Royal Canadian Hussars

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) (abbreviated as RCH) is an armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Primary Reserve in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is one of the oldest cavalry regiments in North America, tracing a direct history to the Montreal Volunteer Cavalry formed in the late eighteenth century. Its Colonel-in-Chief is Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, and its allied regiment is the Queen's Royal Hussars. Its mission consists of supporting the Regular Force in operational deployments, peacetime tasks, and supporting the civilian authorities.

Lineage


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.

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)

 * Originated on 14 November, 1879, in Montréal, Quebec, as the 6th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry.
 * Redesignated on 18 September, 1885, as the 6th Regiment of Cavalry.
 * Redesignated on 20 June, 1890, as the 6th Regiment of Cavalry “Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars”.
 * Redesignated on 1 January, 1893, as the 6th “Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars”.
 * Amalgamated on 1 June, 1901, with the 5th Dragoons and redesignated as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars.
 * Amalgamated on 15 December, 1936, with the 1st Armoured Car Regiment and redesignated as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car).
 * Redesignated on 27 February, 1941, as the 2nd (Reserve) Regiment, 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car).
 * Redesignated on 1 April, 1941, as the 15th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment, (6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars).
 * Redesignated on 4 February, 1949, as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (15th Armoured Regiment).
 * Redesignated on 19 May, 1958, as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars.
 * Amalgamated on 16 September, 1958, with the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars and redesignated as The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal).

5th Dragoons

 * Originated on 30 November 1877, in Cookshire, Quebec, as the 5th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry.
 * Redesignated on 21 May 1886, as the 5th Regiment of Cavalry.
 * Redesignated on 1 January 1893, as the 5th Dragoons.
 * Amalgamated on 1 June 1901, with the 6th "Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars" and redesignated as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars.

1st Armoured Car Regiment

 * Originated on 1 June, 1919, in Montréal, Quebec, as the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC.
 * Redesignated on 1 October, 1936, as the 1st Armoured Car Regiment.
 * Amalgamated on 15 December, 1936, with the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars and redesignated as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armoured Car).

17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars



 * Originated on 1 March 1907, in Montréal, Quebec, as The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars.
 * Redesignated on 15 July 1912, as The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars "Argenteuil Rangers".
 * Redesignated on 15 March 1920, as the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars.
 * Redesignated on 11 February 1941, as the 2nd (Reserve) Regiment, 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars.
 * Redesignated on 1 April 1941, as the 7th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion, (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars).
 * Redesignated on 8 June 1942, as the 7th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC.
 * Redesignated on 2 August 1945, as the 7th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), RCAC.
 * Redesignated on 4 February 1949, as the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (7th Reconnaissance Regiment).
 * Redesignated on 19 May 1958, as the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars.
 * Amalgamated on 16 September 1958, with the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars and redesignated as The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal).

11th Regiment Argenteuil Rangers

 * Originated on 14 June 1862, in Gore, Quebec, as the 11th Battalion Volunteer Militia Infantry of Canada or Argenteuil Rangers.
 * Later redesignated in the same year as the 11th Battalion of Infantry Argenteuil Rangers.
 * Redesignated on 8 May, 1900, as the 11th Regiment Argenteuil Rangers.
 * Disbanded on 15 April, 1912, and personnel absorbed by The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars and redesignated as The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars "Argenteuil Rangers".

War of 1812

 * Canadian Light Dragoons
 * Company of Guides
 * Royal Montreal Troop of Volunteer Cavalry
 * Argenteuil and Vaudreuil Divisions (1812-15)

Pre-Confederation

 * No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry (1855)

Great War

 * 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF

History
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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 2007 seven members 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.

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

Alliances

 * 🇬🇧 - The Queen's Royal Hussars
 * 🇬🇧 - The Light Dragoons

War of 1812

 * Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada
 * The non-emblazonable honorary distinction Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada

South African War

 * South Africa, 1900

First World War

 * Mount Sorrel
 * Somme, 1916, '18
 * Flers–Courcelette
 * Thiepval
 * Arras, 1917,  '18
 * Vimy, 1917
 * Hill 70
 * Ypres, 1917
 * Passchendaele
 * Bapaume, 1918
 * Rosières
 * Avre
 * Amiens
 * Scarpe, 1918
 * Drocourt–Quéant
 * Hindenburg Line
 * Canal du Nord
 * Cambrai, 1918
 * Valenciennes
 * Sambre
 * France and Flanders 1915–18

Second World War

 * Italy, 1944–45
 * Caen
 * Falaise
 * The Laison
 * The Scheldt
 * Breskens Pocket
 * The Rhineland
 * The Rhine
 * Emmerich–Hoch Elten
 * Zutphen
 * Deventer
 * North-West Europe 1944–1945

War in Afghanistan

 * Afghanistan

Notable members

 * James Angus Ogilvy, retail store magnate. Donor of the Ogilvy sword, a trophy given yearly to the officer of the year.
 * James Ross (Canadian businessman), notable for his role in the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway; appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars in 1900; was also a governor of McGill University and president of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
 * Ben Weider,  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.
 * Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) Roman Jarymowycz, O.M.M., C.D., Dean and Director of the Militia Command and Staff Course, serving as an instructor for 15 years.
 * Eric Barry