The South Alberta Light Horse
Encyclopedia
The South Alberta Light Horse, or SALH, is an armoured reconnaissance unit of the Canadian Forces
Army Reserve
based in Medicine Hat
and Edmonton, Alberta. The SALH is part of Land Force Western Area
's 41 Canadian Brigade Group
.
North West Canada, 1885
First World War: A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse
, and 31st Battalion, CEF
.
Ypres, 1915
, '17,
Gravenstafel,
St. Julien,
Festubert, 1915
,
Mount Sorrel,
Somme, 1916, '18
,
Flers-Courcelette
,
Thiepval
,
Ancre Heights,
Arras, 1917
, '18,
Vimy, 1917
,
Arleux,
Scarpe, 1917, '18,
Hill 70,
Passchendaele,
Amiens,
Drocourt-Quéant,
Hindenburg Line
,
Canal du Nord
,
Cambrai, 1918
,
Pursuit to Mons
,
France and Flanders, 1915–18
Second World War: South Alberta Regiment
Falaise,
Falaise Road,
The Laison,
St. Lambert-sur-Dives,
Moerbrugge,
The Scheldt,
Woensdrecht,
The Lower Maas,
Kapelsche Veer,
The Rhineland,
The Hochwald,
Veen,
Twente Canal,
Bad Zwischenahn,
North-West Europe, 1944–1945
of 1885. During this conflict the Rocky Mountain Rangers of Fort Macleod with 150 officers and men were tasked with the protection of the area ranging from the U.S. border to High River and from the Rockies to Medicine Hat. The RMR saw no action during their three months of existence during the rebellion, and the SALH carries the battle honour "North West Canada, 1885" on their colours.
This irregular
cavalry
unit is seen as the true genesis of the regiment. The 15th Light Horse, the official direct ancestor of the SALH, was raised in Calgary
on July 3, 1905. From this point until the mid 1950s the regiment's history can be described as a series of complicated amalgamations and redesignations of Alberta army reserve units of all arms until the regiment as it is now was formed in Calgary in 1954. At the beginning of the First World War, the Alberta militia units destined to become part of SALH were four cavalry regiments – 15th Light Horse in Calgary, 19th Alberta Dragoons
in Edmonton, 21st Alberta Hussars in Medicine Hat and 23rd Alberta Rangers in Fort Macleod – and two infantry regiments – 101st Regiment "Edmonton Fusiliers" and 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles".
The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron, CEF, which landed in France in February 1915. After other divisions joined the 1st Canadian Division
in France and the Canadian Corps
was formed, the squadron was attached to the corps and became A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse, CEF. The troopers of this squadron wore 19th Alberta Dragoon badges throughout the war.
Also recruited by SALH's predecessors were three regiments of Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR): the 3rd, 12th and 13th. The 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, was mobilized at Medicine Hat and landed in France in September 1915 as part of the 1st CMR Brigade. At the end of 1915, the CMR units in France were converted from two cavalry brigades (six regiments) into one infantry brigade (four battalions). The troopers of the 3rd Regiment were split up, half going to the 1st CMR Battalion and half to the 2nd CMR Battalion; both these battalions fought in the 3rd Canadian Division
. The 12th and 13th Regiments CMR were broken up for reinforcements in England.
The SALH also counts a First World War artillery unit as an ancestor: 22nd (Howitzer) Battery, CFA, CEF. The battery landed in France in January 1916, where it served as part of the 2nd Canadian Division
until the end of the war.
Of the eight infantry battalions recruited by the SALH's predecessors, only one entered combat as a unit. The 31st Battalion, CEF
, landed in France in September 1915 with the 2nd Canadian Division. It was awarded 22 battle honour
s, including such notable actions as Vimy
and Passchendaele. The other seven battalions – 9th, 66th (Edmonton Guards), 113th (Lethbridge Highlanders), 138th (Edmonton), 175th (Medicine Hat), 187th (Central Alberta)
and 202nd (Sportsman's) – were broken up for reinforcements in England.
The 31st Battalion (part of the 6th Infantry Brigade) participated in the first tank attack in history at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette
on 15 September 1916, while A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse, made the last cavalry charge in Canadian history at the battle of Iwuy on 10 October 1918. This means that among the predecessor units of the SALH, one participated in the first military operation involving the tank and another mounted the last cavalry charge in Canadian history.
The period between the world wars saw two major reorganizations of the Canadian Militia, the first from 1920 to 1924 and the second from 1935 to 1936. By the outbreak of the Second World War, the ancestors of the SALH were two cavalry regiments (15th Alberta Light Horse in Calgary and 19th Alberta Dragoons in Edmonton) an independent artillery battery (22nd Field Battery, RCA, in Gleichen
) and two infantry battalions (the Edmonton Fusiliers and the South Alberta Regiment
in Medicine Hat).
The SAR was granted 15 battle honours for its service overseas, redesignated the 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment) in 1944. The unit was selected by Major-General F. F. Worthington to be the reconnaissance regiment of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
because he wanted "keen-eyed prairie men" as his scouts. The 29th was again converted, with all armoured reconnaissance regiments, to the war establishment of a regular armoured regiment in 1944 and sent to France in July of that year. It fought through Normandy
, Belgium, the Scheldt
, the Rhineland, the Netherlands and Germany until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. Of particular note is that Major David Currie
was awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for bravery, the Victoria Cross
, for his valour at St. Lambert sur Dives
, France
, during the battle of the Falaise Gap.
The 22nd Field Battery became part of the 13th Field Regiment, which landed with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
on D-Day at Juno Beach.
The Edmonton Fusiliers raised two active battalions, one for the 6th Canadian Infantry Division
and one for the 8th Canadian Infantry Division
. Both these divisions were home defence formations that did not go overseas.
Meanwhile the 31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment had served in the Calgary area until January 1945 when it was shipped to England. It was disbanded a month later and broken up for reinforcements.
The two Edmonton units (19th Alberta Dragoons and The Edmonton Fusiliers) merged in 1946 as the 19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC. This regiment was renamed back to 19th Alberta Dragoons in 1958, but in the 1965 reorganization of the Reserves it was transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle
: it still legally existed, but had no personnel assigned to it.
In 1978 the SALH established an independent B Squadron in Edmonton to train out of Griesbach Barracks. Originally roled as reconnaissance, B Squadron transitioned to AVGP
and was reroled as armoured in the early 1980s. The rest of the regiment followed suit and by 1985 the entire regiment was out of reconnaissance and back to being armoured.
In 2006 the South Alberta Light Horse and the nil-strength 19th Alberta Dragoons amalgamated, and the regiment now maintains the battle honours and traditions of its Edmonton predecessors.
The current commanding officer of the SALH is Lieutenant-Colonel Wayne Lockhart. The current regimental sergeant-major is Master Warrant Officer Brian Talty.
units spread across Alberta that are affiliated to the South Alberta Light Horse.
Cadet units affiliated to the South Alberta Light Horse receive support and also are entitled to wear traditional regimental accoutrements on their uniforms.
– The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
Army Reserve
Army Reserve
Army Reserve may refer to:*Military Reserve Force*Army Reserve *United States Army Reserve...
based in Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
and Edmonton, Alberta. The SALH is part of Land Force Western Area
Land Force Western Area
Land Force Western Area is one of four operational commands of the Canadian Army. LFWA is responsible for all Canadian Army administration and operations in western Canada from the Pacific Ocean to Thunder Bay, Ontario...
's 41 Canadian Brigade Group
41 Canadian Brigade Group
41 Canadian Brigade Group is a brigade group that is part of Land Forces Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is a reserve formation and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, at the former location of CFB Calgary....
.
Battle honours
North West Rebellion: The Rocky Mountain RangersNorth West Canada, 1885
First World War: A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse
19th Alberta Dragoons
The 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in Edmonton, 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 Rifle. It was...
, and 31st Battalion, CEF
31st Battalion, CEF
The 31st Battalion, CEF was raised as one of the four fighting battalions destined for the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division Canadian Expeditionary Force, on 15 March 1915...
.
Ypres, 1915
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
, '17,
Gravenstafel,
St. Julien,
Festubert, 1915
Battle of Festubert
The Battle of Festubert was an attack by the British army in the Artois region of France on the western front during World War I. It began on May 15, 1915 and continued until May 25.-Context:...
,
Mount Sorrel,
Somme, 1916, '18
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
During the First World War, the Second Battle of the Somme of 1918 was fought on the Western Front from the end of the summer, in the basin of the Somme River...
,
Flers-Courcelette
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, was a battle within the Franco-British Somme Offensive which took place in the summer and autumn of 1916. Launched on the 15th of September 1916 the battle went on for one week. Flers-Courcelette began with the overall objective of cutting a hole in the German...
,
Thiepval
Battle of Thiepval Ridge
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme and was designed to benefit from British Fourth Army's Battle of Morval by starting 24 hours afterwards...
,
Ancre Heights,
Arras, 1917
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, '18,
Vimy, 1917
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
,
Arleux,
Scarpe, 1917, '18,
Hill 70,
Passchendaele,
Amiens,
Drocourt-Quéant,
Hindenburg Line
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
,
Canal du Nord
Battle of the Canal du Nord
The Battle of Canal du Nord was part of a general Allied offensive against German positions on the Western Front during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I. The battle took place in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, along an incomplete portion of the Canal du Nord and on the outskirts...
,
Cambrai, 1918
Battle of Cambrai (1918)
The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
,
Pursuit to Mons
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
,
France and Flanders, 1915–18
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
Second World War: South Alberta Regiment
South Alberta Regiment
The South Alberta Regiment was a Canadian infantry regiment which served in the Second World War. The unit was created in 1924 and mobilized in 1940 as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division...
Falaise,
Falaise Road,
The Laison,
St. Lambert-sur-Dives,
Moerbrugge,
The Scheldt,
Woensdrecht,
The Lower Maas,
Kapelsche Veer,
The Rhineland,
The Hochwald,
Veen,
Twente Canal,
Bad Zwischenahn,
North-West Europe, 1944–1945
Victoria Cross
- Major David Vivian Currie VC (later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel)David Vivian CurrieDavid Vivian Currie, VC, CD , was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Biography:...
Early history
The South Alberta Light Horse traces its beginnings to the period of the Riel RebellionNorth-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885. During this conflict the Rocky Mountain Rangers of Fort Macleod with 150 officers and men were tasked with the protection of the area ranging from the U.S. border to High River and from the Rockies to Medicine Hat. The RMR saw no action during their three months of existence during the rebellion, and the SALH carries the battle honour "North West Canada, 1885" on their colours.
This irregular
Irregular military
Irregular military refers to any non-standard military. Being defined by exclusion, there is significant variance in what comes under the term. It can refer to the type of military organization, or to the type of tactics used....
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
unit is seen as the true genesis of the regiment. The 15th Light Horse, the official direct ancestor of the SALH, was raised in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
on July 3, 1905. From this point until the mid 1950s the regiment's history can be described as a series of complicated amalgamations and redesignations of Alberta army reserve units of all arms until the regiment as it is now was formed in Calgary in 1954. At the beginning of the First World War, the Alberta militia units destined to become part of SALH were four cavalry regiments – 15th Light Horse in Calgary, 19th Alberta Dragoons
19th Alberta Dragoons
The 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in Edmonton, 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 Rifle. It was...
in Edmonton, 21st Alberta Hussars in Medicine Hat and 23rd Alberta Rangers in Fort Macleod – and two infantry regiments – 101st Regiment "Edmonton Fusiliers" and 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles".
| 1905 | The 15th Light Horse | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 23rd Alberta Rangers | 21st Alberta Hussars | 19th The Alberta Mounted Rifles | 101st Regiment | ||
| 1909 | 101st Regiment "Edmonton Fusiliers" | |||||
| 1910 | 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles" | |||||
| 1911 | 19th Alberta Dragoons 19th Alberta Dragoons The 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in Edmonton, 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 Rifle. It was... |
|||||
| 1914 |
History 1914–1938
In the First World War, the Canadian militia units were not mobilized, but instead new units were formed from volunteers from the militia and new recruits. The militia units generally became organizations for recruiting, induction and preliminary training.The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron, CEF, which landed in France in February 1915. After other divisions joined the 1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Division
Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,...
in France and the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
was formed, the squadron was attached to the corps and became A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse, CEF. The troopers of this squadron wore 19th Alberta Dragoon badges throughout the war.
Also recruited by SALH's predecessors were three regiments of Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR): the 3rd, 12th and 13th. The 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, was mobilized at Medicine Hat and landed in France in September 1915 as part of the 1st CMR Brigade. At the end of 1915, the CMR units in France were converted from two cavalry brigades (six regiments) into one infantry brigade (four battalions). The troopers of the 3rd Regiment were split up, half going to the 1st CMR Battalion and half to the 2nd CMR Battalion; both these battalions fought in the 3rd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day...
. The 12th and 13th Regiments CMR were broken up for reinforcements in England.
The SALH also counts a First World War artillery unit as an ancestor: 22nd (Howitzer) Battery, CFA, CEF. The battery landed in France in January 1916, where it served as part of the 2nd Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:...
until the end of the war.
Of the eight infantry battalions recruited by the SALH's predecessors, only one entered combat as a unit. The 31st Battalion, CEF
31st Battalion, CEF
The 31st Battalion, CEF was raised as one of the four fighting battalions destined for the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division Canadian Expeditionary Force, on 15 March 1915...
, landed in France in September 1915 with the 2nd Canadian Division. It was awarded 22 battle honour
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
s, including such notable actions as Vimy
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
and Passchendaele. The other seven battalions – 9th, 66th (Edmonton Guards), 113th (Lethbridge Highlanders), 138th (Edmonton), 175th (Medicine Hat), 187th (Central Alberta)
187th (Central Alberta) Battalion, CEF
The 187th Battalion, CEF, was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Red Deer, Alberta, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city and the surrounding district. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was absorbed...
and 202nd (Sportsman's) – were broken up for reinforcements in England.
The 31st Battalion (part of the 6th Infantry Brigade) participated in the first tank attack in history at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, was a battle within the Franco-British Somme Offensive which took place in the summer and autumn of 1916. Launched on the 15th of September 1916 the battle went on for one week. Flers-Courcelette began with the overall objective of cutting a hole in the German...
on 15 September 1916, while A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse, made the last cavalry charge in Canadian history at the battle of Iwuy on 10 October 1918. This means that among the predecessor units of the SALH, one participated in the first military operation involving the tank and another mounted the last cavalry charge in Canadian history.
| Unit | Formed | Arrived France | Disbanded or Absorbed |
Notes | Perpetuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914: 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron, CEF 1916: A Squadron, Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment, CEF 1917: A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse, CEF |
August 10, 1914 | February 12, 1915 | November 6, 1920 | Part of the Canadian Corps | 19th Alberta Dragoons |
| 1914: 22nd Battery, CEF 1915: 30th (Howitzer) Battery, CFA, CEF 1915: 22nd (Howitzer) Battery, CFA, CEF |
August 10, 1914 | January 19, 1916 | October 23, 1920 | In March 1915, absorbed by the Canadian Reserve Artillery Brigade, CEF, then re-formed in September. Part of 6th (Howitzer) Brigade, CFA, CEF | 22nd Battery, CFA |
| 1914: 9th Battalion, CEF 1915: 9th Reserve Infantry Battalion, CEF |
August 10, 1914 | N/A | September 15, 1917 | The Edmonton Fusiliers | |
| 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF | November 7, 1914 | September 22, 1915 | December 31, 1915 | Part of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Brigade. Absorbed by the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF | 1st Regiment, The Alberta Mounted Rifles |
| 31st Battalion, CEF 31st Battalion, CEF The 31st Battalion, CEF was raised as one of the four fighting battalions destined for the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division Canadian Expeditionary Force, on 15 March 1915... |
November 7, 1914 | September 18, 1915 | August 30, 1920 | Part of 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division 2nd Canadian Division The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:... |
The Alberta Regiment |
| 12th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF | March 15, 1915 | N/A | February 3, 1916 | Absorbed by the Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF | 15th Canadian Light Horse |
| 1915: 13th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF 1916: 13th "Overseas" Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF |
March 15, 1915 | N/A | July 19, 1916 | Absorbed by various units | 2nd Regiment, The Alberta Mounted Rifles |
| 66th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | April 20, 1915 | N/A | July 7, 1916 | Absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF | The Edmonton Fusiliers |
| 113th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | December 22, 1915 | N/A | October 8, 1916 | Absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF | The South Alberta Regiment |
| 138th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | December 22, 1915 | N/A | December 8, 1916 | Absorbed by the 128th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | The Edmonton Fusiliers |
| 175th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | July 15, 1916 | N/A | January 10, 1917 | Absorbed by the 21st Reserve Battalion, CEF | The South Alberta Regiment |
| 187th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | July 15, 1916 | N/A | January 20, 1917 | Absorbed by the 21st Reserve Battalion, CEF | The South Alberta Regiment |
| 202nd "Overseas" Battalion, CEF | July 15, 1916 | N/A | May 27, 1917 | Absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF | The Edmonton Fusiliers |
The period between the world wars saw two major reorganizations of the Canadian Militia, the first from 1920 to 1924 and the second from 1935 to 1936. By the outbreak of the Second World War, the ancestors of the SALH were two cavalry regiments (15th Alberta Light Horse in Calgary and 19th Alberta Dragoons in Edmonton) an independent artillery battery (22nd Field Battery, RCA, in Gleichen
Gleichen, Alberta
Gleichen is a hamlet in southeast Alberta, Canada within Wheatland County. It is located adjacent to the Siksika Nation at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 547, approximately southeast of Strathmore.- History :...
) and two infantry battalions (the Edmonton Fusiliers and the South Alberta Regiment
South Alberta Regiment
The South Alberta Regiment was a Canadian infantry regiment which served in the Second World War. The unit was created in 1924 and mobilized in 1940 as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division...
in Medicine Hat).
| 1918 | 103rd Regiment “Calgary Rifles” | The 15th Light Horse | 23rd Alberta Rangers | 21st Alberta Hussars | 19th Alberta Dragoons 19th Alberta Dragoons The 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in Edmonton, 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 Rifle. It was... |
101st Regiment “Edmonton Fusiliers” | ||||
| 1920 | The Calgary Regiment | The Alberta Regiment | 22nd Battery, CFA | 15th Canadian Light Horse | The Alberta Mounted Rifles | 1st Battalion, The Edmonton Regiment | 2nd Battalion (Edmonton Fusiliers), The Edmonton Regiment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 1st Battalion, The Alberta Regiment | 2nd Battalion, The Alberta Regiment | ||||||||
| 1922 | 2nd Regiment, The Alberta Mounted Rifles | 1st Regiment, The Alberta Mounted Rifles | ||||||||
| 1924 | The South Alberta Regiment | The North Alberta Regiment | The Edmonton Regiment | The Edmonton Fusiliers | ||||||
| 1925 | 22nd Field Battery, CA | |||||||||
| 1931 | The South Alberta Horse | The Alberta Mounted Rifles | ||||||||
| 1935 | 22nd Field Battery, RCA | |||||||||
| 1936 | 15th Alberta Light Horse | 19th Alberta Dragoons | The Edmonton Fusiliers (MG) | |||||||
| 1939 |
History 1939–1945
The 15th Alberta Light Horse contributed to several active service units, including the 31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment, remaining in the Calgary area until almost the end of the war. The South Alberta Regiment, recruited an active service battalion in the Medicine Hat area in the summer of 1940. This infantry unit trained in Canada until 1942 when it was reorganized as the 29th Armoured Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment) and moved to England in August.The SAR was granted 15 battle honours for its service overseas, redesignated the 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment) in 1944. The unit was selected by Major-General F. F. Worthington to be the reconnaissance regiment of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
The 4th Canadian Division was created by the conversion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. The division proceeded overseas in 1942, with its two main convoys reaching the United Kingdom in August and October....
because he wanted "keen-eyed prairie men" as his scouts. The 29th was again converted, with all armoured reconnaissance regiments, to the war establishment of a regular armoured regiment in 1944 and sent to France in July of that year. It fought through Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, Belgium, the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
, the Rhineland, the Netherlands and Germany until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. Of particular note is that Major David Currie
David Vivian Currie
David Vivian Currie, VC, CD , was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Biography:...
was awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for bravery, the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, for his valour at St. Lambert sur Dives
Saint-Lambert, Calvados
Saint-Lambert-sur-Dives, commonly called Saint-Lambert, is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-World War II:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, during the battle of the Falaise Gap.
The 22nd Field Battery became part of the 13th Field Regiment, which landed with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
3rd Canadian Infantry Division
The Canadian 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army from 1940 to c.1945.- History :The formation of the division was authorized on 17 May 1940...
on D-Day at Juno Beach.
The Edmonton Fusiliers raised two active battalions, one for the 6th Canadian Infantry Division
6th Canadian Infantry Division
The 6th Canadian Infantry Division was a Canadian infantry division 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 Kiska, but never saw action...
and one for the 8th Canadian Infantry Division
8th Canadian Infantry Division
The 8th Canadian Infantry Division was a Canadian formation that served within Pacific Command in Western Canada during World War II. The Division unit's were raised on 18 March 1942 and the HQ was raised on 12 May 1942 at Prince George, BC. The Division was a home defence unit. It initially...
. Both these divisions were home defence formations that did not go overseas.
Meanwhile the 31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment had served in the Calgary area until January 1945 when it was shipped to England. It was disbanded a month later and broken up for reinforcements.
History 1945–2006
The end of the war saw the re-emergence of The South Alberta Regiment (infantry) in Medicine Hat and the 15th Alberta Light Horse (armoured) in Calgary. The 15th however, was not to keep its name, and it was united with the 22nd Field Battery and renamed 68th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA. This remained until 1954 when it united with The South Alberta Regiment of Medicine Hat and the 41st Anti-Tank Regiment out of Calgary to become The South Alberta Light Horse (29th Armoured Regiment) out of Calgary. In 1958 "29th Armoured Regiment" was dropped from the name, and two years later, in 1960, the regiment was moved back to its old headquarters in Medicine Hat. The regiment remained an army reserve armoured unit until 1968 when it lost its tanks and was retasked as an armoured reconnaissance unit.The two Edmonton units (19th Alberta Dragoons and The Edmonton Fusiliers) merged in 1946 as the 19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC. This regiment was renamed back to 19th Alberta Dragoons in 1958, but in the 1965 reorganization of the Reserves it was transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle
Supplementary Order of Battle
In Canada, a regiment is placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle when the need for the regiments existence is no longer relevant. When placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, a regiment is considered "virtually disbanded", and will only be reformed should the need be dire...
: it still legally existed, but had no personnel assigned to it.
In 1978 the SALH established an independent B Squadron in Edmonton to train out of Griesbach Barracks. Originally roled as reconnaissance, B Squadron transitioned to AVGP
AVGP
The AVGP is a series of three armoured fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in 1977.The three vehicles are the Cougar, Grizzly and Husky....
and was reroled as armoured in the early 1980s. The rest of the regiment followed suit and by 1985 the entire regiment was out of reconnaissance and back to being armoured.
In 2006 the South Alberta Light Horse and the nil-strength 19th Alberta Dragoons amalgamated, and the regiment now maintains the battle honours and traditions of its Edmonton predecessors.
| 1945 | 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The South Alberta Regiment (MG) | 41st (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA | 22nd Field Battery, RCA | 15th (Reserve) Alberta Light Horse | 19th (Reserve) Alberta Dragoons | 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | The South Alberta Regiment | 41st Anti-Tank Regiment (Self Propelled), RCA | 68th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA | 19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC | ||
| 1949 | 19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment | |||||
| 1954 | The South Alberta Light Horse (29th Armoured Regiment) | 19th Alberta Dragoons (19th Armoured Car Regiment) | ||||
| 1958 | The South Alberta Light Horse | 19th Alberta Dragoons | ||||
| 1965 | Supplementary Order of Battle | |||||
| 2006 | The South Alberta Light Horse | |||||
Recent activities
- 2011: Colonel Tom Putt, a former regimental commanding officer, is promoted to brigadier general and posted to 1st Canadian Division Headquarters
- 2011: The South Alberta Regiment Veterans Association Reunion Dinner is held in Edmonton and attended by the SALH in great numbers
- 2011: Conducted the Second Annual Medicine Hat Military Heritage Exhibition
- 2010: The regiment sent its 50th soldier to the Afghanistan theatre
- 2010: Grand Re-Opening of the Regimental Museum in Medicine Hat
- 2010: Exercised Freedom of the City of Medicine Hat and conducted the First Medicine Hat Military Heritage Exhibition
- 2009: Visit to the regiment in Edmonton by The Countess of Wessex, Colonel-in-Chief
- 2007: On 9 April, members and friends of the regiment participated in rededication ceremonies for the Canadian National Vimy MemorialCanadian National Vimy MemorialThe Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
on the 90th anniversary of Battle of Vimy Ridge at Vimy, France - 2006: Freedom of the City of Camrose
- 2006: Installation of The Countess of Wessex as Colonel-in-Chief at Rocky Mountain Cadet Camp
- 2006: 17 soldiers on Operation ArcherOperation ArcherOperation Archer is the Canadian Forces contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It began in July 2005 with the deployment of a 220 member "theater activation team" to Kandahar....
in Afghanistan all returning safely - 2006: The SALH formally amalgamates with the 19th Alberta Dragoons19th Alberta DragoonsThe 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in Edmonton, 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 Rifle. It was...
, a regiment that had been on the Supplementary Order of BattleSupplementary Order of BattleIn Canada, a regiment is placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle when the need for the regiments existence is no longer relevant. When placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle, a regiment is considered "virtually disbanded", and will only be reformed should the need be dire...
since 1965. SALH officially carries on 19 AD's traditions and battle honours. - 2005: Exercised Freedom of the CityFreedom of the CityFreedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of Medicine Hat - 2005: 100th birthday celebrations in Edmonton including Hoof Prints to Tank Tracks major display at the Provincial Museum of Alberta. Display visited by Queen Elizabeth II upon her visit where she designated the museum the Royal Alberta MuseumRoyal Alberta MuseumThe Royal Alberta Museum is located in Edmonton, Alberta and was named the Provincial Museum of Alberta until 24 May 2005 when Queen Elizabeth II visited, bestowing royal patronage. It has a natural history exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, an entomology exhibit, a Native Culture exhibit, as well as...
.
The regiment today
The regiment has soldiers both in Edmonton and Medicine Hat. With the advent of the Land Force Reserve Restructuring project, The South Alberta Light Horse was returned to its roots as an armoured reconnaissance regiment effective September 1, 2004.The current commanding officer of the SALH is Lieutenant-Colonel Wayne Lockhart. The current regimental sergeant-major is Master Warrant Officer Brian Talty.
Cadet units
There are several Royal Canadian Army CadetsRoyal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...
units spread across Alberta that are affiliated to the South Alberta Light Horse.
| Corps | Location |
|---|---|
| 2051 RCACC | Edmonton |
| 2313 RCACC | Medicine Hat |
| 3068 RCACC | Camrose |
Cadet units affiliated to the South Alberta Light Horse receive support and also are entitled to wear traditional regimental accoutrements on their uniforms.
Alliances
– The Light DragoonsThe Light Dragoons
The Light Dragoons is a cavalry regiment in the British Army.It was formed in 1992 from the amalgamation of two regiments, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars becoming the first dragoon regiment in the British Army for over twenty years.-Present day:The Light...
– The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
"PWRR" redirects here. For the railroad with these reporting marks, see Portland and Western Railroad.The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division...