The Saskatchewan Dragoons is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Army. The unit is based in Moose Jaw. Their primary job is to assist the Regular Force in meeting Canada's military commitments. Their training and equipment closely follow that of the Regular Force, which the Reserves are called upon to assist increasingly often. The Saskatchewan Dragoons are part of 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.[1][2]
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, became colonel-in-chief of the regiment on visiting Saskatchewan in 2003, when he congratulated the regiment on its "contribution to Canada's proud tradition of citizen-soldiers in the community". Involved in peacekeeping operations in Cyprus, the Golan Heights, Bosnia and Croatia, members of the regiment have also provided aid during floods and forest fires in the prairies.
Role
Their role is that of a reconnaissancesquadron. They examine an area in preparation for the advance of a main body of troops. They go forward, sometimes many miles, and gather information on enemy strength, equipment, movements, and intentions. They pass this information, together with other helpful information on such things as bridges, blocked roads, and areas of potential danger, back to higher command so the advance can take place as safely as possible. At the same time they deny such information to the enemy. In the withdrawal, they maintain contact with the enemy while the main body pulls back. Thus, they often speak of their role as "first in last out".[1]
Lineage
The Saskatchewan Dragoons
The Saskatchewan Dragoons originated in Regina, Saskatchewan on 3 July 1905, when a regiment of infantry was authorized to be formed in the districts of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan.
It was designated the 95th Regiment on 2 April 1907 and the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles on 1 June 1909.
On 1 April 1912 the regiment was reorganized as two separate regiments, the 105th Regiment (now The North Saskatchewan Regiment) and the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles.
It was redesignated The King's Own Rifles of Canada on 15 September 1924.
On 15 December 1936, it was amalgamated with B Company of the 12th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (now The Royal Regina Rifles) and redesignated The King's Own Rifles of Canada (MG).
It was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own Rifles of Canada on 29 January 1942 and, upon conversion to armour, the 20th (Saskatchewan) Armoured Regiment, RCAC, on 1 April 1946, the 20th Saskatchewan Armoured Regiment on 4 February 1949, The Saskatchewan Dragoons (20th Armoured Regiment) on 31 July 1954 and The Saskatchewan Dragoons on 19 May 1958.[2]
The Saskatchewan Dragoons were restricted to one squadron on 1 September 1970.[1][2]
The distinguishing patch of the 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF.
Details of the 60th Rifles of Canada and the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty.
The 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF, was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 23 October 1915, disembarking in France on 11 August 1916, where it fought as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.[1]
Sgt Hugh Cairns of the 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), CEF, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Valenciennes, destroying several enemy machine gun positions and capturing numerous enemy soldiers over the course of several engagements on 1 November 1918. He was severely wounded while disarming a party of 60 German soldiers he had forced to surrender and died of his wounds the next day.[1]
The 128th Battalion (Moose Jaw), CEF, was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 15 August 1916, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 13 February 1917, when it was allotted to the 13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Division in England. On 27 May 1917 its personnel were absorbed by the 19th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920.[1][2]
Second World War
The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The King's Own Rifles of Canada, CASF, on 29 January 1942. The unit served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 14th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Infantry Division. The battalion was disbanded on 30 March 1946.[1][2]
Battle honours
The guidon of The Saskatchewan Dragoons.
Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regiment's guidon.
The 12e Régiment blindé du Canada is a Canadian Army armoured regiment based in CFB Valcartier, on the outskirts of Quebec City. The regiment has both a Regular Force and a Primary Reserve unit. The 12e Régiment blindé du Canada's abbreviation is 12e RBC.
The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance (recce) regiment of the Canadian Army; the regiment is subordinate to 39 Canadian Brigade Group of the 3rd Canadian Division. Established in 1883, it is the oldest military unit in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It parades at the Beatty Street Drill Hall at the corner of Dunsmuir and Beatty in Downtown Vancouver. The regiment has been variously designated as garrison artillery, rifles, infantry, and armoured, but has been reconnaissance since 1965. It has received 41 battle honours in its history, and has been a unit of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps since 1942.
The North Saskatchewan Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with companies in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Its current commanding officer is Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Graver, and the Regimental Sergeant-Major is Chief Warrant Officer Jason Balcaen. The N Sask R is part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.
The South Saskatchewan Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces formed in 1936 by the amalgamation of The Weyburn Regiment and The Saskatchewan Border Regiment. It was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1968. They participated in the 1942 Dieppe Raid.
The Royal Regina Rifles is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Prior to 1982 the regiment was known as The Regina Rifle Regiment. The Royal Regina Rifles are part of 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.
The 12th Manitoba Dragoons is an armoured regiment of the Canadian Army that is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.
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 Saskatchewan Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. The regiment was created in 1924 in Estevan, Saskatchewan, from the reorganization of The South Saskatchewan Regiment into five separate regiments. In 1936, The Saskatchewan Border Regiment was amalgamated with The Weyburn Regiment to re-form The South Saskatchewan Regiment.
The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and is part of the 3rd Canadian Division's 38 Canadian Brigade Group. Also known as "The Lake Sups" (pronounced soups), the regiment was active during the First and Second World Wars. During the latter, the regiment, then known as The Lake Superior Regiment or LSR, mobilized a motorized infantry battalion for the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division; The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) or LSR(M).
The Edmonton Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First raised in 1908 as part of the 101st Regiment Edmonton Fusiliers, it became a separate regiment in 1924 when The Edmonton Regiment was split into two separate regiments. In 1946, the regiment was Amalgamated with the 19th Alberta Dragoons.
The 5th Battalion, CEF, known as "Tuxford's Dandys," was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
The 11th Battalion, CEF, an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 30 September 1914. It was redesignated as the 11th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF, on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. On 4 January 1917, its personnel, along with the personnel of the 100th Battalion, CEF, were absorbed by a new 11th Reserve Battalion (Manitoba), CEF. The battalion was disbanded on 12 October 1917.
The 28th Battalion (Northwest), CEF was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
The 46th Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
The 16th/22nd Saskatchewan Horse was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. The regiment was formed in 1936, when the 16th Canadian Light Horse was amalgamated with The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles. After a number of changes, the regiment now forms part of The North Saskatchewan Regiment.
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 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA is an artillery regiment of the Canadian Army Primary Reserve. Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, the regiment forms part of the 38 Canadian Brigade Group of the 3rd Canadian Division.
The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. First formed in 1908 as the Saskatchewan Light Horse, the regiment was later redesignated that year as the 22nd Saskatchewan Light Horse and again in 1920 as The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles. In 1911, the regiment transferred two of its squadrons to the newly formed 29th Light Horse. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with the 16th Canadian Light Horse to form the 16th/22nd Saskatchewan Horse.
The 16th Canadian Light Horse was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. First formed in 1905 as the 16th Mounted Rifles, the regiment was Redesignated in 1908 as the 16th Light Horse and again in 1920 as the 16th Canadian Light Horse. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles to form the 16th/22nd Saskatchewan Horse.
The South Saskatchewan Regiment was a short-lived infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia. In 1924, the regiment was reorganized and split up into 5 separate regiments.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
