The British Columbia Dragoons

Badge

Description

Azure a maple leaf in autumnal tints proper within an annulus Vert edged and inscribed THE BRITISH COLUMBIA DRAGOONS in letters Or, enfiled in base by a scroll Vert edged and inscribed QUANSEM ILEP in letters Argent, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and flanked on both sides by maple leaves in autumnal tints proper.

Symbolism

The maple leaves represent service to Canada and also commemorate the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion and the 11th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. The Crown represents service to the Sovereign. "THE BRITISH COLUMBIA DRAGOONS" is the regimental title and "QUANSEM ILEP" is the motto of the regiment.

Motto

QUANSEM ILEP (Always first)

Marches

Fare Ye Well Inniskilling (5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards)

Additional March For Pipe Band

Scotland the Brave

Alliance

British Army

The Royal Dragoon Guards

Guidon

Camp flag

Battle honours

The First World War

MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916; Flers-Courcelette; Ancre Heights; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; Passchendaele; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; PURSUIT TO MONS; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.

The Second World War

LIRI VALLEY; Melfa Crossing; GOTHIC LINE; Pozzo Alto Ridge; LAMONE CROSSING; Naviglio Canal; Fosso Munio; Conventello-Comacchio; ITALY, 1944-1945; Ijsselmeer; Delfzijl Pocket; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945.

South-West Asia

AFGHANISTAN

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated in Vernon, British Columbia on 1 April 1911, when two four-squadron regiments designated the 'British Columbia Horse' were authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '1st Regiment, "British Columbia Horse"' on 1 December 1911;^{Footnote 2} '30th Regiment, British Columbia Horse' on 15 April 1912;^{Footnote 3} 'The British Columbia Mounted Rifles' on 15 March 1920;^{Footnote 4} 'The British Columbia Dragoons' on 15 March 1929;^{Footnote 5} '2nd (Reserve) Regiment, The British Columbia Dragoons' on 11 February 1941;^{Footnote 6} '9th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment, (The British Columbia Dragoons)' on 1 April 1941;^{Footnote 7} '9th Reconnaissance Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons), RCAC' on 1 April 1946;^{Footnote 8} 'The British Columbia Dragoons (9th Reconnaissance Regiment)' on 4 February 1949;^{Footnote 9} and 'The British Columbia Dragoons' on 19 May 1958.^{Footnote 10}

Perpetuations

'2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF'; and '11th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Kelowna, British Columbia

Operational history

The First World War

The 30th Regiment, British Columbia Horse was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duty.^{Footnote 11}

The 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, which was authorized on 7 November 1914 as the '2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF',^{Footnote 12} embarked for Britain on 12 June 1915.^{Footnote 13} It disembarked in France on 22 September 1915 as part of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Brigade.^{Footnote 14} On 1 January 1916 it was converted to infantry, amalgamated with 'B Squadron' and the headquarters staff of the '3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF' and redesignated the '2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF'.^{Footnote 15} It fought as part of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 16} The battalion was disbanded on 6 November 1920.^{Footnote 17}

The '11th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF' was authorized on 7 November 1914.^{Footnote 18} The regiment was converted to infantry and redesignated the '11th "Overseas" Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF' on 23 April 1916.^{Footnote 19} It embarked for England on 8 July 1916.^{Footnote 20} Its personnel were absorbed by the '24th Reserve Battalion, CEF' on 18 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.^{Footnote 21} The regiment was disbanded on 27 July 1918.^{Footnote 22}

The Second World War

Details from the regiment were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation 'The British Columbia Dragoons, CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 23} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 24} The regiment mobilized the '5th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment, CASF (BCD)' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 25} It was converted to armour and redesignated: 'The British Columbia Dragoons, CASF' on 9 February 1941;^{Footnote 26} '9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons), CASF' on 11 February 1941;^{Footnote 27} '9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons) CAC, CASF' on 15 October 1943;^{Footnote 28} and '9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons) RCAC, CASF' on 2 August 1945.^{Footnote 29} It embarked for Britain on 13 November 1941.^{Footnote 30} The regiment landed in Italy on 19 December 1943 as part of the 5th Armoured Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division.^{Footnote 31} On 20 February 1945 the regiment moved with the 1st Canadian Corps to North-West Europe, where it fought until the end of the war.^{Footnote 32} The overseas regiment was disbanded on 31 January 1946.^{Footnote 33}

From 2002 to 2014, The British Columbia Dragoons reinforced various CAF units deployed to Afghanistan.^{Footnote 34}