33rd Vaudreuil and Soulanges Hussars

Last updated
33rd Vaudreuil and Soulanges Hussars
Active1912–1914
CountryCanada
Branch Canadian Militia
Type Hussars
RoleCavalry
SizeOne Regiment
Part of Non-Permanent Active Militia
Garrison/HQ Rigaud, Quebec
EngagementsN/A

The 33rd Vaudreuil and Soulanges Hussars was a short-lived light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army).

History

The 33rd Vaudreuil and Soulanges Hussars were first authorized on 15 April 1912. [1] The formation of the 33rd Hussars was an attempt to form a French-speaking cavalry regiment in the Canadian Militia. [2] Its regimental headquarters was temporarily located at Rigaud, Quebec. [1] [3] It was to consist to four squadrons lettered A to D. [4]

On 15 July 1912, "B" Squadron of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars was transferred to the 33rd Vaudreuil and Soulanges Hussars. [1] [2] [3] In turn, the 17th DYRC Hussars created a replacement squadron from personnel of the recently disbanded 11th Argenteuil Rangers. [1] [3]

However, the regiment was never fully organized, and with the outbreak of the First World War, by 1 October 1914, [5] the 33rd Hussars were disbanded. [1] [2] [6] It was the only time the Canadian Militia attempted to form an entirely French-speaking mounted regiment. [2]

Related Research Articles

Dragoon Infantry that rode horses and dismounted for battle

Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat with swords and firearms from horseback. While their use goes back to the late 16th century, dragoon regiments were established in most European armies during the 17th and early 18th centuries; they provided greater mobility than regular infantry but were far less expensive than cavalry.

South Alberta Light Horse Military unit

The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army Reserve. It traces its complicated lineage to the Rocky Mountain Rangers, and claims its direct ancestry to the 15th Light Horse, along with various other Alberta based cavalry units. The "Light Horse" designation comes from its light cavalry and mounted infantry origins.

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) Military unit

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) 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.

4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards Military unit

The 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards is an inactive armoured regiment of the Canadian Militia / Canadian Army. It is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

1st Hussars Military unit

The 1st Hussars is an armoured Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, based in London and Sarnia, Ontario.

8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louises) Military unit

The 8th Canadian Hussars is an armoured regiment in the Canadian Army. It was formed on the 4 April 1848 in New Brunswick where it has served continually ever since. Today it is a reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment with two squadrons. Its Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) and A Squadron are located in Moncton with B Squadron located in Sussex, New Brunswick.

The British Columbia Dragoons Military unit

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 and is part of 3rd Canadian Division's 39 Canadian Brigade Group.

The 7th/11th Hussars was a light cavalry regiment and later light armoured regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. The regiment was formed in 1936 by the Amalgamation of the 7th Hussars and the 11th Hussars from the Eastern Townships of Quebec. In 1965, the regiment was Amalgamated with The Sherbrooke Regiment (RCAC) to form The Sherbrooke Hussars.

19th Alberta Dragoons Military unit

The 19th Alberta Dragoons was a cavalry regiment and later an armoured regiment of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. It was placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1965. In 2006, it was taken off the Supplementary Order of Battle and amalgamated with the South Alberta Light Horse.

The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. First organized in 1879 as "A" Squadron of the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars, it became an independent squadron in 1897 and a full regiment in 1907. In 1958, the regiment was Amalgamated with the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars to form The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal).

41 Canadian Brigade Group Brigade of the Canadian Army

41 Canadian Brigade Group is a Canadian Army formation of the 3rd Canadian Division. The formation is composed of Army Reserve units within the province of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The headquarters of the brigade is in Calgary.

East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry British Army military unit

The East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry was a unit of the British Army formed in 1902. Units of Yeomanry Cavalry were raised in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the 18th and early 19th centuries at times of national emergency: the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. These were stood down once each emergency was over. The East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry, was established in 1902, and this saw action during the First World War both in the mounted role and as machine gunners.

14th Canadian Hussars Military unit

The 14th Canadian Hussars was a light cavalry and later light armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First raised in 1910 as the 27th Light Horse, the regiment was Redesignated in 1920 as the 14th Canadian Light Horse and again in 1940 as the 14th Canadian Hussars. On 31 March 1968, the regiment was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

British cavalry during the First World War

The British cavalry were the first British Army units to see action during the First World War. Captain Hornby of the 4th Dragoon Guards is reputed to have been the first British soldier to kill a German soldier, using his sword, and Drummer Edward Thomas of the same regiment is reputed to have fired the first British shot shortly after 06:30 on 22 August 1914, near the Belgian village of Casteau. The following Battle of Mons was the first engagement fought by British soldiers in Western Europe since the Battle of Waterloo, ninety-nine years earlier. In the first year of the war in France nine cavalry brigades were formed for three British cavalry divisions. Other regiments served in six brigades of the two British Indian Army cavalry divisions that were formed for service on the Western Front. Three regiments also fought in the campaign in Mesopotamia, the only other theatre of the First World War where British cavalry served.

The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1936, the regiment was converted from cavalry to artillery and became the 27th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery.

The King's Canadian Hussars were a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In August 1939, the regiment was converted to artillery and currently exists today as the 87th Field Battery, RCA.

The 7th Hussars was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. First raised in 1867 as an infantry regiment in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, in 1903 the regiment was converted to cavalry. In 1936, the 7th Hussars were Amalgamated with the 11th Hussars to form the 7th/11th Hussars.

The Manitoba Mounted Rifles was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. In 1946, the regiment was converted to artillery.

The British Columbia Hussars was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1939, the regiment was converted from Light Armour to Artillery.

The 16th Canadian Light Horse was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles to form the 16th/22nd Saskatchewan Horse.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada . Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-04-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Canadian Military Medals & Insignia Journal 1972-Vol-8-no.-4-Dec.pdf" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Canada (1912). The Canada Gazette.
  4. Defence, Canada Dept of Militia and (1910). Report. S. E. Dawson, Printer to the Queen's most excellent majesty.
  5. Luscombe, Stephen. "Canadian Cavalry". www.britishempire.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  6. "The Cavalry Regiments of the Canadian Forces - The Volunteer Militia from 1872 -1920" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-13.