This small group of men was to serve with the 2nd Special Service Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.

It was not until 1 January 1901, with the increasing number of troops being sent to South Africa to fight in the Second Boer War, that the regiment was created permanently, with its headquarters in Chatham, Ontario.

The 18th Battalion (Western Ontario), CEF was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 18 April 1915 and arrived in France on 15 September 1915.

The battalion fought as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war and was disbanded on 15 September 1920.

Some of the major battles these battalions took part in were; Ypres 1915, 1917; Festubert 1915; Mount Sorrel; Somme 1916; Flers Courcelette; Thiepval; Ancre Heights; Arras 1917; Vimy 1917; Hill 70: Passchendaele; Amiens; Scarpe 1918; Hindenburg Line; Canal du Nord; Cambrai 1918; Pursuit to Mons; France and Flanders 1915-1918[3] During the Second World War, The Essex Scottish mobilized the Essex Scottish Regiment, CASF, for active service on 1 September 1939.

It embarked for Great Britain on 16 July 1940 and was re-designated the 1st Battalion, The Essex Scottish Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940.

At the end of the battle the Essex Scottish had suffered 530 casualties including 6 officers and 108 other ranks killed, the rest being taken prisoner.

After the battle the Essex Scottish spent a lot of time rebuilding the regiment so they could continue fighting throughout the war.

Some of the engagements the Essex Scottish were a part of were; Bourguebus Ridge; St. André-sur-Orne; Falaise; Falaise Roa; Clair Tizon; Forêt de la Londe; The Scheldt; Woensdrecht; South Beveland; The Rhineland; Goch-Calcar Road; The Hochwald; Xanten; Twente Canal; Groningen; Oldenburg; North-West Europe 1942, 1944-1945.

Many units in the Province of Ontario were affected by this decision, including The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.

[5] Today the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment remains an active service unit in the Canadian army.

It has sent many of its troops on United Nations peacekeeping missions, as well as over forty members to the recent conflict in Afghanistan.

On 13 May 2023 in Windsor, Prince Michael of Kent, Colonel-in-Chief, presented new colours to the regiment, which were the first to include battle honours for the War of 1812 and Afghanistan.

A two-storey, red brick Baronial style structure with a three-storey tower, centrally located in the city.

It housed The Essex and Kent Scottish until 2004, when the new location was opened on Sandwich St.[15] The building is now owned by the University of Windsor.