15th Canadian Light Horse

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = 15th Canadian Light Horse

| dates = 1905–1936

| country = Canada

| branch = Canadian Militia

| type = Light cavalry

| role = Cavalry

| command_structure = Non-Permanent Active Militia

| garrison = Calgary, Alberta

| battles = North-West Rebellion
First World War

| battle_honours = See #Battle Honours

}}

The 15th Canadian Light Horse was a light cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). First formed in 1905 as the 15th Light Horse, the regiment was redesignated in 1920 as the 15th Canadian Light Horse. In 1936, the regiment was amalgamated with The South Alberta Horse to form the 15th Alberta Light Horse (now part of the South Alberta Light Horse).{{Cite web |title=Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored) |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Documents/RG9-58_EN-final.pdf}}{{Cite web |last=Defence |first=National |date=2018-11-29 |title=The South Alberta Light Horse |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/armour-regiments/south-alberta-light-horse.html |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.canada.ca}}{{Cite web |date=2007-11-12 |title=15th Canadian Light Horse [Canada] |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/volmil/ab-cav/15CLH.htm |access-date=2022-05-30 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112151447/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/volmil/ab-cav/15CLH.htm |archive-date=12 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}

Lineage

  • Originated on 3 July 1905, in Calgary, Alberta, as the 15th Light Horse.
  • Redesignated on 15 March 1920, as the 15th Canadian Light Horse.
  • Amalgamated on 16 February 1936, with The South Alberta Horse and redesignated as the 15th Alberta Light Horse.

Perpetuations

= North West Rebellion =

  • Alberta Mounted Infantry

= Great War =

  • 12th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles{{Cite web |title=Canadian Mounted Rifles |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Documents/canadian%20mounted%20rifles.pdf}}

History

= Early history =

On 3 July 1905, the 15th Light Horse was authorized for service and commanded by its founder, Colonel James Walker. Its regimental headquarters was at Calgary, and its A Squadron was also established there; B Squadron was set up at Macleod; C Squadron at High River; and D Squadron at Cochrane.{{Cite web |title=The Cavalry Regiments of the Canadian Forces: The Volunteer Militia from 1872 -1920 |url=https://hcvv.home.xs4all.nl/milweb/Canada/Cavalry/changes-1872.pdf}}

On 1 April 1906, the regiment's D Squadron was separated to form The Alberta Rangers (later the 23rd Alberta Rangers).

In 1907, an independent troop of the 15th Light Horse was established in Red Deer, Alberta. On 1 April 1910, this unit became the Red Deer Independent Squadron. On 15 January 1913, the independent squadron became part of the newly raised 35th Central Alberta Horse.{{Cite web |date=2015-02-28 |title=The Red Deer Light Horse – A Badge that Never Was |url=https://milart.blog/2015/02/27/the-red-deer-light-horse-a-badge-that-never-was/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=MilArt |language=en}}

= Great War =

At the start of the First World War, the 15th Light Horse was one of 6 cavalry regiments from across Western Canada to provide detachments that helped recruit the 6th Battalion (Fort Garrys), CEF for service with the first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The other detachments were provided from the 34th Fort Garry Horse (now The Fort Garry Horse), the 20th Border Horse (now part of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons), the 18th Manitoba Mounted Rifles, the 32nd Manitoba Horse (now part of The Fort Garry Horse) and the 22nd Saskatchewan Light Horse (now part of The North Saskatchewan Regiment).{{Cite web |date=2016-10-03 |title=Perpetuated Units |url=https://fortgarryhorse.ca/wp/perpetuated-units/ |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=The Fort Garry Horse Museum & Archives |language=en-US}}

On 15 March 1915, the 12th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles was authorized for service, and on 8 October 1915, the regiment embarked for Great Britain. On 3 February 1916, the regiment's personnel were absorbed by the Canadian Cavalry Depot, CEF, to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. On 5 April 1918, the 12th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles was disbanded.

= 1920s–1930s =

File:15th AB LH officers.jpg

On 15 March 1920, as a result of the post-war Canadian Militia reorganization following the Otter Commission, the 15th Light Horse was redesignated as the 15th Canadian Light Horse.{{Cite web |title=Otter Committee |url=http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/ottercommittee.htm |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.canadiansoldiers.com}}

On 16 February 1936, as a result of the 1936 Canadian Militia reorganization, the 15th Canadian Light Horse was amalgamated with The South Alberta Horse to form the 15th Alberta Light Horse.{{Cite web |title=1936 Reorganization of the Militia |url=http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/1936modernization.htm |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.canadiansoldiers.com}}

Uniform

The dress uniform of the 15th Light Horse included a scarlet serge frock with yellow collar facings and shoulder straps and dark blue pantaloons with double yellow stripes. For the regimental headdress, although they were authorized to wear the white pith helmet, the regiment, like most other Western-Canadian cavalry units of the time, instead wore the wide-brimmed “Montana peak” Stetson hat.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-29 |title=Canadian Western Cavalry 1903–1914 |url=https://milart.blog/2015/08/28/canadian-western-cavalry-1903-1914/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=MilArt |language=en}}

Alliances

Battle honours

= North West Rebellion =

= Great War =

  • Mount Sorrel{{efn|name=selected|Selected to be borne on colours and appointments}}{{Cite web |last=Defence |first=National |date=2019-07-22 |title=WWI – Mount Sorrel |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/battle-honours-honorary-distinctions/mount-sorrel.html |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.canada.ca}}
  • Somme, 1916{{Cite web |last=Defence |first=National |date=2019-07-22 |title=WWI – Somme, 1916 |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/battle-honours-honorary-distinctions/somme-1916.html |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.canada.ca}}

Notable members

See also

Notes and references

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

  • {{Cite web |last=Luscombe |first=Stephen |title=Canadian Cavalry |url=https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/canadiancavalry/canadiancavalry.htm |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.britishempire.co.uk}}

Category:Cavalry regiments of Canada

Category:Organizations based in Calgary

Category:Military units and formations of Alberta

Category:Military units and formations established in 1905

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1936