12th Manitoba Dragoons

The official lineage of 12th Manitoba Dragoons armour regiment.

Badge

Description

A bison Or preparing to charge across a plain Vert set with the Roman numerals "XII" Argent all above a scroll Gules edged and inscribed MANITOBA DRAGOONS in letters Argent.

Symbolism

The bison is a symbol of Manitoba and the regimental tradition has it charging across the plain ready for combat. The Roman numerals "XII" and the words "MANITOBA DRAGOONS" are a form of the regimental title.

Motto

UBIQUE HONOR ET EQUIS (Everywhere honour and by horse)

March

Colonel Bogey.

Guidon

No Guidon recorded

Camp flag

No camp flag recorded

Battle honours

North West Rebellion

NORTH WEST CANADA, 1885.

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1900.

The First World War

YPRES, 1915; FESTUBERT, 1915; MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916, '18; Cambrai, 1917; AMIENS; HINDENBURG LINE; PURSUIT TO MONS.

The Second World War

FALAISE; Falaise Road; The Laison; Chambois; THE RHINELAND; Bad Zwischenahn; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 1 July 1903 and incorporates the following regiments.

The 12th Manitoba Dragoons' originated in Brandon, Manitoba on 1 July 1903, when the '12th "Manitoba Dragoons"' were authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} On 31 January 1935, it was amalgamated with 'The Border Horse' (see below), retaining its designation.^{Footnote 2} It was redesignated: '12th (Reserve) Manitoba Dragoons' on 7 November 1940;^{Footnote 3} '18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Dragoons), RCAC' on 1 April 1946;^{Footnote 4} '12th Manitoba Dragoons, (18th Armoured Car Regiment)' on 4 February 1949;^{Footnote 5} '12th Manitoba Dragoons (18th Armoured Regiment)' on 1 October 1954;^{Footnote 6} and '12th Manitoba Dragoons' on 19 May 1958.^{Footnote 7} It was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle on 31 December 1964.^{Footnote 8}

Notes:

On 1 November 1920, the 12th Manitoba Dragoons were organized as a two regiment unit with the 1st Regiment on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle, and the 2nd Regiment on the Reserve order of battle (GO 185/20).

On the 1 January 1929, the 1st Regiment was redesignated the 1st Regiment (32nd Battalion, CEF) (GO 2/29).

The 12th Manitoba Dragoons were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 15 May 1921 and reorganized the same day (GO 200/21). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The 12th Manitoba Dragoons were disbanded for the purpose of amalgamation on 31 January 1935 and reorganized the same day (GO 30/35). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

On 31 January 1935, the 1st Regiment was redesignated the 1st Regiment (6th Battalion, CEF) (GO 117/35). The reserve unit was disbanded on 14 December 1936 (GO 3/37).

On 16 March 1932, the regiment was authorized to perpetuate the '95th Battalion, Manitoba Grenadiers' (GO 38/32).

The Border Horse originated in Estevan, Saskatchewan on 1 April 1908, when '20th Mounted Rifles' were authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 9} It was redesignated: '20th Border Horse' on 1 March 1910;^{Footnote 10} and 'The Border Horse' on 15 March 1920.^{Footnote 11} On 31 January 1935, it was amalgamated with the '12th Manitoba Dragoons', as above.

Notes:

On 1 November 1920, The Border Horse was organized as a two regiment unit with the 1st Regiment on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle, and the 2nd Regiment on the Reserve order of battle (GO 185/20).

On the 1 March 1932, the 1st Regiment was redesignated the 1st Regiment (6th Battalion, CEF) (GO 27/32). The reserve unit was disbanded on 1 January 1935 (GO 30/35).

The Border Horse was disbanded for the purpose of reorganization on 1 June 1921 and reorganized the same day (GO 200/21). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

The Border Horse was disbanded for the purpose of amalgamation on 31 January 1935 and reorganized the same day (GO 30/35). This change was administrative and does not affect the lineage of the regiment.

Perpetuation

'95th Battalion, Manitoba Grenadiers' of 1885-1892; '6th'; and '32nd "Overseas" Battalion(s), CEF'

Headquarters Location

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Operational history

North West Rebellion

The 95th Battalion Manitoba Grenadiers were mobilized for active service on 10 April 1885, when "a Battalion at Winnipeg" was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 12} The battalion served in the Alberta Column of the North West Field Force.^{Footnote 13} It was removed from active service on 18 September 1885 and retained on the Non- Permanent Active Militia order of battle.^{Footnote 14}

Note:

The battalion was subsequently redesignated: '95th "Winnipeg Battalion of Infantry"' on 2 April 1886 (MGO 7/86); and '95th Battalion Manitoba Grenadiers' on 21 May 1886 (MGO 11/86). It was disbanded on 19 August 1892, however, 'No. 1 Company' and 'No. 2 Company' [which was one of the original squadrons of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons - see footnote 1] were retained as independent companies designated the "Brandon" and "Portage la Prairie Infantry Companies", respectively (GO 34/92).

South African War

The Manitoba Dragoons contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents in the field.^{Footnote 15}

The First World War

Details of the 20th Border Horse were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty.^{Footnote 16}

The 6th Battalion, which was authorized on 10 August 1914 as the '6th Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 17} embarked for Britain on 29 September 1914.^{Footnote 18} It formed the nucleus of the 'Remount Depot' on 20 January 1915, and the remainder were absorbed by the 'Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF' on 6 March 1915 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 19} The battalion was disbanded on 5 April 1918.^{Footnote 20}

The 32nd Battalion, which was authorized on 3 November 1914 as the '32nd Battalion, CEF',^{Footnote 21} embarked for Britain on 23 February 1915.^{Footnote 22} It was redesignated the '32nd Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 18 April 1915 and on 4 January 1917 its personnel were absorbed by the '15th Reserve Battalion, CEF', to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 23} The battalion was disbanded on 1 September 1917.^{Footnote 24}

The Second World War

The regiment mobilized the '18th (Manitoba) Reconnaissance Battalion, CAC, CASF' for active service on 10 May 1941.^{Footnote 25} It was redesignated: '18th (Manitoba) Armoured Car Regiment, CAC, CASF' on 26 January 1942;^{Footnote 26} '18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons), CAC, CASF', on 16 December 1942;^{Footnote 27} and '18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons), RCAC, CASF' on 2 August 1945;^{Footnote 28} It embarked for the Great Britain on 19 August 1942.^{Footnote 29} On 8 and 9 July 1944 it landed in Normandy, France as a unit of 2nd Canadian Corps Troops, where it fought in North-West Europe until the end of the war.^{Footnote 30} The overseas regiment was disbanded on 31 January 1946.^{Footnote 31}

PDF version, 64.13 KB

Footnotes

Footnote 1

GO 119/03. Formed from five independent squadrons of Canadian Mounted Rifles authorized on the following dates: 'A Squadron' at Virden (No. 2 Company, Winnipeg Battalion of Infantry' ('B Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles'), 10 April 1885), 'B Squadron' at Souris (No. 6 Company, 91st Battalion Manitoba Light Infantry ('C Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles'), 4 January 1889), 'C Squadron' at Portage la Prairie (D Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles, 1 June 1901), 'D Squadron' at Minnedosa (E Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles, 1 June 1901), and 'E Squadron' at Brandon (F Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles, 1 June 1901)

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

GO 30/35.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

GO 273/40.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

GO 115/46.

Return to footnote 4 referrer

Footnote 5

CAO 76-3, Supp Issue No. 114/49.

Return to footnote 5 referrer

Footnote 6

CAO 76-3, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No. 412/54.

Return to footnote 6 referrer

Footnote 7

CAO 76-3, Pt 'B', Supp Issue No. 602/58.

Return to footnote 7 referrer

Footnote 8

SD 1 Letter No. 64/60; and Letter, Western Command WC 2001-3/1 (G), 18 October 1965.

Return to footnote 8 referrer

Footnote 9

GO 58/08.

Return to footnote 9 referrer

Footnote 10

GO 27/10.

Return to footnote 10 referrer

Footnote 11

GO 26/20.

Return to footnote 11 referrer

Footnote 12

MGO 8/85.

Return to footnote 12 referrer

Footnote 13

General Sir Frederick Middleton, Suppression of the Rebellion in the North West Territories of Canada 1885, (Toronto, 1948), p. 42.

Return to footnote 13 referrer

Footnote 14

MGO 21/85; and MGO 7/86.

Return to footnote 14 referrer

Footnote 15

GO 60/33.

Return to footnote 15 referrer

Footnote 16

GO 163/14.

Return to footnote 16 referrer

Footnote 17

PC 2067, 6 August 1914, and memorandum Preliminary Instructions for Mobn. War 1914, BGen V.A.S. Williams, Adjutant-General, Canadian Militia to O.Cs. Divisions and Districts, 10 August 1914, reprinted in Colonel A.F. Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War, 1914-1919, vol. 1 - Appendices (Ottawa), 1938), pp. 37-39.

Return to footnote 17 referrer

Footnote 18

Colonel A.F. Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War, 1914-1919, vol. 1 - Appendices (Ottawa), 1938), pp. 110 and 116.

Return to footnote 18 referrer

Footnote 19

Edwin Pye Papers, Summary of History of C.E.F. Units - 6th Battalion, Document Collection 74/672, Series IV, Box 11, Folder 6.

Return to footnote 19 referrer

Footnote 20

GO 60/18.

Return to footnote 20 referrer

Footnote 21

PC 2067, 6 August 1914, and Colonel A.F. Duguid, Official History of the Canadian Forces in the Great War, 1914-1919, vol. 1 - (Ottawa), 1938), p. 368.

Return to footnote 21 referrer

Footnote 22

Ibid.

Return to footnote 22 referrer

Footnote 23

Shorncliffe Camp Order No. 354/15; OMFC Routine Order 198/17; and Edwin Pye Papers, Summary of History of C.E.F. Units - 32nd Battalion, Document Collection 74/672, Series IV, Box 11, Folder 32.

Return to footnote 23 referrer

Footnote 24