Although the Canadian Army has never been exceptionally large (except when greatly expanded in WWI and WWII), it has
always more than compensated with a fierce esprit-de-corps within its individual
regiments. One such regiment of significant renown is Lord Strathcona’s Horse
(Royal Canadians). One of the last Canadian Army regiments raised at an
individual’s personal expense, it first fought in the South African, or Boer,
War as a cavalry regiment.
Its original ranks were comprised of cowboys and
frontiersmen from Western Canada, as well as members drawn from the then North West
Mounted Police (N.W.M.P.), and was first commanded by a Superintendent from that
force, Sir Sam B Steele.
They fought with distinction in that conflict, one of their
ranks, Sgt Arthur Richardson, earning the Victoria Cross. Still a cavalry
regiment, it gained both significant battle honors as well as two more Victoria
Crosses, in the First World War. Those decorations being awarded to Lieut
Frederick Harvey VC and Lieut Gordon Flowerdew VC. Subsequently the regiment were
initially designated the 1st Canadian Motorcycle Regiment in 1940 at the outset
of World War II, and re-designated within less than a year as the 2nd Armoured
Regiment, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). In addition to other engagements in Italy, the regiment saw particularly heavy action at the Melfa River Crossing, earning a battle honor. Three squadrons of the regiment served during the Korean War. The regiment continues on
to this day, providing tank and reconnaissance elements to the 1st Canadian
Mechanized Brigade Group. Its most
recent action having been in 1994 as part of a United Nations force in Bosnia.
Established in 1974 the Regiment maintains a Ceremonial
Mounted Horse Troop, which compliments the famed Musical Ride of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police, and performs across the western provinces of Canada. There is a video of the troop presented below for those who might be interested.
The following are a series of plates commissioned by the
regiment in the mid 1970s, and executed by the military artist, R. Marriou. They
depict a range of various uniforms wore by the “Straths” from their inception
to the modern day, and are provided
herein with both acknowledgement and gratitude to both the artist and the
regiment.
Warrant Officer Musketry Instructor School of Mounted Infantry 1886 |
Winter Dress Royal School of Mounted Infantry 1887 |
Warrant Officer Canadian Mounted Rifle Corps 1891 |
Private Serge Dress Lord Strathcona's Horse 1900 |
Officer Undress and Private Review Order The Royal Canadian Mounted Rifles 1909 |
Sergeant and Trooper 1915 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
Cadet Corps Sergeant 1927 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
Trooper and Officer Summer Service Dress 1932 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
Officer's Full Dress 1939 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
Tank Crew Italy 1944 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
Officer Winter Service Dress and Lance Corporal Battledress 1965 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
Officer's Mess Dress and No. 1 Dress 1965 Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) |
The following is a video of one of the more recent performances of the Mounted Horse Troop of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). Viewers may have to adjust the volume of the sound track.
1 comment:
J'ai une série de 12 portraits est que quelqu'un en connais la valeur
Post a Comment