The United Empire Loyalists who settled in the county of Hastings and Prince Edward organized the first local Militia units for self-defence. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment is the modern descendant of those Militia units.

During the time of the Fenian threat, the Canadian Government authorized the formation of new independent infantry companies.

In December, LCol. Ponton gathered together a number of these infantry companies in Belleville.

In January, the infantry units were formed into the 15th Argyllshire Light Infantry.

The 1st Prince Edward was re-designated the 16th Battalion of Volunteer Militia (Infantry) of Canada.

All Regiments supplied detachments for active service during the Fenian Raids.

The 1st Hastings was re-designated the 49th Regiment (Hastings Rifles).

The 16th Prince Edward Battalion of Infantry, was re-designated once again as the 16th Prince Edward Regiment.

The 15th Argyll formed 'H' Company in the Midland Battalion for service during the Northwest Rebellion. This service is the source of the Battle Honour which is part of the current day Regimental Battle Honours.

In North-West Canada, a number of individuals served with the Royal Canadian Regiment during the Boer War.

Few Canadian Regiments served as such overseas in WWI. Men were enlisted in Battalions designated only as numbers. Militia-men from the Quinte region formed the 39th, 80th, 136th, 155th, and 254th Infantry Battalions as well as the 21st and 77th Infantry Battalions and the 1st Forestry Battalion. Their valor in action earned them the following Battle Honours:

The 16th Prince Edward Regiment and The 49th Hastings Rifles were amalgamated to form The Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment, which now consisted of three Battalions.

The Regiment received new Colours presented by LGen Sir Archibald McDonald. The Regiment also affiliated with the Royal Sussex Regiment and was granted the honour of using their colours of old gold and royal blue. The Royal Sussex Regiment was amalgamated with several other regiments to form The Queen's Regiment in 1966. It in turn, was absorbed by the modern Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

The Regiment mobilized on September 2, 1939 and began training with the relics of WWI leftover uniforms and equipment. Some had to make do with sticks in place of rifles and supplied their own boots and clothing but by December 19, when they embarked on the HMT Ormonde they were a fully equipped trained unit.

The Regiment trained in Great Britain with the exception of a brief foray into France where the fierce Blitzkrieg waged by the Germans cost them most of their vehicles and the Regimental mascot, Little Chief. A new mascot Chief Petawawa-Much was taken on strength on October 30, 1940 with the service number C.0001. (Little Chief's number had been C.0000).

July 10, the Hasty P's, part of Canadian Army 1st Division, landed on Green Beach, Sicily and earned eight Battle Honours at the cost of many men, including a Commanding Officer.

September 3, an unopposed landing was more than made up for by a vicious running battle with seasoned German Army troops up through the Italian Peninsula as part of the British 8th Army. The Regiment earned twenty more Battle Honours at fearful cost.

The Regiment departed Italy and went to Northwest Europe and joined the 1st Canadian Army where they took active part in the liberation of Holland. Among the Regiments accomplishments was the capturing of the Dutch Summer Palace at Apeldoorn.

Farley Mowat published a history of the Regiment in WWII. "THE REGIMENT" is a worthy recounting of the Regiment's accomplishments. Mowat himself was a platoon commander in the Regiment, and later in the war, an intelligence officer in England.

Two companies were raised for NATO service in West Germany as part of the 27th Brigade.

Government cutbacks had the Regiment, now headquartered in Belleville, absorb the Midland Regiment, the 34th Battery, and the Argylls.

In October, more than twelve years after the end of the war, Canadian Army Orders finally announced the Regiment had been awarded 31 Battle Honours, ten of which were emblazoned onto the Regimental Colours.

More cutbacks closed six more Regimental armouries. The armoury in Peterborough remained open, but the 50th Field Regiment and the 28th RCEME were struck off the Order of Battle and their personnel formed 'B' Company of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. The regiment now occupied only two armouries.

The Cobourg Armoury officially opened it's doors in January and provided a home for 'C' Company of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment.