The 19th Alberta Dragoons was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

and later an

armoured Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat ...

regiment of the

Canadian Militia The Canadian Militia is a historical title for military units raised for the defence of Canada. The term has been used to describe sedentary militia units raised from local communities in Canada; as well as the regular army for the Province of Ca ...

and later the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...

. It was placed on the

Supplementary Order of Battle In the Canadian Army, a regiment is placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle when the need for the regiment's existence is no longer relevant. When placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, a regiment is considered "virtually disbanded", and ...

in 1965. In 2006, it was taken off the Supplementary Order of Battle and amalgamated with the

South Alberta Light Horse 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 ...

. The 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in

Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

on 1 February 1908, when the ''19th The Alberta Mounted Rifles'' were authorized to be formed and was redesignated as the ''19th Alberta Dragoons'' on 3 January 1911. On 16 February 1936, it was amalgamated with ''The Alberta Mounted Rifles''. It was redesignated the 19th (Reserve) Alberta Dragoons on 7 November 1940. On 1 April 1946, it was amalgamated with the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers and redesignated as the ''19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC''. It was redesignated the ''19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment'' on 4 February 1949, the ''19th Alberta Dragoons (19th Armoured Car Regiment)'' on 1 November 1954 and the 19th Alberta Dragoons on 19 May 1958. It was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle on 28 February 1965.Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments. In October 2006, the 19th Alberta Dragoons were amalgamated with the

, which retained that designation.

Lineage

19th Alberta Dragoons

* Authorized on 1 February 1908 as the ''19th Alberta Mounted Rifles'' in Edmonton, Alberta. * Redesignated on 3 January 1911 as the ''19th Alberta Dragoons''. * Amalgamated on 16 February 1936 with the ''Alberta Mounted Rifles'' with no change in name. * Amalgamated on 1 April 1946 with ''The Edmonton Fusiliers'' and designated as the ''19th Armoured Car Regiment (Edmonton Fusiliers)''. * Redesignated on 4 February 1949 as the ''19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment''. * Redesignated on 1 November 1954 as ''19th Alberta Dragoons (19th Armoured Car Regiment)''. * Redesignated on 19 May 1958 as the ''19th Alberta Dragoons''. * Reduced to nil strength on 31 March 1965 and moved to the Supplementary Order of Battle. * Taken off the Supplementary Order of Battle on 31 May 2006 and Amalgamated with the

The Alberta Mounted Rifles

* Originated on 1 April 1908, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, as the '' 21st Alberta Hussars''. * Redesignated on 15 March 1920, as ''The Alberta Mounted Rifles''. * Amalgamated on 1 May 1922, with the ''23rd Alberta Rangers'' and Redesignated as the ''1st Regiment, The Alberta Mounted Rifles''. * Reorganized on 1 January 1931, into two separate regiments: ''The Alberta Mounted Rifles'' and ''The South Alberta Horse'' (now the ''

''). * Amalgamated on 16 February 1936, with the ''19th Alberta Dragoons''.

The Edmonton Fusiliers

* Authorized on 1 April 1908 as the ''101st Regiment''. * Redesignated on 1 March 1909 as ''101st Regiment Edmonton Fusiliers''. * Redesignated on 15 March 1920 as ''The Edmonton Regiment''. * Reorganised on 15 May 1924 when ''The Edmonton Regiment'' was separated into two separate regiments, ''The Edmonton Fusiliers'' and ''The Edmonton Regiment'' (now

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry), or L Edmn R, is a Primary Reserve infantry unit of the Canadian Armed Forces based in Edmonton, Alberta. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment is part of Land Force Wes ...

). * Amalgamated on 1 April 1936 with ''A Company'' of the '' 13th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC'' (now The King's Own Calgary Regiment). * Redesignated on 15 December 1936 as ''The Edmonton Fusiliers (MG)''. * Established on 7 November 1941 as ''2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers (MG)''. * Redesignated on 1 April 1941 as ''2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers''. * Amalgamated on 1 April 1946 with the 19th Alberta Dragoons and designated as the ''19th Armoured Car Regiment (Edmonton Fusiliers)''.

Perpetuations

* Canadian Light Horse * 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force * 9th Battalion, CEF * 66th Battalion (Edmonton Guards), CEF * 138th (Edmonton, Alberta) Battalion, CEF * 202nd (Sportsman's) Battalion, CEF.

History

Early history

On 1 February 1908, the 19th Alberta Mounted Rifles was authorized for service. Its headquarters was at Edmonton and had squadrons at Edmonton, Strathcona and Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. On 3 January 1911, the regiment was Redesignated as the 19th Alberta Dragoons.

The Great War

Details of the 19th Alberta Dragoons, the 21st Alberta Hussars and 23rd Alberta Rangers were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty. The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron, CEF, authorized on 10 August 1914, which embarked for Great Britain on 1 October 1914. The squadron was redesignated as A Squadron, Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment, CEF, on 12 February 1916 and as A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse, CEF, on 21 February 1917. It fought in France from 12 February 1915 until the end of the war and was disbanded on 6 November 1920. The ''

3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles The 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, was a mounted infantry unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War. History The regiment was formed in November 1914 at Medicine Hat and recruited personnel in Alberta. It sail ...

, CEF'', was authorized on 7 November 1914, embarked for England on 12 June 1915 and fought in France as from 22 September 1915 as part of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Brigade until absorbed by the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles on 31 December 1915. The regiment was subsequently disbanded on 12 August 1917. The '' 9th Battalion, CEF'', was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Britain on 1 October 1914, where it was redesignated as the 9th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF, on 29 April 1915, to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. The battalion was formally disbanded on 15 September 1917. The '' 66th Battalion (Edmonton Guards), CEF'', was authorized on 20 April 1915 and embarked for Britain on 28 April 1916 where its personnel were absorbed by the ''9th Reserve Battalion, CEF'' on 7 July 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. The battalion was formally disbanded on 30 August 1920 The '' 138th (Edmonton, Alberta) Battalion, CEF'', was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 22 August 1916 where its personnel were absorbed by ''128th Battalion, CEF'', on 8 December 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. The battalion was disbanded on 30 August 1920. The '' 202nd (Sportsman's) Battalion, CEF'', was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Britain on 23 November 1916 where its personnel were absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF, on 27 May 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps. The battalion was disbanded on 18 February 1918.

The Second World War

Details of ''The Edmonton Fusiliers'' were called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then placed on active service on 1 September 1939 for local protection duties. These details were disbanded on 31 December 1940. The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers, CASF, on 24 May 1940. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade,

6th Canadian Infantry Division The 6th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army, formed in 1942 during the Second World War. It was attached to Pacific Command. The division had a brigade sent to the Aleutian Islands Campaign, particularly at ...

. The 1st Battalion disbanded on 14 November 1945. The regiment also mobilized the 3rd Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers, CASF, for active service on 12 May 1942, which served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 16th Infantry Brigade,

8th Canadian Infantry Division The 8th Canadian Infantry Division was a military formation of the Canadian Army that served within Pacific Command in Western Canada during World War II. The Division units were raised on 18 March 1942 and the HQ was raised on 12 May 1942 at P ...

. The 3rd Battalion disbanded on 15 August 1943.

Post War

The 19th Alberta Dragoons were Amalgamated with The Edmonton Fusiliers on 1 April 1946. The Regiment was reduced to nil strength and placed on the

on 28 February 1965. In October 2006, the 19th Alberta Dragoons were removed from the Supplementary Order of Battle and formally Amalgamated with The South Alberta Light Horse.

Organization

19th Alberta Mounted Rifles (1 February 1908)

* Regimental Headquarters (

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, Alberta) * A Squadron (Edmonton, Alberta) (first raised on 1 December 1905 as A Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles) * B Squadron (first raised on 1 December 1905 as B Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles) * C Squadron (

Fort Saskatchewan Fort Saskatchewan is a city along the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada. It is northeast of Edmonton, the provincial capital. It is part of the Edmonton Capital Region#Edmonton CMA, Edmonton census metropolitan area and one of 24 muni ...

, Alberta) (first raised on 1 December 1905 as C Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles) * D Squadron (Edmonton, Alberta) (first raised on 2 April 1907 as E Squadron, Canadian Mounted Rifles)

19th Alberta Dragoons (16 February 1936)

* HQ Squadron (

Westlock Westlock is a town in central Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1913, the town is primarily an agricultural, business, and government administration centre serving communities and rural areas within surrounding Westlock County. Geography Westlock ...

, Alberta) * A Squadron ( Chauvin, Alberta) * B Squadron (South Edmonton, Alberta) * C Squadron ( Vegreville, Alberta)

Alliances

* - 3rd The King's Own Hussars (Until 1936) * - 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) (Until 1922) * -

15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars The 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed by the amalgamation of the 15th The King's Hussars and the 19th Royal Hussars in 1922 and, after service in the Second World War, it was a ...

(1922-1936)

Battle Honours

* Ypres, 1915, '17 * Gravenstafel *

Festubert 1915 Festubert () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France southwest of Lille. The village was on the Western Front during the First World War and was largely destroyed in the May 1915 Battle of Festuber ...

* Mount Sorrel * Somme, 1916 * Flers-Courcelette * Ancre Heights *

Arras, 1917 The Battle of Arras, also known as the Second Battle of Arras, was a British offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the We ...

, '18 * Vimy, 1917 * Hill 70 *

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

* Scarpe, 1918 * Drocourt-Queant *

Hindenburg Line The Hindenburg Line (, Siegfried Position) was a German Defense line, defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in France during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to ...

Canal du Nord The Canal du Nord (, literally ''Canal of the North'') is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise in Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal in Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-min ...

* Cambrai, 1918 * Pursuit To Mons * France And Flanders, 1915–18DHH - Armour, Artillery and Field Engineer Regiments - ARMOUR REGIMENTS - 19TH ALBERTA DRAGOONS
/ref>

Notable soldiers

* William Antrobus Griesbach, politician *

Earl Robertson Earl Cooper "Robbie" Robertson (November 24, 1910 – January 19, 1979) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 190 games in the National Hockey League. Early life Robertson was born in Bengough, Saskatchewan. He played ...

, ice hockey goaltender * Norman Lubbock Robinson, Irish-born photographer * John Hornby, English explorer * Robert T. Anderson

Armoury

References

Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments

External links

Canadian Forces Directorate of History and Heritage

The 19th Alberta Dragoons History Homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:19th Alberta Dragoons 19th Alberta Dragoons Dragoon regiments of Canada Military units and formations of Alberta Organizations based in Edmonton Armoured regiments & units of Canada in World War II Military units and formations established in 1911 Military units and formations disestablished in 1965 Supplementary Order of Battle