Welcome To The Essex Armoured Soldiers Museum
The material found in our museum and on this web site is taken from artifacts donated to the museum and from private collections. The photos and information that appear here come from the regimental archives of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC), the book, Black Beret – A History of the Windsor Regiment (RCAC) 1936-2006 by McNorgan and Lock, personal experience and those of other former and serving members of the Regiment. I hope that you enjoy your visit.
The museum does not yet have a facility where this material is on public display, however, we will visit historical events and reunions. If you are interested in having some of these artifacts displayed at a historical event or a reunion, please contact us.
In 1932, plans for a reorganization of the army began with the idea that in the case of another Great War, the Non-Permanent Active Militia would be able to supply one infantry brigade from each of the 12 Military Districts that existed at that time, with the district in Southern Ontario providing two. During this reorganization, many regiments were either disbanded, amalgamated or re-rolled to different tasks. As a result of this reorganization, and in an effort to modernize the army, a Tank School and six new tank battalions were created. Under General Order 188/36 (Gazetted on the 9th of December, 1936) there would be the disbandment and re-rolling of five infantry Regiments and the creation of one brand new regiment, the Essex Regiment (Tank).
General Order 188/36 as it appeared in the Canada Gazette.
There already existed a strong and vibrant militia regiment in Essex County, also headquartered in Windsor, Ontario, namely the Essex Scottish Regiment. The Essex Scottish had been formed in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry and like other militia regiments, they had a few different names during their history. In 1887 they became the 21st Battalion Essex Fusiliers, in 1900 the name changed again to the 21st Regiment Essex Fusiliers and then the number 21 was dropped from the title to become the Essex Fusiliers. In 1927 the regiment was renamed the Essex Scottish. The Fusiliers contributed troops to the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as well as raising the 18th, 99th and the 241st Battalions.
The new tank regiment had its work cut out. On Tuesday, the 15th of December, 1936 Lieutenant-Colonel George Y. Masson ED became the first commanding officer of the Tanks. He had served in the Great War with the 30th Battalion CEF and had later transferred to the Royal Air Force. After the war, he rejoined the Essex Scottish and rose to become the second in command. It can be argued that no other person had a greater effect on the Regiment than George Masson. He recruited vigorously and built the Regiment. He also designed the badges that would be worn by the Regiment for the next couple of decades.
Lt Col George Y. Masson ED
The first Regimental Sergeant Major was Warrant Officer First Class Reginald Gates EM, another Great War veteran. He would hold the appointment of RSM from 1937 until 1946.
WO I Reginald Gates EM
The Essex Armoured Soldier Museum website has pages dedicated to the badges, uniforms, vehicles and other memorabilia pertaining to the Essex Regiment (Tank) and the Windsor Regiment (RCAC) with a smattering of Canadian Armoured Corps and Royal Canadian Armoured Corps items as well, all in an effort to tell the story of the Regiment and its soldiers. From those early days in 1936, through the Second World War and the Korean War to Peacekeeping missions around the world to the battlefields of Afghanistan and even during domestic operations here at home, the members of the Regiment left their homes and families to serve Canada.