History

Paid Of Horses 1939

In 1939 upon the outbreak of World War II the Canadian Government proceeded to mobilise Active Militia units as such or to call 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 Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars were mobilised becoming successively the 3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment. In February 1941 the 3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment became the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (later in 1944 to be nicknamed The Water Rats) and it embarked for the United Kingdom on August 23, 1941.

Sherman

The 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) landed 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 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. The 15th Armoured Regiment (6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars) later moved to France in February 1945.

Sherman

On June 6, 1944 the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) participated in D-Day when members of B Squadron 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 the German surrender in 1945. The 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) campaigned through Europe winning eleven Battle Honours.

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

17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars

Shortly after the conclusion 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-organised 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 the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars and the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars took place on September 16, 1958 when the newly formed Regiment was given the title of The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal).