23 Service Battalion - Recent History

Recent History

With the closing of the Militia Districts and the formation of the Brigade system, 23 Service Battalion became part of 31 Brigade Group headquartered in London Ontario. 31 Brigade encompasses most of south western Ontario. We share the responsibility of providing Combat Service Support to 31 Brigade with 21 Windsor and 22 London Service Battalions. The Military Police became a Brigade asset and were transferred to Headquarters in London.

On November 3, 2001 23 Service Battalion was granted freedom of the city of Hamilton by his Worship Mayor Bob Wade. One of the most prized honours of a unit is the conferring upon the privilege and distinction for the freedom of the city. The honour for all time of marching through the city with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed. The granting of freedom of the city dates to the times of walled and gated cities in Europe.

As well as providing combat service support to 31 Brigade we are also tasked to train combat ready soldiers to augment the regular forces on operations both at home and abroad. During the cold war battalion members serviced with NATO on Reforger Exercises in West Germany and in Norway. 23 Service Battalion members served with distinction on Peacekeeping Missions with the United Nations, NATO and Multi National Forces, in Egypt, Cyprus, Golan Heights, Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda and Afghanistan.

23 Service Battalion is affiliated with 158 Royal Anglian Regiment British Army we have a ten year tradition of exchanges where 158 members experience winter warfare training in Meaford Ontario and 23 Service Battalion members attend a fall exercise in England. Many lasting friendships have happened since this began.

Unit Members have also served on domestic operations during the Olympic Games in Montreal Quebec and in Kingston Ontario. The Blizzard of 1977 in Niagara region, the Manitoba floods of 1997 and the ice storms of 1998 in eastern Ontario. We also maintain a footprint in the community by participating in parades, fairs and charitable events such as Jimmy Lomax operation Santa Claus, food drives, Terry Fox run, special Olympics and our 2005 veterans watch campaign for St. Peters Hospital.

Today’s soldier have the best clothing, boots and load bearing equipment available enabling them to operate in any climate zone. Pay is comparable to civilian jobs and paid bi-weekly, benefits include retirement gratuity, dental coverage, education reimbursement and a pension plan is soon to be implemented.

23 Service Battalion was last commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. Newton CD and the Regimental Sergeant Major is Chief Warrant Officer R.M. Hewins CD before being tactically grouped with 21 (Windsor) and 22 (London) Service Battalions under the command of LCol R. Hewins CD and the Regimental Sergeant Major CWO Gaudet CD in preparation for the amalgamation of the three service battalions into a single unit—31 Service Battalion—as Hamilton, London, and Windsor Support Companies.

Unit Website (Archive of the now non-existent website)