The Royal Canadian Regiment was raised on December 21, 1883, as a Unit of the new Canadian Permanent Force, for the instruction of the Canadian Militia by establishing schools of instruction for officers and non-commissioned officers, and by the formation of a nucleus of officers and non-commissioned officer instructors to assist at the various Militia Camps. The Regiment was first known as the “Infantry School Corps.” In 1885 “C” Company, stationed at Toronto, joined a mixed force of Militia under the command of Lieut.-Col. W. D. Otter, which marched across the ice along the North Shore of Lake Superior to the Northwest, to suppress the rebellion of the half-breeds, under the leadership of Louis Riel. The Company took part in the action of Fish Creek and the relief of Battleford on April 24th, and in the action of Cut Knife Hill on May 2nd. It also took part in the pursuit of Chief Big Bear during June and July. It remained in garrison at Battleford from July until October, when it returned to Toronto. This was the first occasion on which Canadian troops had conducted active operations and brought them to a successful conclusion without the aid of Imperial troops. In 1892 the name of the Regiment was changed to the “Canadian Regiment Infantry,” and the following year Queen Victoria approved of the Regiment becoming a Royal Regiment, known as the “Royal Canadian Regiment of Canadian Infantry,” and granted permission for her Imperial Cypher, V.R.I., with the Imperial Crown, to be worn as a badge. In 1899, on the outbreak of the South African War, a second (Special Service) Battalion was raised under the command of Lieut.-Colonel W. D. Otter, and sailed on October 30, 1899, in the _S.S. Sardinian_, arriving at Cape Town on November 30th. In addition to minor skirmishes the Battalion took part in the following actions while in South Africa: Paardeberg 27th February, 1900 Poplar Grove 7th March, 1900 Dreifontein 10th March, 1900 Israel’s Poort 25th April, 1900 Hont’s Nek 1st May, 1900 Zano River 16th May, 1900 Doorn Kop 29th May, 1900 Pretoria 4th June, 1900 The casualties in South Africa were thirty-nine killed, twenty-eight died of disease, one hundred and twenty-three wounded. The Battalion was represented at the annexation ceremony at Pretoria on October 25th by a party specially selected, and on November 7th it embarked at Cape Town for Southampton, arriving on November 29th. The Battalion was inspected by Her Majesty Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle, when she addressed them and thanked them for their services. This was the last official inspection made by the Queen before her death. On December 11th the Battalion embarked at Liverpool and sailed for Canada, arriving at Halifax on December 23rd, where it was disbanded.