Canadian Expeditionary Force (3) Cavalry

Canadian Expeditionary Force, Cavalry

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(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3394737)

Inspection of Canadian Cavalry Brigade by General Sir Charles Kavanagh, K.C.B. August 1917.

The Canadian Cavalry Brigade was raised in December 1914, under its first commanding officer, Brigadier-General J.E.B. Seely.  It was originally composed of two Canadian and one British regiments, and an attached artillery battery. The Canadian units were the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD), Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) LdSH (RC), and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA) battery. The British regiment was the 2nd King Edward’s Horse (The King’s Overseas Dominions Regiment (2 KEH). 2 KEH was replaced by The Fort Garry Horse in February 1916.

The Canadian Cavalry Brigade was concentrated at Maresfield Park near Uckfield in Sussex. When the 1st (Canadian) Division sailed for France early in April 1915 Seely’s Detachment was left in England but by 4 May 1915 losses in the 1st Division had reached 200 Officers and almost 6,000 other ranks killed, wounded or gassed. The desperate need for reinforcements saw the Canadian Cavalry Brigade being asked to serve as infantry and Seely’s Brigade less the RCHA sailed for France on 4 May 1915 serving as infantry for the remainder of the year. In January 1916 the 2nd King Edward’s Light Horse was withdrawn from the Canadian Cavalry Brigade and replaced with the 34th Fort Garry Horse. For the remainder of the war the Canadian Cavalry Brigade served with the British Cavalry Corps.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3404510)

Canadian Cavalry in France, in training, descending a steep bank. August 1917.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3404510)

Canadian Cavalry charging up a steep hill in France, August 1917.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3403162)

Canadian Cavalry bringing in prisoners, Amiens, France, August 1918.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3521740)

General Sir Sam Hughes and Party at Canadian Cavalry Headquarters. August, 1916.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3219797)

Brigadier General Walter Robert Paterson, CMG, DSO, GOC Canadian Cavalry Brigade, February 1919.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405859)

RCD riding through Camp Valcartier, c 1914-1919.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Museum Collection, Author Photo)

1997.28.242.

Royal Canadian Dragoons. The regiment was placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for instructional and camp administration duties. On 14 September 1914 the regiment mobilized The Royal Canadian Dragoons, CEF, which embarked for England on 3 October 1914. On 5 May 1915 it disembarked in France, where it fought dismounted in an infantry role as part of Seely's Detachment (really the Canadian Cavalry Brigade), 1st Canadian Division. On 24 January 1916, it remounted and resumed its cavalry role as part of the 1st Canadian Cavalry Brigade with whom it continued to fight in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The overseas regiment disbanded on 6 November 1920. (Official Lineages Volume 3, Part 1: Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments – Armour Regiments. Directorate of History and Heritage)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3397634)

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), June 1916.

(Wikipedia)

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), painting by Alfred Munnings, Canadian War Museum.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Museum Collection, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.552.

Lord Strathcona’s Horse. The regiment was placed on active service at the start of the Great War on 6 August 1914 for instructional and camp administration duties. On 14 September 1914 the regiment mobilized Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), CEF, which embarked for England on 3 October 1914. On 5 May 1915 it disembarked in France, where it fought dismounted in an infantry role with Seeley's Detachment (really the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, part of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division), 1st Canadian Division. On 27 January 1916, the regiment remounted and resumed its cavalry role as part of the 1st Canadian Cavalry Brigade, with whom it continued to fight in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The overseas regiment disbanded on 6 November 1920.

(Private Collection Photo)

2nd King Edward’s Light Horse (1914 - 1915)

The 2nd King Edward’s Horse was an Imperial regiment raised effective 10 August 1914 from colonial ex-soldiers living in Great Britain, the unit containing a large proportion of Canadians. The regiment served in the Canadian Cavalry Brigade until February 1916 when it was replaced in the Canadian Cavalry Brigade by the Fort Garry Horse.

(Private Collection, Cultman Photo)

34th Fort Garry Horse

The Fort Garry Horse was raised as the 34th Regiment of Cavalry at Winnipeg effective 15 April 1912 being redesignated as the 34th Fort Garry Horse on 12 January 1913.  During the war, the 34th Fort Garry Horse contributed about one quarter of the troops forming the 6th (Western Cavalry) Battalion CEF, to serve as an infantry battalion. The unit was formed at Camp Valcartier in August 1914 from the personnel of various Western Cavalry Regiments. The 18th Mounted Rifles (160), 20th Border Horse (123), 22nd Saskatchewan Light Horse (175), 23rd Alberta Rangers (78), 32nd Manitoba Horse (44), and the 34th Fort Garry Horse (234). The 6th Battalion sailed for England with the 1st Contingent on 3 October 1914. After its arrival the battalion was found to be surplus to divisional requirements and was redesignated as the Canadian Cavalry Depot this being relocated to Canterbury by 3 September 1915 with a total of 1758 all ranks.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405682)

Fort Garry Horse passing through a village on the Cambrai in front, December 1917.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405681)

Some of the 43 soldiers of the Fort Garry Horse who charged the Germans at Cambrai. December 1917.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Museum Collection, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.324.

6th (Western Canada) Battalion, Fort Garry Horse. Authorized 10 August 1914, disbanded 5 April 1918.

The FGH embarked for England on 29 September 1914. It formed the nucleus of the Remount Depot on 20 January 1915, and the remainder of the battalion's personnel were absorbed by the Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF, on 6 March 1915 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. The 6th Battalion was a composite battalion raised by the 34th Fort Garry Horse as an infantry battalion at Camp Valcartier Quebec in August 1914 under authority of Privy Council Order 2067 of August 5th 1914. The 6th Battalion was comprised of volunteers from cavalry regiments from Western Canada who volunteered to serve as infantry under command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.W. Paterson (34th Fort Garry Horse) assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade. The 6th Battalion was formed from personnel of the 18th Mounted Rifles (160), 20th Border Horse (123), 22nd Saskatchewan Light Horse (175), 23rd Alberta Rangers (with additional personnel from the 21st Alberta Hussars and 15th Light Horse) (78), 32nd Manitoba Horse (44) and the 34th Fort Garry Horse (234). The Battalion sailed with the First Contingent on 3 October 1914 with 40 officers and 1115 other ranks.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3403484)

Canadian troop carrying transports arriving at Devonport, England on 14 October 1914.

Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF

The 6th Battalion sailed for England with the 1st Contingent on 3 October 1914. After its arrival the battalion was found to be surplus to divisional requirements and was redesignated as the Canadian Cavalry Depot this being relocated to Canterbury by 3 September 1915 with a total of 1758 all ranks.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.234.

The 12th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, was formed on 15 March 1915. On 3 February 1916 the Regiment was absorbed by the Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.236.

Canadian Army Service Corps Remount Depots

A remount Depot was organized at Camp Valcartier on 1 September 1914, with temporary personnel being supplied from the militia No.5 Company CASC. The establishment of a division was 5,030 horses but with the addition of riding, artillery and draught this number had risen to 7,264 by the time the 1st Contingent sailed for England. In addition the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps supplied 27 all ranks which worked in conjunction with the CASC remounts depot. An Overseas Remount Depot was organized by the Canadian Army Service Corps at Romney in Kent England in September 1915, regimental numbers between 49770 -50000, this with an establishment of approximately 6 Officers and 30 OR’s being authorized under General Order 86 of 1 July 1915. Prior to this in France the CASC maintained 1st and 2nd Divisional Remounts Depots. In the earlier part of the war the Remounts Depot came under command of the Director General of Veterinary Services and Remounts but in 1918 most of the organization and training duties of the CASC Remounts Depot in England were taken over by the Imperial Forces. The (Overseas) Remounts Depot was disbanded under General Order 193 of November 1920.

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1st Canadian Army Auxiliary Horse Company, Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC), No. 1 Canadian Reserve Park, CASC, 1st Division

Initially named the 1st Canadian Reserve Park the unit was located in the Army area and carried three days of emergency food and forage for the 1st Division. Early in 1916 after the formation of the 3rd Division the units were reorganized as general purpose transportation to support the 1st and 2nd Divisions. In mid 1918, the unit was re-designated as the 1st Canadian Army Auxiliary Horse Company. (https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2006025)

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.17.

Canadian Light Horse (CLH)

‍The CLH was formed as the Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment in May 1916, by the amalgamation of three divisional cavalry squadrons then serving in France: the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron (19th Alberta Dragoons), the 2nd Divisional Cavalry Squadron (1st Hussars), and the 3rd Divisional Cavalry Squadron (16th Light Horse). The First Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment was redesignated the Canadian Light Horse effective 19 March 1917. The CLH participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the 100 Days Offensive. The regiment's duties included mounted patrol work, dispatch riding, escort duties, and traffic control, as well as pursuit of the enemy during offensive operations. On 10 October 1918, at 2:15 pm, A and C Squadrons charged the enemy with 280 horses at Iwuy, a village 9 km northeast of Cambrai.  The 4th Divisional Cavalry Squadron authorized under General Order 69 of 15 July 1916, was absorbed into the Canadian Cavalry Depot in England though not officially disbanded until General Order 207 of 15 November 1920.

(Private Collection Photo)

19th Alberta Mounted Rifles

The regiment was formed as the 19th Alberta Mounted Rifles with headquarters at Edmonton effective 1 February 1908, being redesignated the 19th Alberta Dragoons in 1911.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Mychaela Igarik Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.235.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Museum Collection, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1997.28.3.

The 19th Alberta Dragoons (Divisional Cavalry Squadron

On 6 August 1914 Sir Sam Hughes named the 19th Alberta Dragoons as the Divisional Cavalry Squadron, the only cavalry regiment to be selected for service in the CEF. A total of 196 volunteers concentrated at Camp Valcartier with 190 sailing with the 1st Contingent on 3 October 1914. In England the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron was located at Bustard Camp and sailed for France on 9 February 1915. Of the troops of the 1st Division, the 19th Dragoons was the only Canadian regiment initially equipped with the SMLE (Small Magazine Lee Enfield) rifle, and not the longer Ross Mark III. (The only other exception being the PPCLI which served with the British Army until 1916). On 19 March 1917 the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisional Cavalry Squadrons were redesignated as ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Squadron Canadian Light Horse.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Author Photo)

Accession No. 1992.12.91.

1st Hussars

The 1st Hussars were originally raised with headquarters at London, Ontario effective 31 May 1872. During the war, the regiment contributed 66 troops to the 1st Infantry Battalion on its formation in August 1914. Effective 1 December 1914. (Authorization date being 15 March 1915) The 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles, a three squadron regiment was formed from the 1st Hussars. With two squadrons, ‘A’ and ‘B’, at London, Ontario, and ‘C’ Squadron at Toronto. Effective 30 March 1915 ‘C’ Squadron was withdrawn from the 7th CMR while ‘A‘ and ‘B’ Squadrons were designated the 2nd Divisional Cavalry Squadron under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Ibbotson Leonard sailing for England on 9 June 1915 without horses. After being equipped, the regiment sailed for France in mid 1915.

2nd Divisional Cavalry Squadron March 1915 -January 1916

Special Service Squadron First (Canadian) Hussars January 1916 - March 1917

In January 1916 authority was granted for the unit to be designated the Special Service Squadron First (Canadian) Hussars. In May 1916 the First Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment was formed with a Headquarters and the three Divisional Cavalry Squadrons then serving in France. Effective 19 March 1917 the designation of the Special Service Squadron 1st (Canadian) Hussars was altered to ‘B’ Squadron Canadian Light Horse (1st Hussars).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3624863)

Canadian Light Horse going into action at Vimy Ridge, April 1917.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Author Photo)

3rd Divisional Cavalry Squadron (16th CLH) December 1915 -May 1916

16th Canadian Light Horse

The 16th Canadian Light Horse was organized July 3rd 1905 under the designation of the 16th Mounted Rifles with Regimental Headquarters and ‘C’ and ‘D’ Squadrons at Regina, ‘A’ Squadron at Moosamin and ‘B’ Squadron at Moose Jay. In 1907 ‘D’ Squadron was relocated from Regina to Grenfell. Effective 1 October 908 the designation was altered to the 16th Light Horse. The squadron sailed for France as Headquarters troops in January 1916 where in May 1916 the three divisional cavalry squadrons were amalgamated under the title of the First Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment this designation being changed to the Canadian Light Horse effective 19 March 1917. The 19th Alberta Dragoons, formerly the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron becoming ‘A’ Squadron CLH. The 2nd Divisional Cavalry Squadron (Special Service Squadron First (Canadian) Hussars) becoming ‘B’ Squadron CLH. The 3rd Divisional Cavalry Squadron the 16th Canadian Light Horse becoming ‘C’ Squadron CLH.

(Private Collection Photo)

Royal North West Mounted Police Squadron. In May 1918, a force of 738 mounted police were sent overseas to form "A" Squadron, and a further 186 were deployed to Siberia to support the British forces engaged in the civil war.   In October 1918 ‘A’ Squadron RNWMP was attached to the Canadian Light Horse serving with the CLH until the conclusion of hostilities on 11 November 1918. The RNWMP were not authorized by General Order but created under authority of the Order in Council P.C. 2067 of 6 August 1914.

The North West Mounted Police became the Royal North West Mounted Police on 24 June 1904 and by an Order in Council dated 27 January 1920 became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In May 1916 the First Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment was formed with a Headquarters and the three Divisional Cavalry Squadrons then serving in France (The 4th Divisional Cavalry Squadron authorized under General Order 69 July 15th 1916, was absorbed into the Canadian Cavalry Depot in England though not officially disbanded until General Order 207 of November 15th 1920.) The First Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment was redesignated the Canadian Light Horse effective 19 March 1917. The Royal North West Mounted Police was finally granted permission to raise a cavalry draft in May 1918with regimental numbers block 2,683711 - 2,685710. The RNWMP Draft enlisted 12 officers and 231Other ranks under command of Inspector (Rank of Major) G.L. Jennings being joined by 495 other recruits(Many of these retired former members of the RNWMP.) From these ‘A’ Squadron was formed this sailing for England on 6 June 1918 with 6 Officers and 154 troopers where it was assigned to the Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment being formed into four troops ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ for service with the Canadian Light Horse in France. ‘B’ Troop under command of Lieutenant T. Dann and C’ Troop under command of Lieutenant S.T. Wood sailed for France on 6 October  1918, ‘A’ and ‘D’ Troops were amalgamated and sailed for France on 4 November 1918 just days before the Armistice. The ‘Special Squadron RNWMP’ did not serve as a unit but as general reinforcements for the CLH where it is reported the personnel were reassigned to Corps Headquarters serving as dispatch riders. The CEF component of the R.N.W.M.P. was disbanded under General Order 207 of November 15th 1920.In Canada in the autumn of 1918 Force under General Order 128 of November 1918 a further six officers and 181 other ranks were recruited to serve in ‘B’ Squadron for the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary. The RNWMP Draft was disbanded under General Order 215 of November 1920.