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Royal Winnipeg Rifles Trivia Quiz

The Rifles are a reserve infantry unit of which I am a member in Winnipeg. My questions are on the unit's history and some current general information.

A multiple-choice quiz by reedy. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
reedy

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
107,551

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
567

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In what year were the Royal Winnipeg Rifles formed? Hint

1863

1905

1870

1883

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Question 2 of 15

2. Two years after their inception, the Rifles were called to action. What was the name of their first battle? Hint

Duck Lake

Cut Knife Hill

Fish Creek

Batoche

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Question 3 of 15

3. It was during the Northwest Rebellion that the regiment got the nickname the Little Black Devils and its Latin motto. What is the unit's motto?

Answer: (Three Words (named by the enemy))

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Question 4 of 15

4. After the Northwest Rebellion, what was the next major conflict that the Rifles were involved in? Hint

The Boer War (1899-1902)

The Balkan Wars (1912-13)

The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)

World War I (1914-18)

5. Three weeks after the onset of World War I the Little Black Devils were called into action once again. They joined with other units to form the 8th Canadian Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. What famous battlefield saw half their battalion succumb to poison gas? Hint

Vimy Ridge

Passchendaele

Amiens

Ypres

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Question 6 of 15

6. After the war, the exploits of Canadian soldiers were noted by this quote, "The 8th, by steadiness under strain, was the focal point of saving the channel ports and removing the danger to England of invasion." Who said these words? Hint

David Lloyd George

Robert Borden

King George V

Woodrow Wilson

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Question 7 of 15

7. How many Winnipeg Rifles earned the Victoria Cross during World War I?

Answer: (Number)

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Question 8 of 15

8. It was between the two world wars that the unit received the prefix 'Royal' for its distinguished service. Who was the monarch that bestowed it? Hint

King George V

King George VI

King Edward VIII

Queen Elizabeth II

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Question 9 of 15

9. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles spent the main portion of World War II on British soil as a defense force against invasion, and did not see action until D-Day. What beach did the Rifles land on? Hint

Juno Beach

Omaha Beach

Utah Beach

Sword Beach

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Question 10 of 15

10. On June 8th, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles had their worst defeat in a battle against the 21st Panzer Division and the Hitlerjugend of the 12th SS Division. Three companies were virtually wiped out. Which company survived? Hint

A Company

D Company

B Company

C Company

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Question 11 of 15

11. How many battle honours did the regiment receive during World War II? Hint

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. Did the Royal Winnipeg Rifles participate in the Korean conflict?

Yes

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Question 13 of 15

13. In 1978 the regiment was accorded a distinctive honour with the installment of a new Colonel-in-Chief, who fills the position to this day. Who is it? Hint

Prince Phillip

Prince Charles

Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Edward

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Question 14 of 15

14. What is the name of the church in Winnipeg where the casualties from the Northwest Rebellion are buried? Hint

Saint Boniface Basilica Cathedral

Our Lady of Victory Memorial Church

Holy Trinity Cathedral

St. John's Cathedral

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who was the first Commanding Officer of the Regiment? Hint

Lord Wolsely

Lt-Col Perry Ramey

Lt-Col William Nassau Kennedy

Lt-Col John Robins

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year were the Royal Winnipeg Rifles formed?

Answer: 1883

Originally named the 90th Battalion of Winnipeg Rifles, the unit was formed to deal with possible Fenian raids from the United States. The Fenians were trying to force Britain to allow Irish independence.

2. Two years after their inception, the Rifles were called to action. What was the name of their first battle?

Answer: Fish Creek

Gabriel Dumont's M�tis force ambushed them after they had marched 540 kilometres from Prince Albert.

3. It was during the Northwest Rebellion that the regiment got the nickname the Little Black Devils and its Latin motto. What is the unit's motto?

Answer: Hosti Acie Nominati

Two captured M�tis warriors made the comment while being questioned, "The red coats we know, but who are those little black devils?" Rifle regiments are known for wearing dark green uniforms.

4. After the Northwest Rebellion, what was the next major conflict that the Rifles were involved in?

Answer: The Boer War (1899-1902)

A 35 members of the regiment went to South Africa in 1899, serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment.

Answer: Ypres

The Little Black Devils held their line despite being outnumbered 5 to 1. The Rifles never lost a trench to the enemy throughout WWI.

Answer: David Lloyd George

David Lloyd George was the British Prime Minister as of 1916. In all, the 90th Battalion of Winnipeg Rifles earned 23 battle honours and 431 decorations during the first world war.

7. How many Winnipeg Rifles earned the Victoria Cross during World War I?

Answer: 3

CSM FW Hall, Sgt. Alex Brereton and Sgt. FG Coppins received the Victoria Cross - the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

8. It was between the two world wars that the unit received the prefix 'Royal' for its distinguished service. Who was the monarch that bestowed it?

Answer: King George V

King George V celebrated his silver jubilee as monarch in the year 1935 - the same year that he gave the Winnipeg Rifles their 'Royal' moniker.

9. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles spent the main portion of World War II on British soil as a defense force against invasion, and did not see action until D-Day. What beach did the Rifles land on?

Answer: Juno Beach

There is a new memorial and educational centre being built at Juno Beach to commemorate all Canadians who have lost their lives in armed conflicts around the world. It opens on June 6th, 2003.

Answer: D Company

The few prisoners taken by the Germans were summarily executed at the order of the CO of the 12th SS Division. By the end of the war, the Rifles had their revenge, ensuring there were no surviving members of the 12th SS Division.

11. How many battle honours did the regiment receive during World War II?

Answer: 20

With 4 battle honours from their early history, 23 from WWI, and 20 from WWII, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles have the highest number of battle honours of any Canadian regiment at 47.

12. Did the Royal Winnipeg Rifles participate in the Korean conflict?

Answer: Yes

The Little Black Devils provided the third company of each of the 1st and 2nd Canadian Rifle Battalions.

13. In 1978 the regiment was accorded a distinctive honour with the installment of a new Colonel-in-Chief, who fills the position to this day. Who is it?

Answer: Prince Charles

When he came to visit the regiment the following year he said, "I have been called many things ... but never a Little Black Devil."

14. What is the name of the church in Winnipeg where the casualties from the Northwest Rebellion are buried?

Answer: St. John's Cathedral

It is purported to be the only Anglican church with a devil in its stained-glass windows. (The unit symbol is a little black devil.)

15. Who was the first Commanding Officer of the Regiment?

Answer: Lt-Col William Nassau Kennedy

Lt-Col Perry Ramey is the current CO of the regiment.

Source: Author reedy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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