant Officer Tracy Sharp, CD
History
Second World War
31st Brigade Group was created, within 1 Militia District, on 1 April 1942 when the reserve force in Canada was reorganized for the war. Like today, the formation consisted of part-time soldiers who were paraded and trained on evenings and weekends. The brigade group was closed down on 28 November 1945 and the headquarters itself closed on 8 June 1946. During its existence, the brigade group was headquartered in London, Ontario and it held the following organization:- Canadian Infantry Corps
- *1st Battalion, The Middlesex and Huron Regiment
- *2nd Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) MG
- *2nd Battalion, The Essex Scottish Regiment
- *2nd Battalion, The Scots Fusiliers of Canada
- Canadian Armoured Corps
- *30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment (Tank))
- Royal Canadian Artillery
- *31st Field Regiment, RCA
- Royal Canadian Engineers
- *7th/11th Field Company, RCE
- Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
- *Brigade Group Company, 1st Divisional, RCASC
- Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
- *24th Field Ambulance, RCAMC
- Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
- *E and J sections, No.1 District Signals, RCCS
- Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- *No.2 Group,
- *No.2 Divisional Workshop, RCEME
- *No.1 Light Aid Detachment, RCEME
- *No.2 Light Aid Detachment, RCEME
- *No.3 Light Aid Detachment, RCEME
- *No.4 Light Aid Detachment, RCEME
1997 to Present
31 Canadian Brigade Group was recreated on 1 April 1997, with its headquarters located in London, replacing the London Militia District. Resulting from a major restructuring of the army, it was established as one of ten reserve brigade groups organized across Canada.Brigade composition
Overview
31 CBG is an infantry-focused reserve brigade comprising 12 units in addition to the brigade headquarters in London. These units are spread out over southern and south-western Ontario, in London, Sarnia, Windsor, Guelph, Hamilton, St. Thomas, Waterloo, Burlington, Stratford, Owen Sound, Barrie, Cambridge, Kitchener, and Chatham. The Grey and Simcoe Foresters also provide support to the 4th Canadian Division as part of the Arctic Response Company Group, supporting communities in northern Ontario and northern Canada.Units
| 31 Canadian Brigade Group | Branch | Location |
| 31 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | Headquarters | London, Ontario |
| 1st Hussars | Armoured reconnaissance | London and Sarnia |
| The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) | Armoured reconnaissance | Windsor |
| 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Guelph and Hamilton |
| 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) | Engineer | St. Thomas and Waterloo |
| 31 Signal Regiment | Communications | Hamilton and London |
| The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) | Infantry | Hamilton and Burlington |
| 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment | Infantry | London and Stratford |
| The Grey and Simcoe Foresters | Infantry | Owen Sound and Barrie |
| The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada | Infantry | Cambridge and Kitchener |
| The Essex and Kent Scottish | Infantry | Windsor and Chatham |
| The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) | Infantry | Hamilton |
| 31 Service Battalion | Combat service support | Hamilton, London, and Windsor |