10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars

The 10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars (QOCH) was a cavalry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia (this was the name of the part-time volunteer Canadian Armed Forces before the formation of the Canadian Army in 1940) which existed between 1856–1913 and 1928–1936.[1][2][3]

Queen's Own Canadian Hussars
10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars
Cap badge of the 10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars
Active13 November 1856 – 15 August 1913
1 August 1928 – 1 February 1936
Country Canada
BranchCanadian Militia
TypeHussars
RoleCavalry
SizeOne Regiment
Part ofNon-Permanent Active Militia
Garrison/HQQuebec City, PQ
EngagementsSecond Boer War
Battle honoursN/A

Although the unit did not take part in any fixed actions of its own various officers and men were incorporated as volunteers into Canadian Expeditionary Forces overseas such as the Canadian Mounted Rifles in the Second Boer War, where some distinguished themselves such as Lieutenant-General Richard Ernest William Turner who, as a lieutenant serving with the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD), won the Victoria Cross at Leliefontein, one of three officers from the RCD who were given the award for the same action.[4]

History

The regiment was originally raised on 13 November 1856[5] at Quebec City with the name the Queen's Own Canadian Hussars and was, until 1880, the only cavalry regiment in the province of Quebec.

Between 1900 and 1913 it was part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, 5th Division, in Military District No 5. Renamed the 10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars in 1903. It was disbanded on 15 August 1913.[1][6]

On 1 August 1928 the 10th were re-raised, again in Quebec City, but disbanded permanently on 1 February 1936 along with 13 other regiments as part of the 1936 Canadian Militia Reorganization.[1][3][7]

Although not sent as a unit to the Second Boer War, some personnel volunteered to serve with the Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR)[8] which was raised to soldier in that campaign. Various sources list individuals from the QOCH who were attached to the CMR (First Contingent) such as the following members of "E" Company (Montreal):[9]

  • Dynes, E. J.
  • Home, F.
  • Lee, F.
  • Sheehan, M.
  • Tregett, J.

Amongst the number who volunteered for service in South Africa was 29-year-old Richard Ernest William Turner who had been commissioned into the QOCH as a lieutenant, rising to the rank of major. In order to serve overseas he dropped rank to lieutenant and joined the Royal Canadian Dragoons. During his service there he gained the Victoria Cross along with two other RCD soldiers, Lt HZC Cockburn and Sgt E Holland.[4] Turner was given command of the 10th QOCH as a Lt Colonel. He was eventually promoted to Lt General during World War I although his career finished ignominiously after a friendly fire incident near the town of St. Eloi in September 1916. This resulted in him being removed from command and given administrative jobs for the rest of his time with the Canadian forces.

Uniform and badge

The uniform was similar to that of Imperial hussar regiments, dark blue with gold frogging on the jacket and a double yellow stripe on the trouser. Unlike other Canadian hussar regiments the QOCH also wore a busby similar to their Imperial cousins. The rest of the Canadian hussars (with the exception of the 8th) wore a white pith helmet until they replaced them with busbies in the early 1900s.[10][11]

The badge had a blackened silver maple leaf is the central device and was attached to the main body by two pins. The rest of the badge is gilded.[12] The collar dogs (badges worn on the lapel) were all gilt.

Notable Members

Lt General Richard Ernest William Turner VC, DSO, MiD

See also

References
  1. "10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars". canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. "Guide to Sources Relating to the Canadian Militia (Infantry, Cavalry, Armored)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015.
  3. "www.canadiansoldiers.com". www.canadiansoldiers.com. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  4. "Promotions from 2nd Lt to Lt General, four countries acknowledged his heroism, comes home with Victoria Cross, DSO and MID's and more..." Canadian Medal of Honour.com. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  5. "10 Queen's Own Canadian Hussars". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. "Land Force of the British Empire: Canadian Cavalry". britishempire.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. "The Minute Book". www.regimentalrogue.com. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  8. "Pvt. Hubert Duchène, 2CMR 1902". The Canadian Anglo-Boer War Museum. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  9. "Hopkins and Halstead: Official list of the Canadian Contingents". AngloBoerWar.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  10. "Canadian Forces".
  11. "Eastern Canada Volunteer Cavalry, 1896-1914". MilArt. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  12. "The 10th Queen's Own Canadian Hussars". Wilkinson F-S Collection. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.

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