Royal Canadian Hussars

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
Badge of the Royal Canadian Hussars
Active	Late 18th century–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Light cavalry
Role	Armoured reconnaissance
Size	Approximately 200 members
Part of	34 Canadian Brigade Group
Garrison/HQ	Montreal
Nickname(s)	RCH
Motto(s)	Non nobis sed patriae (Latin for 'Not for ourselves, but for our country')
March	"St. Patrick's Day" and "Men of Harlech" [1]
Engagements	War of 1812 Fenian Raids Second Boer War First World War Second World War War in Afghanistan
Battle honours	Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada [2] South Africa, 1900 [3] 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 [3] Caen Falaise The Laison The Scheldt Breskens Pocket The Rhineland The Rhine Emmerich–Hoch Elten Zutphen Deventer North-West Europe 1944–1945 [3] Afghanistan [4]
Website	rch.ca/en/
Commanders
Current commander	LCol Steve Lessard, CD [5]
Colonel-in-Chief	The Princess Royal
Insignia
NATO Map Symbol

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. ^[6] 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. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Lineage

Armoury of The Royal Canadian Hussars
It is also home to the 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

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, ^[10] the 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (6th DCRCH), ^{[11] [12]} the 11th Argenteuil Rangers, the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (17th DYRCH), ^[12] and the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade. ^{[13] [14]}

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)

Main article: 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars

• 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). ^{[7] [9] [11]}

5th Dragoons

Main article: 5th Dragoons (Canada)

• 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 . ^{[7] [9] [10]}

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). ^[7]

17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars

17th Hussars in 1940

Main article: 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). ^{[7] [9]}

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". ^[9]

Lineage chart

Lineage chart [15]

1812 Canadian Light Dragoons Coy of Guides Royal Montreal Tp of Volunteer Cavy Argenteuil and Vaudreuil Divisions 1815 Disbanded Disbanded Disbanded Disbanded 1855 Independent troops of cavy 1st Volunteer Militia Tp of Cavy of Montreal 1856 Independent troops of cavy 1877 5th Provisional Regt of Cavy 1879 6th Provisional Regt of Cavy No. 1 Tp, [a] 6th Provisional Regt of Cavy 1885 6th Regt of Cavy 1886 5th Regt of Cavy 1890 6th Regt of Cavy "Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars" 1893 5th Dragoons 6th "Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars" 1897 Montreal Hussars [b] 1898 The Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars [b] 1901 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars 1907 The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars [c] 1912 The 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars "Argenteuil Rangers" 1914 Automobile MGBde, No. 1, CEF 1915 1st Canadian Motor MG Bde, CEF 1919 1st Motor MG Bde, CMGC 1920 1st Regt, 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars Disbanded 1st Regt, 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars 1926 Perpetuates 1st Canadian Motor MG Bde 1936 1st Armd Car Regt 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars [d] 1936 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armd Car) 1940 3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regt, CASF (17 H) 1941 5th Canadian (Armd) Div.HQSqn (6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF 2nd (Reserve) Regt, 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (Armd Car) 17th (Active) Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, CASF 2nd (Reserve) Regt, 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars 1941 15th (Reserve) Armd Regt (6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars) 7th RecceBn (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF 7th (Reserve) Recce Bn (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars) 1942 7th Recce Regt (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF 7th (Reserve) Recce Regt (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC 1943 Disbanded 1945 2nd 7th Recce Regt, CAC, CAOF 1945 2nd 7th Recce Regt, RCAC, CAOF 7th (Reserve) Recce Regt (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), RCAC 1946 Disbanded Disbanded 1949 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars (15th Armd Regt) 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (7th Recce Regt) 1958 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars 1958 The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) 2012 Perpetuates War of 1812 units

Perpetuations

War of 1812

• Canadian Light Dragoons
• Company of Guides
• Royal Montreal Troop of Volunteer Cavalry
• Argenteuil and Vaudreuil Divisions (1812-15) ^[7]

Pre-Confederation

• No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry (1855) ^[7]

Great War

• 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF ^[7]

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 ^[16] 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. ^[16]

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. ^[16]

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 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada on its United Nations peacekeeping tour of duty. ^[16]

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. ^[16]

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. ^{[17] [18]}

In 2007 seven members ^[19] 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. ^[20]

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

•   United Kingdom - The Queen's Royal Hussars
•   United Kingdom - The Light Dragoons ^[7]

Battle Honours

War of 1812

• Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada
• The non-emblazonable honorary distinction Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada ^{[7] [21]}

South African War

• South Africa, 1900 ^{[7] [21]}

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 ^{[7] [21]}

Second World War

• Italy, 1944–45 ^[22]
• Caen
• Falaise
• The Laison
• The Scheldt
• Breskens Pocket
• The Rhineland
• The Rhine
• Emmerich–Hoch Elten
• Zutphen
• Deventer
• North-West Europe 1944–1945 ^{[7] [21]}

War in Afghanistan

• Afghanistan ^{[21] [23]}

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, OC CQ CD businessman, bodybuilder and Napoleonic historian.
• LGen ELM "Tommy" Burns, CC DSO OBE MC CD 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. ^[24]
• Eric Barry

See also

• Canada portal

• The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces
• List of Armouries in Canada

Order of precedence

Preceded by The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)

The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)

Succeeded by The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)

Notes and references

1. Later "A" Squadron
2. Squadron
3. Regiment
4. Perpetuates No. 1 Troop, Montreal Cavalry

1. "History – Regimental Song". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 2 March 2017.
2. "The Creation of the Commemorative Theatre Honour and Honorary Distinction "Defence of Canada – 1812–1815 – Défense du Canada"". Department of National Defence. September 14, 2012. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
3. "Battle Honours of the Canadian Army – The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". The Regimental Rogue. 1996–2009. Retrieved 8 Oct 2009.
4. "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
5. "Commandant" (in French). Retrieved 21 March 2025.
6. "Origins | The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". rch.ca. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
7. Defence, National (2018-11-29). "The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
8. "Accueil" [Home]. The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) (in French). Retrieved 12 October 2018.
9. "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada .
10. "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
11. "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
12. Luscombe, Stephen. "Canadian Cavalry". www.britishempire.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
13. "History – Origins". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 2 March 2017.
14. "The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) Regimental History". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 2 March 2017.
15. "The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". www.canada.ca. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
16. "History – Recent history". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 3 March 2017.
17. The Royal Canadian Hussars Change of Guidon and Change of Command May 1st, 2005
18. "Guidon and Honors". The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal). Retrieved 21 March 2017.
19. Solidarity with soldiers in Afghanistan, The Maple Leaf – Vol. 10, No. 30, National Defence and the Canadian Forces Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
20. Composition of Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF AFG) Rotation 4
21. "The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". www.regimentalrogue.com. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
22. Canadian Forces General Message 089/23, 23 May 2023: "The theatre honours 'Italy, 1944-45' and 'Northwest Europe, 1945' are awarded to the Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)"
23. "South-West Asia Theatre Honours | Prime Minister of Canada". 2014-05-12. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
24. Governor General of Canada, Press Release: "Governor General announces 89 new Appointments to the Order of Military Merit" on June 27, 2001, and Canada Gazette, Vol. 135, No 35 — September 1, 2001

External links

• The Royal Canadian Hussars Association Website