History

GENERAL INFORMATION AND DETAILLED TIMELINE

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) is a reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment located at the Côte-des-Neiges Armoury, in Montreal. The current-era regiment is the product of an amalgamation in 1958, between two Montreal regiments of cavalry, the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars and the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars.  Other amalgamations had previously grouped the 5th Dragoons, the 11th Battalion of Infantry (Argenteuil Rangers), and the 1st Armoured Car Regiment into one or the other of these regiments.

The regiment has also been authorized by the Canadian Forces Directorate of History and Heritage to perpetuate several other units, including the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force (1914-1919), the No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry (1855), and five units that served in the defence of Canada from 1812 to 1815 – the Royal Montreal Troop of Volunteer Cavalry, the Compagnie des Guides (The Company of Guides), the Canadian Light Dragoons, and the Argenteuil and Vaudreuil Divisions.

According to the Official Lineage webpage of the Department of National Defence’s Directorate of History and Heritage, the unit first attained regimental status in 1878 through the grouping of independent cavalry squadrons.

A detailed timeline of the Evolution of Montreal Cavalry Troops and Regiments from 1812–2020 can be found in Appendix J of the book entitled: Montreal’s Cavalry: The History of The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). This book can be ordered on-line at the on-line bookstore on this website.

ORIGINS – EARLY 1800s

One of the earliest known images of the Royal Montreal Cavalry.

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) can trace its roots back to the Montreal volunteer cavalry formed in the early 1800’s, known as the Royal Montreal Cavalry.

During the War of 1812-15 between Great Britain and the United States of America, Captain George Platt raised No.1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry as a volunteer unit for the defence of Canada and to augment the British regular forces. Sir George Prevost, the British Commander-in-Chief, was so pleased with the work and performance of the Montreal Cavalry that he authorized it to assume the title “Royal Montreal Cavalry”, which it continued to bear until absorbed into the newly formed Canadian Militia in 1855 as the “Montreal Squadron” of Cavalry.

In 2012, the Government of Canada recognized the service of the regiment’s predecessor units during the War of 1812 – 1815 and awarded the Theatre Honour and Honorary Distinction “DEFENCE OF CANADA 1812-1815”.

MID TO LATE 1800s

A guidon (the oldest existing in Canada) was presented in 1828 by the Earl of Dalhousie to the Royal Montreal Cavalry and currently resides in the RCH armoury. The Royal Montreal Cavalry saw service during the rebellion of 1837-38. From 1839 to 1850, both Royal Montreal Cavalry and the Queen’s Light Dragoons (together, the Provincial Cavalry) were placed on fulltime service guarding the frontier with the United States of America. 

Welcome address to the volunteers after the Fenian Raid, Champ de Mars, June 1866, Royal Guides in place of honour on right flank, No. 1 and No. 2 Troops on left flank.

Following the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854, the Canadian Government passed the Militia Act of 1855. Sixteen independent troops of cavalry were authorized including the Royal Montreal Cavalry which was re-designated the “No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry.” In 1866, the Royal Guides troop, Montreal Cavalry, charged a group of Fenians, at Eccles Hill, forcing them to retreat across the border. Four years later, in 1870, No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry rushed to Eccles Hill, to aid the local Home Guard; to block another Fenian invasion attempt.

6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars.

Shortly after Confederation, No.2 Troop and the Royal Guides Troop of the Montreal Squadron were disbanded leaving No.1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry as the sole Militia cavalry unit in Montreal. In 1877, the Dominion Government grouped the independent troops positioned east of the Richelieu River and along the U.S. border to form the “5th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry” (later the 5th Dragoons), the first cavalry regiment in Quebec.

In 1879, a second group of independent troops of cavalry from the Montreal area, west of the Richelieu River and along the U.S. border were joined to form the “6th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry.” The 6th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry included No.1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry. In June 1897, the squadron located in Montreal (formerly No.1 Troop) was detached from the 6th Hussars and formed an independent squadron to be known as the “Montreal Hussars.” Shortly after the “Montreal Hussars” was re-designated as the “Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars.” In 1901, the 5th Dragoons were amalgamated with the 6th Hussars. The amalgamated regiment was designated the “6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars.”

17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars.

During the South African War of 1899-1902, Canada sent a large contingent to the war. Volunteers from the 5th Dragoons, the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars and the Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars joined the various units going to South Africa. Due to the number of volunteers from the Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars, the unit was awarded its first Battle Honour. In 1907 the Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars achieved regimental status as the “17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars.”

FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914-1918 AND YEARS OF PEACE

1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade.

During the First World War, 1914-18, the two cavalry regiments of Montreal provided both vital point protection on the home front and volunteers for numerous Canadian Expeditionary Force units. Meanwhile, a forward-thinking entrepreneur, Raymond Brutinel, created a motorized machine gun unit, Canada’s first armoured unit. Initially called the  “Automobile Machine Gun Brigade No. 1” and later renamed as the “1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade.” It was formed and equipped with armoured machine gun-carrying cars. Brutinel had displayed the importance of mobility, speed and firepower. At war’s end, the 1CMMGB had been awarded 21 Battle Honours.

Through demobilization of the CEF and reconstruction of the Non-Permanent Active Militia, the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade became a Militia unit in the Montreal Garrison and renamed as the “1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC.” In 1920 the Canadian Militia was re-organized. The 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars became inactive and remained so for over a decade. The 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars maintained regular training.

Non-Commission Officers of 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars.

In 1925 an alliance was approved between the 13th/18th Hussars of the regular British army and the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars. In 1926 His Royal Highness, the Duke of York (later to become His Majesty King George VI) consented to become Colonel-in-Chief of the 17th Hussars. In 1936, an armoury was built for the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars. It was unique, incorporating stables and a riding school; and is now the home station of the Royal Canadian Hussars.

In 1936 the Canadian Militia was re-organized. The “1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade” was renamed as the “1st Armoured Car Regiment.” Shortly afterwards, the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars was reactivated and amalgamated with the 1st Armoured Car Regiment to form the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car). In 1938, an alliance was approved between the 6th Hussars and the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, which, like the 13th Hussars took part in the celebrated charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1854.

SECOND WORLD WAR, 1939-1945 TO AMALGAMATION

17th Hussars Change of Command parade (from LCol Steele to LCol Price) in February 1939.

In 1939, upon the outbreak of the Second World War the Canadian Government proceeded to mobilize Active Militia units as such or called upon them to furnish special components of the Canadian Army. The 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars paid off their horses (the last Canadian cavalry unit to do so). On May 24, 1940 the 17th Hussars were mobilized becoming successively the “3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment”; then in February 1941, it became the “7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars)” of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and it embarked for the United Kingdom on August 23, 1941, landing in England on September 7, 1941.

In 1941, the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars were called upon to furnish the Headquarters Squadron of the 1st Canadian Armoured Division (later becoming the 5th Canadian Armoured Division) and were designated 15th Armoured Regiment (6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars). In October 1943 the 5th Canadian Armoured Division landed in Italy going into action in mid-January 1944. One year later the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, including the Headquarters Squadron (6th Hussars), moved to France and travelled north to Belgium and Holland in February 1945.

Otter MK1.

On June 6, 1944, the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) participated in D-Day when some of its members, tasked as Beach Exit Parties and Brigade Contact Detachments, landed on Juno Beach in Normandy. By July 17, 1944, the entire regiment was functioning as a unit and continued to do so until Germany surrendered in 1945. The 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) campaigned through Europe and was awarded 11 Battle Honours.

In 1945, a reconnaissance regiment was required for the Canadian Army Occupation Force remaining in Europe. This unit was designated as the Second 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) and consisted of personnel from most armoured units. The original 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) returned to Montreal. The Second 7th Reconnaissance Regiment remained on occupation duty in Germany until relieved and sent home beginning in May 1946.

RCH in the parking lot of the armoury, c1959.

Shortly after the conclusion of hostilities, the wartime designations of 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) and the 15th Armoured Regiment (6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars) were discontinued. The peacetime units now re-organized and became known once more as the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars and the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars. An amalgamation of these two regiments took place on September 15, 1958, when the newly formed regiment was given the title “The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal).”

RECENT HISTORY

Since the amalgamation in 1958, the Royal Canadian Hussars has continued to evolve and develop as a modern unit. From its Côte-des-Neiges armoury, it supports the Regular Force in executing the Canadian Armed Forces’ peacetime duties, including periodic operational deployments, peacekeeping operations, and civil government support operations. Its members continue to train to be ready to defend their country, support the community, and help the Canadian Armed Forces contribute to a more peaceful, stable world.

M38A1 “Jeep” and Ferret Scout Car Mk 1.

During the 1960’s, the Cold War era, the regiment trained for an eventual civil defence role where it was envisaged that it would need to help the population of Montreal survive the aftermath of a nuclear attack. It also continued to train soldiers for a conventional ground war using equipment such as Sherman tanks, armoured cars, ¾-ton trucks and military jeeps. Finally, it sent more than 30 soldiers to Europe on short-term deployments, to augment Canadian formations participating in NATO missions.

Cougar.

At the beginning of the 1970’s, the Second World War-era tanks and armoured cars were retired from service, so the Royal Canadian Hussars continued training for a conventional combat role, but as a jeep-bound reconnaissance unit. The fast, light and low-profile vehicles allowed training to be easily conducted in the farmland around Montreal. The unit continued augmenting regular troops in Europe and on peace-keeping missions in the Middle East.

The most distinctive characteristic of the period from 1981 to 2001 was that the unit was issued with and trained using the Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (Cougar), the same vehicle that was used by regular armoured units. During this period, training was conducted more frequently at the military bases in Valcartier and Gagetown, where it was possible to practise tank main gun and machine gun gunnery on the large ranges.  The unit continued to augment peacekeeping missions, principally in Cyprus and the Middle East, and, in 1990, it deployed a reconnaissance troop, which was attached to the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada for a six-month peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

During the war in the former Yugoslavia, from 1993 to 2014, the regiment sent more than 40 soldiers to Croatia and Bosnia on various six-month missions, to work with the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada and other Canadian military units operating in the area. Initially, those units protected and supported UN personnel who were providing humanitarian aid, and, once a peace treaty was signed, they participated in NATO’s implementation and stabilization forces.

Mercedes G-Wagon.

After the Cougars were retired from service in the early 2000’s, the regiment was issued with new Mercedes G-Wagons, which were SUV-like vehicles equipped with modern communications equipment, with a small cupola and machine gun mount on the roof. This allowed the regiment to revert to its former light reconnaissance role and training on country roads surrounding Montreal.

During the Afghanistan War, from 2006 to 2011, the unit provided more than 25 soldiers who were sent, with various units of the 5e Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada, on six-month deployments in the province of Kandahar. There, they participated in a variety of roles, which ranged from security and protection to mentoring and military-civilian liaison. In 2014, as a result of its high level of the unit’s participation in the various contingents sent to the theatre, the government awarded the unit with the Theatre Honour entitled “AFGHANISTAN”.

Between 2008 and 2017, members of the unit participated in at least five cold-weather training exercises designed to help Canada assert its sovereignty over the north, to show that the military can operate in harsh cold weather conditions in the remote high arctic, and to practise the military’s response to any situation in the north.

When disaster strikes in the community, the members of the regiment are often mobilized under the direction of the Regular Force to help civil authorities. This occurred during the Quebec Ice Storm of 1998, when members of the unit initially helped with the cleanup of the Montreal area and were then deployed to provide assistance in the area of Acton Vale.  The unit provided support in 2011, 2017 and 2019, when members were deployed to help protect property and reduce suffering during the flooding of rivers near Montreal. As well, in 2020, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the unit were deployed to supplement caregivers at long-term care facilities.

Starting in 2017, the regiment started receiving delivery of a new light-armoured reconnaissance vehicle. The Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) is a 22-tonne wheeled combat vehicle that can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, security, command and control, and transport of small groups of personnel and equipment. The vehicle provides increased protection for the crew, and mobility over roads and cross-country terrain. They are used in conjunction with the aforementioned Mercedes G-Wagons to form reconnaissance troops with more fire power and protection.

Currently, the Royal Canadian Hussars functions as an armoured reconnaissance unit using the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle. Its members have participated in many international missions and are regularly deployed throughout the world. The Royal Canadian Hussars, and its predecessor units, have always shown their readiness to serve in the greater interests of the country and the community. Consequently, with its predecessors it has been awarded 35 Battle Honours and two Honorary Distinctions.

Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle.