British Columbia Dragoons Explained

Unit Name:British Columbia Dragoons
Dates:1908–present
Country:Canada
Branch:Canadian Army
Type:Line cavalry
Role:Armoured reconnaissance
Size:Two squadrons
Command Structure:39 Canadian Brigade Group
Current Commander:LCol Waaga
Garrison:720 Lawrence Avenue
Kelowna, British Columbia
Ceremonial Chief Label:Colonel in Chief
Motto:chn|Quansem ilep|always first
Colours:Scarlet with yellow facings (full dress); scarlet with black factings (mess dress)
Battles:
Anniversaries:1 April 1911 (BC Horse formed)
Identification Symbol 2:
Identification Symbol 2 Label:NATO Map Symbol
Identification Symbol 4:BCD
Identification Symbol 4 Label:Abbreviation
Battle Honours:See
  1. Battle honours

The British Columbia Dragoons (BCD) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army. It is based in Kelowna and Vernon, British Columbia, and is part of 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Detachments

Lineage

The British Columbia Dragoons

Lineage chart

History

Early history

The British Columbia Dragoons trace their origins to the formation of the Canadian Mounted Rifles, two independent squadrons of horse in Kamloops and Vernon in 1908. In 1910 two additional squadrons were raised and the regiment was renamed the British Columbia Horse. In 1912 the unit was reorganized into two separate regiments: the 30th Regiment, British Columbia Horse and the 31st Regiment, British Columbia Horse (later known as the British Columbia Hussars).[5] [6] 1914 saw the formation of the Victoria Independent Squadron on Vancouver Island.[7]

First World War

In the Great War the regiment was not mobilized, but in December 1914 many volunteers from the regiment joined the newly formed 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles. After some limited service in France as cavalry, the unit was reroled to infantry as 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion on January 1, 1916.[8] The battalion became part of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and fought with great luck and success on the Western Front. Despite being trained as cavalry but deployed as infantry, the regiment managed the war well. Captain "Jock" MacGregor was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions taken in the battle at Cambrai on September 29, 1918. The actions and awards of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles are perpetuated today by the British Columbia Dragoons, their direct descendants.

The British Columbia Dragoons perpetuate the following units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force:

1920s–1930s

In the post-war reorganization, the regiment was renamed The British Columbia Mounted Rifles in 1920, and then to the name still carried today, The British Columbia Dragoons in 1929. Part of the reason for the change was to forever divorce the regiment from infantry duties.

Second World War

When the Second World War loomed, the regiment once again stepped forward.

The regiment was designated the 5th Motorcycle Regiment (BCD), and later an armoured car unit. Finally made into an armoured regiment, the 9th Armoured Regiment (BCD), they were deployed to Italy as part of the 5th Armoured Brigade, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division. The regiment saw heavy action in the Liri Valley, were the first unit to break through the Gustav Line in Italy, 1944, and helped smash the Gothic Line, holding Point 204 right in the centre of the line. They continued to fight until orders were given to move the regiment to North West Europe with the British-led 21st Army Group. They served with distinction until the end of the war, at which point the regiment was demobilized and returned to Militia service.

Post war to present

The regiment has since seen many ups and downs, with losses of manpower and funding, hostile popular attitudes, and the ever-changing nature of Canada.The 1970s and 1980s saw the deployment of individual members to Cyprus as part of the UN operations there as part of larger Canadian formations. The 1990s and the new century has seen numerous members deploy to Bosnia as part of NATO operations with the Implementation Force and the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regimental service personnel served overseas as part of NATO operations with the International Security Assistance Force (to 2014) in Afghanistan, and Operation Impact in the Middle East as well as on Operation Reassurance in Latvia, and on Operation Unifier in Ukraine prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Official links to other units

Alliance
  • Between Canadian and Commonwealth units
    Partnership
  • Informal bond of friendship between a Canadian unit and a unit from an allied country

    Battle honours

    Battle honours in small capitals are for large operations and campaigns and those in lowercase are for more specific battles. Bold type indicates honours authorized to be emblazoned on the regimental guidon.

    War in Afghanistan

    Recognition

    The Freedom of the City was granted by the City of Kelowna on February 11, 1963.[10] The Freedom of the City was exercised by The British Columbia Dragoons in Vernon, British Columbia, on 10 May 2008.[11]

    Cadet units

    There are several Royal Canadian Army Cadets units spread across British Columbia which are affiliated to the British Columbia Dragoons.

    CorpsLocation
    788 RCACCPenticton
    903 RCACCKelowna
    1705 RCACCVernon
    3063 RCACCEnderby
    Cadet units affiliated to the British Columbia Dragoons receive support from the regiment and also are given permission to wear traditional regimental accoutrements on their uniforms.

    Media

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored). Library and Archives Canada. 2022-03-14. 2015-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140553/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Documents/RG9-58_EN-final.pdf. live.
    2. Web site: Defence . National . 2018-11-29 . The British Columbia Dragoons . 2022-03-14 . www.canada.ca . 2022-02-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220221154757/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/armour-regiments/british-columbia-dragoons.html . live .
    3. Web site: The British Columbia Dragoons . 2022-03-14 . www.canadiansoldiers.com . 2022-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220314085327/http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/regiments/armoured/britishcolumbiadragoons.htm . live .
    4. Web site: 2007-11-12 . The British Columbia Dragoons [Canada] ]. 2022-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071112152733/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/volmil/bc-cav/30BCdgn.htm . 12 November 2007 . dead.
    5. Web site: Luscombe. Stephen. Canadian Cavalry. 2021-12-12. www.britishempire.co.uk. 2021-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20211212072418/https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/canadiancavalry/canadiancavalry.htm. live.
    6. Web site: 2007-10-16 . The British Columbia Hussars [Canada] ]. 2022-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071016120404/http://regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/volmil/bc-cav/31BCH.htm . 16 October 2007 . dead.
    7. Web site: The Cavalry Regiments of the Canadian Forces: The Volunteer Militia from 1872 -1920 . 2022-03-14 . 2021-12-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211213101345/https://hcvv.home.xs4all.nl/milweb/Canada/Cavalry/changes-1872.pdf . live .
    8. Web site: 2nd CMR . Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group . 2009-12-08 . 2010-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100505061954/http://www.cefresearch.com/matrix/Army%20Corps/Divisions/3rd%20Division/8th%20Infantry%20Brigade/2nd%20Canadian%20Mounted%20Rifles.htm . live .
    9. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003/AF-001 -- Part One: Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments
    10. Web site: British Columbia Dragoons February 11th, 1963 . City of Kelowna . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110826075957/http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page484.aspx . 2011-08-26 . 2013-12-31 .
    11. https://archive.today/20130615234644/http://www.okmilmuseum.ca/okmilmuseumbcdcentennialVernon.htm Freedom of the City