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emblem or field patch |
Canadian Expeditionary
Force Study Group
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Cap Badge Logo |
| Component: |
Canadian Mounted Rifles |
| Location of War Diaries: |
 | Library and Archives Canada (WD Link) |
| CEFSG War Diary Transcription
(in progress = IP) |
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Background:
| The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles
(CMR) formed the main part of the 3rd Division, 8th
Infantry Brigade. The 3rd CMR was absorbed into the
1st and 2nd CMR and the 6th CMR was absorbed into the 4th and
5th CMR, so in essence to 1st to 6th CMR all became part of the
3rd Division 8th Infantry Brigade. For further details on
each of these units, please refer to the unit pages at the 8th
Infantry Brigade.
Chris Wight summarized for us that originally
when recruited as mounted rifles, all units were known as
"x" Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles. The name
change, for all C.M.R. units came in December 1915 when these
units were redesignated as infantry which necessitated their
complement of men being increased to that of an infantry
battalion. Accordingly, two C.M.R. Regiments were dissolved (3rd
and 6th), the men being separated between units; in the case of
the 5th C.M.R., they received men from the 6th C.M.R. (the 4th
C.M.R. received the other half).
Residual Canadian Mounted Rifle Units:
The 8th to 13th CMR were all assigned as reinforcements,
details of which we can summarize from the information in Love
and Stewart:
| 7th CMR: Raised in London from the Governor
General's Body Guard, the 9th Mississauga Horse and the 1st
Hussars. The battalion (less "A" Squadron) formed
the Canadian Mounted Rifle Depot in England.
"A" Squadron was reorganized in Canada as the 2nd
Divisional Cavalry Squadron.
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| 8th CMR: Raised in Ottawa from the 4th Hussars.
This battalion was later broken up to provide for
reinforcements in the field. The unit was raised on
March 15, 1915 and disbanded on November 15, 1920.
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| 9th CMR: Raised in Lloydminster from the 22nd
Saskatchewan Light Horse. This battalion was later
broken up to provide for reinforcements in the field.
The unit was raised on March 15, 1915 and disbanded on
November 15, 1920.
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| 10th CMR: Raised in Regina and Portage La Prairie
from the 22nd Saskatchewan Light Horse. This battalion
was later broken up to provide for reinforcements in the
field. The unit was raised on March 15, 1915 and
disbanded on November 15, 1920.
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| 11th CMR: Raised in Vancouver form the 30th
Regiment, British Columbia Horse. This battalion was
later broken up to provide for reinforcements in the
field. The unit was raised on March 15, 1915 and
disbanded on November 15, 1920.
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| 12th CMR: Raised in Calgary form the 15th Light
Horse. This battalion was later broken up to provide
for reinforcements in the field. The unit was raised
on March 15, 1915 and disbanded on November 15, 1920.
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| 13th CMR: Raised in Pincher Creek from the 21st
Alberta Hussars. This battalion was later broken up to
provide for reinforcements in the field. The unit was
raised on March 15, 1915 and disbanded on November 15, 1920. |
The allotted serial number blocks for each of these units is
provided in Love's text on page 150.
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Sub-Components:
| 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles:
We have the following additional information from one of our
CEF Members Donald Bondy:
The 7th CMR formed the CMR Depot, which I quote as follows
from David's submission, subject of course to review and correction by Donald:
The First Hussars Museum and the 2004 Regimental
History can clarify the following for you
First Hussars and Mississauga Horse formed
7 CMR (Nov 1914)
Headquarters 1H London Ontario
A Squadron
1H
B Squadron
1H
C Squadron
Mississauga Horse
Squadrons B & C became Canadian Cavalry Depot in UK
in 1915
Squadron A became in turn
2nd Division Cavalry (30 March 1915)
Special Services Squadron, First (Canadian) Hussars (31
Jan 1916)
B Squadron CCCR (May 1916)
B Squadron CLH (21 February 1917)
A Squadron from 1st Division Cavalry, 19th
Alberta Dragoons
C Squadron from 3rd and 4th Division Cavalry both supplied
by 16th Light Horse (Regina)
These units were permitted to wear their own buttons
Collar and hat badges, but all wore the CLH shoulder title.
Some of the few CEF units maintaining their militia
identities.
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| 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles:
CEFSG Member "Lancer"
provided this on the Forum
in response to a question regarding the 8th CMR.
The 8th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles was authorized under Privy Council Orders 2067 and 2068 dated August 6, 1914 and published in General Order 36 dated March 15, 1915. Mobilization was authorized December 1, 1914 and mobilized at Ottawa, Military District No.3.
The regiment recruited as follows, A Squadron in Ottawa, B Squadron in Peterboro and C Squadron in Toronto.
The Regiment supplied 3 drafts the first consisting of 1 officer and 50 other ranks sailed from Montreal aboard the Hesperian June 10, 1915 and ended up at the Canadian Cavalry Depot.
The second of 3 officers and 150 other ranks sailed from Montreal aboard the Hesperian July 17, 1915 and ended up with the 2nd CMR.
The third of 2 officers and 50 other ranks sailed from Montreal aboard the Elele August 23,
1915.
The 8th CMR sailed from Quebec on October 9, 1915 with 31 officers and 601 other ranks under the command of Lt.Col. J.R. Munro and arrived at Devonport on October 18, 1915.
The 8th CMR was absorbed as follows, with 327 other ranks to the 4th CMR in France on January 28, 1916, and 274 other ranks to the 39th Battalion on January 29, 1916.
The 8th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles was disbanded by Privy Council Order 3355 dated December 8, 1917 and published in General Order 82 dated June 1, 1918
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Primary References:
| Stewart, C. H. 1970. "Overseas" The
Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914
-1919. Little & Stewart, Mission Press, Toronto, Canada.
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| Love, D. W. 1999. "A Call to Arms"
The Organization and Administration of Canada's Military in World
War One. Bunker to Bunker Books, Winnipeg & Calgary,
Canada. |
Secondary References:
Internet References:
| This Page Last
Updated On: |
Wednesday March 18, 2009 03:22:15 PM -0500
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