British Columbia Hussars

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The British Columbia Hussars
Active1908 - 1939
Country Canada
BranchCanadian Militia
TypeHussars
RoleCavalry
Armoured Car
SizeOne Regiment
Part ofNon-Permanent Active Militia
Garrison/HQVancouver, British Columbia
Motto(s)Latin: Arma Pacis Fulcra, lit. 'Weapons of Peace'
EngagementsFirst World War
Battle honours
  • Ypres, 1915
  • Festubert, 1915

The British Columbia Hussars was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). In 1939, the regiment was converted from Light Armour to Artillery.[1][2][3][4]

Lineage[]

  • Originated on 1 April 1908, as the British Columbia Horse.
  • Reorganised on 1 December 1911, into 2 separate regiments: the 1st Regiment, British Columbia Horse (now The British Columbia Dragoons) and the 2nd Regiment, British Columbia Horse.
  • Redesignated on 15 April 1912, as the 31st Regiment, British Columbia Horse.
  • Redesignated on 1 November 1920, as the 5th British Columbia Light Horse.
  • Redesignated on 15 August 1932, as the British Columbia Hussars.
  • Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with the Headquarters and B Company of the 11th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, and Redesignated as the British Columbia Hussars (Armoured Car).
  • Converted on 15 May 1939, from Light Armour to Artillery and Redesignated as the 1st Searchlight Regiment, RCA.[1][2][3][4]

History[]

On 1 April 1908, the British Columbia Horse was authorized to be formed. It had independent squadrons based at Kamloops, Vernon and Lower Nicola, British Columbia.[1]

On 1 April 1911, 4 more squadrons were authorized to be raised for the BC Horse in order to create 2 regiments of 4 squadrons each.[1] Later that same year on 1 December 1911, these 2 regiments were formed and designated as the 1st Regiment, British Columbia Horse (now The British Columbia Dragoons) and the 2nd Regiment, British Columbia Horse.[1] The Regimental Headquarters of the 2nd BC Horse were first established at Meritt and had squadrons based at Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Wallachin and Merritt, British Columbia.[1][2][5]

On 15 April 1912, the 2nd BC Horse was redesignated as the 31st Regiment, British Columbia Horse.[1][2][6][7]

On 1 November 1920, as a result of the Canadian Militia Reorganization following the Otter Commission, the 31st Regiment British Columbia Horse was redesignated as the 5th British Columbia Light Horse.[1][8][9]

On 15 August 1932, they were again redesignated as the British Columbia Hussars.[1] A few years later in March 1934, they relocated to Vancouver and were based at the Bessborough Armoury which they shared with the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.[10]

On 15 December 1936, as part of the 1936 Canadian Militia Reorganization, the British Columbia Hussars were Amalgamated with the Headquarters and “B” Company of the 11th Machine Gun Battalion and Redesignated as the British Columbia Hussars (Armoured Car), becoming one of 3 designated Armoured Car Regiments in the Pre-WWII Canadian Militia.[1][11][12]

On 15 May 1939, the British Columbia Hussars were converted to artillery and Redesignated as the 1st Searchlight Regiment, RCA.[1][3][4]

Organization[]

2nd Regiment, British Columbia Horse (1 December 1911)[]

2nd Regiment, British Columbia Horse (1 March 1912)[]

  • Regimental Headquarters (Merritt, BC - moved 1915 to Kamloops)
  • A Squadron (Kamloops, BC)
  • B Squadron (Salmon Arm, BC - moved 1916 to Vancouver, BC)
  • C Squadron (Wallachin, BC - moved 1915 to Langley Prairie, BC)
  • D Squadron (Merritt, BC - formerly at Lower Nicola, BC)

5th British Columbia Light Horse (1921)[]

  • Regimental Headquarters (Kamloops, BC)
  • A Squadron (Kamloops, BC)
  • B Squadron (Merritt, BC - moved 1924 to Vancouver, BC)
  • C Squadron (Langley Prairie, BC - moved 1924 to Merritt, BC)

The British Columbia Hussars (Armoured Car) (12 December 1936)[]

  • Regimental Headquarters (Vancouver, BC)
  • A Squadron (Kamloops, BC)
  • B Squadron (Vancouver, BC)
  • C Squadron (Vancouver, BC)

1st Searchlight Regiment, RCA (15 May 1939)[]

A Squadron in Kamloops disbanded and remainder of the regiment converted to artillery

  • 1st Searchlight Battery, RCA
  • 3rd Searchlight Battery, RCA[2]

Alliances[]

Since the 1920s, the 5th British Columbia Light Horse and later the British Columbia Hussars were allied to the 4th Queen's Own Hussars.[13][14]

Battle Honours[]

The Great War[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-04-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e "The British Columbia Hussars [Canada]". 2005-10-29. Archived from the original on 29 October 2005. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  3. ^ a b c "Canadian Military Medals & Insignia Journal 1972-Vol-8-no.-4-Dec.pdf" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-15.
  4. ^ a b c "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Artillery)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-11-17.
  5. ^ Defence, Canada Department of Militia and (1915). The Militia List of the Dominion of Canada, (corrected to ...). Department of Militia and Defence.
  6. ^ Canada (1912). The Canada Gazette: La Gazette Du Canada. Partie I. Queen's Printer for Canada.
  7. ^ Luscombe, Stephen. "Canadian Cavalry". www.britishempire.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  8. ^ "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  9. ^ "The Cavalry Regiments of the Canadian Forces - The Volunteer Militia from 1872 -1920" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-13.
  10. ^ "Bessborough Armoury". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  11. ^ "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  12. ^ "The Minute Book". www.regimentalrogue.com. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  13. ^ Army, Great Britain (1928). The Monthly Army List. H.M. Stationery Office.
  14. ^ Dept, Great Britain Army (1952). The Army List. H.M. Stationery Office.
  15. ^ Defence, National (2019-07-22). "WWI - Ypres, 1915". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  16. ^ Defence, National (2019-07-22). "WWI - Festubert, 1915". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
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