French Grenadiers
In the late 1600s, the French infantry had attached a group of four men armed with hand grenades and later on, a company of grenadiers. The French Grenadiers adapted
as their British brethren in the 1800s and became more specialized soldiers. The Old Guard Grenadiers were a key part of Nepoleon's campaigns and clashed with the
British Grenadier Guards in the Battle of Waterloo.
Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) were raised in 1764 and are the longest serving infantry unit of the Canadian Army's Reserve force. They have participated in major
combat operations in World War I, World War II and more recently in peace-keeping missions in Cyprus, Haiti, the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. The regiment is
headquartered out of Montreal, Quebec. It has been performing ceremonial duties in Ottawa since 1959, sharing them with the Governor General's Foot Guards. This unit
can be seen at guard on Parliament Hill and at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa and is affiliated with the British Grenadier Guards. The Winnipeg Grenadiers were raised in 1908 and
saw combat action in Hong Kong during World War II. They were captured as prisoners of war (POWs) and the unit was disbanded in 1965.
Swiss Grenadiers
The Swiss history of Grendiers probably begins with troops that served Napoleon and other European empires as mercenary soldiers. While Napoleon was exiled, the
grenadier companies of the Swiss regiments in French service served as part of King Louis XVIII's royal guard. Today, the Grenadiers form the elite Special Forces unit of
Switzerland's army. The Swiss Grenadiers go through tough training requirements and specialize in urban warfare, guerrilla tactics, anti-terrorist operations,
commando assaults, sniper missions, hand to hand combat and covert special operations.
