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31 Combat Engineer Regiment 31 Régiment du Génie
Cap badge of the Elgin Regiment from World War I
Active	1866 – Present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Military Engineers
Role	Combat Engineers
Size	Two Engineer Squadrons
Part of	31 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQ	St. Thomas, Ontario: HQ and 7 ES; Waterloo, Ontario: 48 FES.
Nickname(s)	The Elgins
Motto(s)	Ubique "Everywhere" and Officium Premum "Duty First"
Anniversaries	4 December (St. Barbara's Day)
Engagements	World War I World War II War in Afghanistan Battle of Panjwaii Operation Medusa
Commanders
Commanding Officer	LCol Scott Burke
Colonel-in-Chief	Earl of Elgin ex officio (presently Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin)
Honorary Lt. Colonel	HLCol Mark Sargent
RSM	CWO Arthur Churcher
Insignia
Abbreviation	31 CER (The Elgins)

31 Combat Engineer Regiment (31 CER or "The Elgin's"), is a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Military Engineers. It is part of 31 Canadian Brigade Group of the 4th Canadian Division. It consists of two squadrons: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas, Ontario.

History

31 CER perpetuates the Provincial Corps of Artificers, a unit associated with the War of 1812.

The regiment existed before the Confederation of Canada, tracing its origin to 1866 when the Militia Act officially created the 25th, Elgin, Battalion of Infantry from five local militia companies. It became the 25th Elgin Regiment in 1900, but was then disbanded in 1903, but re-formed the next year.

In 1915 the 91st Battalion (Elgin), CEF was raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, and went to fight in the First World War.

It became the Elgin Regiment in 1920, and was expanded to two battalions in 1921, the 1st Battalion (perpetuating 91st Battalion CEF), and the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion.

After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the regiment was converted to armour in 1942 as the 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment).

The Elgin Regiment was awarded the battle honours Somme, 1916; Arras, 1917; Ypres, 1917; and Amiens after the First World War. The honours "Arras" and "Amiens" were selected to be borne on colours and appointments.

After the conversion to an engineer regiment in 1997, these honours became dormant, being replaced by the CME's honorary distinction ubique (Latin for 'everywhere').

During Canadian combat operations in Afghanistan, 31 CER sent members to augment Regular Force units for deployments while also acting as a "feeder" unit, training Reserve Force members who could then take full-time contracts with Regular Force combat engineer regiments.

Afghanistan rotations

Perpetuations

• Provincial Corps of Artificers
• 91st Battalion (Elgin), CEF
• 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment - Canadian Forces General Message 089/23, 23 May 2023: "the perpetuation of the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment by 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) is approved"

Alliances

•  United Kingdom - The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

References

1. "31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)". Canadian Army. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
2. "Restructuring The Army Reserve Engineers" (PDF). CMEA. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
3. Appendix to General Order No. 71 of 1930, page 7
4. ^ "31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)". Government of Canada. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.

• Engineer regiments of Canada
• Military units and formations established in 1997
• 1997 establishments in Canada
• St. Thomas, Ontario
• Military units and formations of Canada in World War I
• Military units and formations of Canada in World War II