|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15th Light Horse
Battle Honours and Perpetuation The
15th Light Horse was created on 3 July 1905, with
headquarters at Calgary, and squadrons in Calgary
("A"),
Macleod "("B"), High River ("C") and Cochrane ("D").2
In 1914, "D" Squadron headquarters commanded by G.P. Payzant
was located at 120 3rd Avenue East in Calgary.3 From now on Alberta will have a cavalry regiment instead of a squadron of Mounted Rifles. Major Walker will be first colonel in command and Colonel Barwis second on the staff. The regiment will be formed of a squadron from Calgary, Macleod, High River and Cochrane. There will likely be a change in the uniform of the soldiers. This will rest with the officers of the regiment, and it has been practically decided there will be a change in the color of the uniforms. Some favor blue and yellow facings, and if this is not agreed to it will be red and yellow.4 At some point the regiment was affiliated with the earlier Alberta Mounted Infantry raised in March 1885 and disbanded in September 1885. This unit served in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. The regiment contributed men to the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, as well as volunteers for the 31st, 11th, 175th and 187th Battalions of the CEF.
History
In 1910, Lieutenant-Colonel James Walker, who commanded the regiment from its creation, had become the senior unit CO in Alberta. The Calgary Albertan reported on 30 Dec 1910 that "his retirement is due to expiration of command period, which is fixed at five years and to age limit." The regiment was reportedly 350 strong at that time. His replacement, George MacDonald, had been second in command since the summer of 1909.
The October 1913 Militia List has the squadrons located at Crossfield ("A"), Elbow River ("B"), Langdon ("C"), and Calgary ("D").
The regiment contributed a number of men to the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles after the outbreak of war in 1914 and was rebuilt as a home defence Militia regiment. Major Russell Lambert Boyle, a squadron commander, went to Valcartier in the opening weeks of the war and was appointed commanding officer of the 10th Battalion, CEF, which he led into action at Kitcheners' Wood during the Battle of St. Julien. He was killed leading a counter-attack against German forces in the wood. The commanding officer of the 15th Light Horse, George MacDonald, went overseas as commander of the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles.
In February 1915, Major Arthur George Wolley-Dod took over command of the regiment from Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonald, and attested as an officer of the 82nd Battalion, CEF on 15 September 1915. The commander of "C" Squadron, Major C.W. Robinson, accepted command of the 187th Battalion, CEF in April 1916. His previous service included in the Boer War with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles and with the 10th Battalion, CEF at St. Julien, where he was wounded while commanding "A" Company.
In March 1920, as part of the Otter Committee reorganizations, the 15th Light Horse was redesignated the 15th Canadian Light Horse. The reorganization of the regiment was completed in Sep 1920 and Lieutenant-Colonel A.G. Wolley-Dod assumed command of the new regiment on 15 Sep 1920.5
Honorary Colonel
The Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal visited Calgary on 7 Sep 1909 and was asked by Lieutenant-Colonel Walker to accept the position of Honorary Colonel of the 15th Light Horse. The Militia List indicates the appointment was official from 24 Nov 1909. Strathcona died 21 Jan 1914.
British Army Affiliation
An affiliation with the 15th "The King's" Hussars of the British Army was proposed in 1913-14.
Commanding
Officers
Notes
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
