Jump to content

Royal Canadian Hussars

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Amqui (talk | contribs) at 04:05, 3 July 2020 (+image #WPWPCA). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
Cap badge of the Royal Canadian Hussars
Active1877–present
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Army
TypeLine cavalry
RoleArmoured reconnaissance
SizeOne under-strength regiment (approximately 90 soldiers)
Part of34 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQMontreal
Motto(s)Non nobis sed patriae (Not for ourselves, but for our country)
March"St. Patrick's Day" and "Men of Harlech"[1]
Battle honours
Commanders
Current
commander		LCol Shaun Funk[5]

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) (abbreviated as RCH) is an armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Primary Reserve in the Canadian Armed Forces. Its mission consists of supporting the Regular Force in doing peacetime tasks, which include deployments, peacekeeping, and supporting the civilian authorities.[6]

History

17th Hussars in 1940

Lineage

Armoury of The Royal Canadian Hussars
It is also home to the 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) derives from the Montreal Volunteer Cavalry (formed in the late eighteenth century). The present regiment perpetuates five cavalry units and one armoured unit: the Royal Montreal Cavalry, the 5th Dragoons, the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (6th DCRCH), the 11th Argenteuil Rangers, the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (17th DYRCH), and the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade.[7][8]

Since the amalgamation, the regiment itself has not been involved in any hostilities but has constantly provided individuals to augment the Regular Force in both NATO and United Nations peacekeeping duties[9] as well as domestic operations such as Operation Recuperation during the Ice Storm of 1998.

The regiment received its second guidon on December 3, 1974, the 100th anniversary of regimental status and its 135th year as a Canadian cavalry unit.[9]

One of the Hussars' former Commanding Officers, Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) Roman Jarymowycz, O.M.M., C.D., later became Dean and Director of the Militia Command and Staff Course, serving as an instructor for 15 years.[10]

From 1986 to 1990, the regiment won the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Buchanan Trophy (the best armour unit in the Eastern and Atlantic Areas) a total of five times and the Worthington Trophy (the best armour unit in Canada) a total of three times.[9]

In August 1990, the regiment commanded and formed the headquarters and one complete squadron for the first-of-its-kind Militia brigade-level exercise. Exercise En Guard was held at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown and included the four armoured units of Secteur de l'Est (RBSE). Shortly afterwards, in September 1990, the regiment sent a 21-man contingent to Cyprus augmenting the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada on its United Nations peacekeeping tour of duty.[9] Since 1990 the regiment has deployed troops on UN missions in both Haiti and Bosnia, as well as providing personnel during the Oka crisis and the ice storm of 1998. The unit has also continued to participate in the Noble Lion exercises as part of Land Force Quebec Area. On April 1, 1997, The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) became the establishment armoured regiment (tank) for the newly formed 34th Canadian Brigade Group (34 CBG). E organization falls under the command of 34 CBG.[9]

In late 2003, the mission of the RCH was changed to fit the restructuring plan of the Canadian Forces Land Force Command. The troops were converted back to a role of armoured reconnaissance. The regiment comprises two squadrons: B Squadron (combat troops) and C&S Squadron (command and support). On May 1, 2005, the RCH received its third guidon.[11][12]

In 2007 seven members[13] of the RCH were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF AFG) Rotation 4, which included approximately 2330 Canadian Forces members from the Quebec region.[14]

From November 2010 to July 2011, six members or the RCH were again deployed in the Kandahar region of Afghanistan as part of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Rotation 10.

Notable members

  • James Angus Ogilvy, retail store magnate. Donor of the Ogilvy sword, a trophy given yearly to the officer of the year.
  • Ben Weider, OC CQ CD businessman, bodybuilder and Napoleonic historian.
  • LGen ELM "Tommy" Burns served in the regiment. He was Canada's military representative at the UN on disarmament for many years.

See also

Order of precedence

Preceded by The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "History – Regimental Song". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  2. ^ "The Creation of the Commemorative Theatre Honour and Honorary Distinction "Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada"". Department of National Defence. September 14, 2012. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Battle Honours of the Canadian Army – The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". The Regimental Rogue. 1996–2009. Retrieved 8 Oct 2009.
  4. ^ "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Commandant". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) (in French). Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Accueil" [Home]. The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) (in French). Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. ^ "History – Origins". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  8. ^ "The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) Regimental History". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e "History – Recent history". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  10. ^ Governor General of Canada, Press Release: "Governor General announces 89 new Appointments to the Order of Military Merit" on June 27, 2001, and Canada Gazette, Vol. 135, No 35 — September 1, 2001
  11. ^ The Royal Canadian Hussars Change of Guidon and Change of Command May 1st, 2005
  12. ^ "Guidon and Honors". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  13. ^ Solidarity with soldiers in Afghanistan, The Maple Leaf – Vol. 10, No. 30, National Defence and the Canadian Forces Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Composition of Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF AFG) Rotation 4
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Canadian_Hussars&oldid=965740732"