The British Columbia Dragoons

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

The British Columbia Dragoons
Active1908–present
CountryCanada
BranchPrimary Reserve (Militia)
TypeLine Cavalry
RoleArmoured reconnaissance
SizeTwo squadrons
Part ofRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQRHQ: (Kelowna)

A Squadron: (Vernon)

B Squadron: (Kelowna)
Motto(s)Chinook Jargon: Quansem ilep (always first)
MarchQuick: "Fare Ye Well Inniskilling (5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards)"
Pipe bands: "Scotland the Brave"
Anniversaries1 April 1911 (BC Horse formed)
Websitearmy-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/bc-dragoons/index.page
AbbreviationBCD

The British Columbia Dragoons perpetuate the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 11th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.[1]

Detachments

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 renamed again as the 30th Regiment, British Columbia Horse. 1914 saw the formation of the Victoria Independent Squadron on Vancouver Island.

  • World War I graves of 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff
  • Grave of Sgt W Tremain, died 19 November 1917
  • Grave of Pte JW White, died 24 December 1917

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.[2] 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.

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

The distinguishing patch of the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, while serving as part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division.

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. Part of the "D-Day Dodgers", a term used by soldiers fighting in Italy after D-Day, they continued to fight until orders were given to move the regiment to the northwest Europe area. They served with distinction until the end of the war, at which point the regiment was demobilized and returned to Militia service.

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 IFOR and SFOR. With the Global War on Terror, members are now serving overseas as part of NATO operations with ISAF in Afghanistan.

Lineage of the British Columbia Dragoons:[3]

Lineage
1908Independent cav. sqns
19111st Regt, "British Columbia Horse"
191230th Regt, British Columbia Horse
19142nd Regt, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF11th Regt, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEFVictoria Independent Sqn
19162nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Bn, CEF11th "Overseas" Canadian Mounted Rifles Bn, CEF
1917Absorbed by 24th Reserve Bn, CEF
1918Disbanded
1920DisbandedThe British Columbia Mounted Rifles
1929The British Columbia Dragoons
19405th Canadian Motorcycle Regt, CASF (BCD)
1941The British Columbia Dragoons, CASF2nd (Reserve) Regt, The British Columbia Dragoons
19419th Armd Regt (The British Columbia Dragoons), CASF9th (Reserve) Armd Regt, (The British Columbia Dragoons)
19439th Armd Regt (The British Columbia Dragoons) CAC, CASF
19459th Armd Regt (The British Columbia Dragoons) RCAC, CASF
1946Disbanded9th Recce Regt (The British Columbia Dragoons), RCAC
1949The British Columbia Dragoons (9th Recce Regt)
1958The British Columbia Dragoons
2020
 class="wikitable"
Abbreviations used in the chart
AbbreviationPhrase
ArmdArmoured
BnBattalion
CACCanadian Armoured Corps
CASFCanadian Active Service Force
Cav.Cavalry
CEFCanadian Expeditionary Force
RCACRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps
RecceReconnaissance
RegtRegiment
SqnSquadron

Battle honours
The guidon of The British Columbia Dragoons.

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.

The Great War

Second World War
  • Liri Valley
  • Melfa Crossing
  • Gothic Line
  • Pozzo Alto Ridge
  • Lamone Crossing
  • Naviglio Canal
  • Fosso Munio
  • Conventello–Comacchio
  • Italy, 1944–1945
  • IJsselmeer
  • Delfzijl Pocket
  • North-West Europe, 1945

War in Afghanistan
  • Afghanistan

Recognition
The camp flag of The British Columbia Dragoons.

The Freedom of the City was granted by the City of Kelowna on February 11, 1963.[4]

The Freedom of the City was exercised by The British Columbia Dragoons in Vernon, British Columbia on 10 May 2008.[5]

Cadet units

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

Corps Location
788 RCACC Penticton
903 RCACC Kelowna
1705 RCACC Vernon
3063 RCACC Enderby

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.

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

Media
  • Sinews of Steel: The History of the British Columbia Dragoons" by R[eginald] H. Roy (1965)
gollark: Need *what* more?
gollark: C++ is a really odd way to spell Rust too!
gollark: "Don't use Rust" is an odd way to spell "Use Rust".
gollark: It compiles super-fast. Unfortunately, more compliation is then done at runtime.
gollark: Because it uses JIT compilation to reduce compile times.

References
  1. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003/AF-001 -- Part One: Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments
  2. "2nd CMR". Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  3. "The British Columbia Dragoons". Official Lineages, Volume 3, Part 1: Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments – Armour Regiments. Directorate of History and Heritage. June 11, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  5. Freedom of the City

Order of precedence
Preceded by
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)		 The British Columbia Dragoons Succeeded by
The Fort Garry Horse
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