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Allied Units

On 30 March 1933, an "Alliance" was approved by George V between the Lake Superior Regiment and The Northamptonshire Regiment (48th/58th Foot). Although the practice of Allied or Sister Regiments originated in Canada in 1904, there were limits to its application, since until 1924 there was a restriction of one alliance per British regiment with one Dominion regiment. In the 1930's the practice became truly inter-Commonwealth when most units were Allied with British, Australian, South African and New Zealand regiments. The purpose behind the creation of Sister units was to foster inter-Empire/Commonwealth understanding, standardization and extend regimental esprit de corps. Thus Alliances were typically formed between units which fought together, had a similar role, shared a regimental number or similarity of dress. The choice of the Northamptonshire's, a line infantry unit, was an appropriate Alliance for a rough northern Ontario regiment, since it was a "work a day" county regiment and not one of the more fashionable units of the British Army. The system of Alliances was expanded in 1953 to include the 58th/32nd Battalion (City of Essendon Regiment), Australian Military Force and The Regiment de la Rey (Transvaal), South African Defence Force, both of which were Allied to The Northamptonshire Regiment. The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment and The Northamptonshire Regiment amalgamated and in 1960 became the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's Own Royal Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire), which later became the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. The Alliances with the South African and Australian regiments lapsed due to reorganizations and reductions in both countries armed forces during the 1960's and as a result of South Africa becoming an international pariah in 1961.
David Ratz