Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Highlanders (SD&G)
Unit Motto: Dileas gu bas (faithful unto death)
Regimental tartan: MacDonnell of Glengarry
March: “Bonnie Dundee”
Colonel-in-Chief: Vacant
Brief History of the Unit
The Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Highlanders (SD&G) is a unit that has its origins going back to before the beginnings of Canada, with the United Empire Loyalists in the 1780s settling in Eastern Ontario to found places like Cornwall, Ontario. The people and descendants of this part of the country would take part in all military actions from the War of 1812 to this very day.
When the Second War was declared, the SD&G, took part in protecting the canals along the St. Lawrence just as members did during the Great War. It was on the 18th of June, 1940, however, that the SD&G was mobilized to be part of the 3rd Canadian Division for overseas service as part of 9 Brigade. To bring the numbers of the SD&G up to strength, the Brockville Rifles and the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment each contributed a company to create the four SD&G companies necessary for overseas service.
No.1 Company was from the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment (Kingston) No.2 Company was from the Brockville Rifles (Brockville) No.3 Company was from the SD&G (Cornwall) No.4 Company was from the SD&G (Cornwall)
The regiment trained in Canada until it left Canadian shores on the RMS Orion on 19 July 1941, and arrived in Great Britain on 30 July 1941. As with much of Canada’s Army during this period, much of the Army was located around the Aldershot area around Southern England, where further training took place. Some combined operations training took place in Scotland, but most was done in Southern England in preparation for D-Day.
Members of the SD&G along with other members of 9 Brigade on June 4, 1944, boarded the seven landing crafts that would take them to the Normandy coast. They stayed on them on June 5th because of a delay due to bad weather. The SD&G landed on June 6, 1944, in a landing zone called: “Nan White” (located at Bernières-sur-mer), and they brought themselves everything they required, as all assault troops did. Many of 9 Brigade also carried BSA folding bicycles to shore. These bicycles were to allow arriving troops to be able to race to the front to assist troops already fighting, but, in the end, they were not needed, and the SD&G went inland on foot.
The SD&G became part of the vanguard of 9 Brigade taking part in holding back and repulsing repeated counterattacks by units such as the 12th SS, and German armoured units for the rest of the month of June. They were the first allied unit to reach Caen, which was the primary objective of the 21st Army Group, and was also the first to enter the centre of the city. They not long after took part in the intense fighting in the Falaise Gap at Mensil Touffrey (Hill 190), and later took part in the important job of clearing Channel ports. They had major success in capturing the Citadel of Boulogne, but one of the hardest fighting they faced was during its contribution to the Battle of the Scheldt. The SD&G was also moved to Nijmegen to relieve British Airborne troops, plus guarded the bridge across the Rhine when the crossing was being prepared.
Later in the spring of 1945, the SD&G fought in Germany in Operation Veritable, and on the 28th of April, took part in an intense river assault called Operation Duck in Leer, Germany. It was courage and strong leadership that prevented them from being wiped out during that operation, and continued the fight in Lower Saxony, Germany until the end of the war.
Brief History of the Unit in Web Links
Regimental tartan: MacDonnell of Glengarry
March: “Bonnie Dundee”
Colonel-in-Chief: Vacant
Brief History of the Unit
The Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Highlanders (SD&G) is a unit that has its origins going back to before the beginnings of Canada, with the United Empire Loyalists in the 1780s settling in Eastern Ontario to found places like Cornwall, Ontario. The people and descendants of this part of the country would take part in all military actions from the War of 1812 to this very day.
When the Second War was declared, the SD&G, took part in protecting the canals along the St. Lawrence just as members did during the Great War. It was on the 18th of June, 1940, however, that the SD&G was mobilized to be part of the 3rd Canadian Division for overseas service as part of 9 Brigade. To bring the numbers of the SD&G up to strength, the Brockville Rifles and the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment each contributed a company to create the four SD&G companies necessary for overseas service.
No.1 Company was from the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment (Kingston) No.2 Company was from the Brockville Rifles (Brockville) No.3 Company was from the SD&G (Cornwall) No.4 Company was from the SD&G (Cornwall)
The regiment trained in Canada until it left Canadian shores on the RMS Orion on 19 July 1941, and arrived in Great Britain on 30 July 1941. As with much of Canada’s Army during this period, much of the Army was located around the Aldershot area around Southern England, where further training took place. Some combined operations training took place in Scotland, but most was done in Southern England in preparation for D-Day.
Members of the SD&G along with other members of 9 Brigade on June 4, 1944, boarded the seven landing crafts that would take them to the Normandy coast. They stayed on them on June 5th because of a delay due to bad weather. The SD&G landed on June 6, 1944, in a landing zone called: “Nan White” (located at Bernières-sur-mer), and they brought themselves everything they required, as all assault troops did. Many of 9 Brigade also carried BSA folding bicycles to shore. These bicycles were to allow arriving troops to be able to race to the front to assist troops already fighting, but, in the end, they were not needed, and the SD&G went inland on foot.
The SD&G became part of the vanguard of 9 Brigade taking part in holding back and repulsing repeated counterattacks by units such as the 12th SS, and German armoured units for the rest of the month of June. They were the first allied unit to reach Caen, which was the primary objective of the 21st Army Group, and was also the first to enter the centre of the city. They not long after took part in the intense fighting in the Falaise Gap at Mensil Touffrey (Hill 190), and later took part in the important job of clearing Channel ports. They had major success in capturing the Citadel of Boulogne, but one of the hardest fighting they faced was during its contribution to the Battle of the Scheldt. The SD&G was also moved to Nijmegen to relieve British Airborne troops, plus guarded the bridge across the Rhine when the crossing was being prepared.
Later in the spring of 1945, the SD&G fought in Germany in Operation Veritable, and on the 28th of April, took part in an intense river assault called Operation Duck in Leer, Germany. It was courage and strong leadership that prevented them from being wiped out during that operation, and continued the fight in Lower Saxony, Germany until the end of the war.
Brief History of the Unit in Web Links
Web page updated on February 4, 2026
