The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)

Badge

Description

A rose Argent barbed Vert seeded Or upon a scroll Azure lined Argent edged and inscribed ROYAL CANADIAN HUSSARS in letters Or all below two swords in saltire points upwards Argent hilted Or surmounted by an eagle displayed Sable armed and langued Gules dimidiated with a sinister arm embowed vested Argent the hand proper holding a dagger palewise Argent hilted Or.

Symbolism

The eagle, sleeved arm with the dagger and the crossed cavalry swords came from the badge of the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars where, originally, the eagle and arm came from the arms of the Irish province of Connaught and the swords represented the cavalry role of the unit. The white rose came from the badge of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars. It was originally the badge of the Royal House of York. "ROYAL CANADIAN HUSSARS" is a form of the regimental title.

Motto

NON NOBIS SED PATRIÆ (Not for ourselves but for our country)

Marches

St. Patrick's Day; and Men of Harlech

Alliance

British Army

The Queen's Royal Hussars; and The Light Dragoons

Guidon

Camp flag

Battle honours

The War of 1812

DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA

Honorary Distinction

The non-emblazonable honorary distinction DEFENCE OF CANADA – 1812-1815 – DÉFENSE DU CANADA

South African War

SOUTH AFRICA, 1900.

The First World War

MOUNT SORREL; SOMME, 1916, '18; Flers-Courcelette; Thiepval; ARRAS, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; HILL 70; YPRES, 1917; Passchendaele; Baupaume, 1918; Rosières; Avre; AMIENS; Scarpe, 1918; Drocourt-Quéant; HINDENBURG LINE; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; VALENCIENNES; SAMBRE; FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-18.

The Second World War

CAEN; FALAISE; The Laison; THE SCHELDT; Breskens Pocket; THE RHINELAND; THE RHINE; Emmerich-Hoch Elten; Zutphen; Deventer; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944 1945.

Lineage

This Reserve Force regiment originated on 30 November 1877 and incorporates the following regiments.

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) originated in Cookshire, Quebec on 30 November 1877, when the '5th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry' was authorized to be formed.^{Footnote 1} It was redesignated: '5th Regiment of Cavalry' on 21 May 1886;^{Footnote 2} and '5th Dragoons' on 1 January 1893.^{Footnote 3} On 1 June 1901, it was amalgamated with the '6th "Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars"' (see below) and redesignated the '6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars'.^{Footnote 4} On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with the '1st Armoured Car Regiment' (see below) and redesignated the '6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car)'.^{Footnote 5} It was redesignated: '2nd (Reserve) Regiment, 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car)' on 27 February 1941;^{Footnote 6} '15th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment, (6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars)' on 1 April 1941;^{Footnote 7} '6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (15th Armoured Regiment)' on 4 February 1949;^{Footnote 8} and '6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars' on 19 May 1958.^{Footnote 9} On 16 September 1958, it was amalgamated with the '17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars' (see below) and redesignated 'The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)'.^{Footnote 10}

Perpetuations

‘Canadian Light Dragoons’, ‘Company of Guides’, ‘Royal Montreal Troop of Volunteer Cavalry’, ‘Argenteuil and Vaudreuil Divisions (1812-15)’, 'No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry (1855)'; and '1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF'

Headquarters Location

Montréal, Quebec

Operational history

Fenian Raids

The 1st Volunteer Militia Troop of Cavalry of Montreal was called out on active service on 24 May 1870. The troop, which served on the South-eastern frontier, was removed from active service on 31 May 1870.^{Footnote 26}

South African War

The Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars contributed volunteers for the Canadian contingents in the field.^{Footnote 27}

The First World War

Details of the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty. These details later formed a part of the 'Montreal Composite Regiment' engaged in local protection duties.^{Footnote 28}

Details of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars "Argenteuil Rangers" were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.^{Footnote 29}

The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade was authorized on 15 September 1914 as the 'Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, No. 1, CEF'.^{Footnote 30} It was redesignated the '1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF' on 16 May 1915.^{Footnote 31} The brigade embarked for Britain on 30 September 1914,^{Footnote 32} and disembarked in France on 27 June 1915.^{Footnote 33} It fought as part of the 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war.^{Footnote 34} The brigade was disbanded on 6 November 1920.^{Footnote 35}

The Second World War

The 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car) mobilized an armoured squadron designated the '5th Canadian (Armoured) Division Headquarters Squadron (6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF' for active service on 27 February 1941.^{Footnote 36} This unit embarked for Britain on 11 November 1941.^{Footnote 37} It was disbanded on 1 January 1943 and its personnel absorbed by Headquarters, 5th Canadian Armoured Division.^{Footnote 38}

Details of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939, under the designation '17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, CASF (Details)', for local protection duties.^{Footnote 39} The details called out on active service were disbanded on 31 December 1940.^{Footnote 40} The regiment subsequently mobilized the '3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment, CASF (17 H)' for active service on 24 May 1940.^{Footnote 41} It was redesignated '17th (Active) Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, CASF' on 1 February 1941;^{Footnote 42} '7th Reconnaissance Battalion (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF' on 11 February 1941;^{Footnote 43} and '7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF' on 8 June 1942.^{Footnote 44} It embarked for Britain on 23 August 1941.^{Footnote 45} Detachments of the regiment landed in Normandy as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on 6 June 1944, followed by the remainder of the regiment in the course of June and July 1944.^{Footnote 46} The unit fought in North West until the end of the war.^{Footnote 47} The regiment was disbanded on 15 January 1946.^{Footnote 48} A '2nd 7th Reconnaissance Regiment, CAC, CAOF' was mobilized for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force on 1 June 1945.^{Footnote 49} It was redesignated the '2nd 7th Reconnaissance Regiment, RCAC, CAOF' on 2 August 1945.^{Footnote 50} This regiment was disbanded on 24 May 1946.^{Footnote 51}

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