WW1
With the outbreak of war in 1914, the 19th Alberta Dragoons were one of the first units to be called up on active service. On 7 August 1914, the unit was assigned local protective duties and was assigned the role of furnishing a Special Service Squadron of the Divisional Cavalry for the 1st Canadian Overseas Contingent. This squadron was commanded by Lt-Col F.C. Jamieson and command of the remainder of the Regiment was taken by Major L.J. Whittaker. As 2IC for the Squadron, Jamieson appointed the Officer Commanding “A” Squadron, Major W.A. Griesbach. Griesbach was a well-known Edmontonian with experience in the Boer War. It would be Griesbach who later raised the 49th Battallion. As such, it can be said that a cavalry man raised Edmonton’s only remaining infantry battalion!
Many other officers and men from the 19th Alberta Dragoons volunteered for service. The Officer Commanding “B” Squadron, Major G.W. Marriot was called to duty with the 1st Canadian Overseas Contingent, and Capt P.E. Bowen was called to duty with the 101st Regiment, Edmonton Fusiliers.
Captain C.Y. Weaver assumed command of “A” Squadron in Edmonton and Lieutenant H.B. Dawson assumed command of “B” Squadron in Strathcona. C Squadron would soon deploy overseas as “C” Squadron of the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. Major Frank Fane of Vegreville, Alberta was OC of the squadron at the time. A brief history of the 3rd CMR and C Squadron as well as reprinted articles from the Vegreville Observer detailing the activities associated with the mobilization can be found here.
The armoury on 106th Street quickly began recruiting men who were able “ride, shoot, and if possible, have some military experience.” On August 26th, 250 officers and men along with 210 horses departed Edmonton for Valcartier Camp. The troops loaded the horses at the CPR station and the cars were taken to the Strathcona station and coupled to the train. Each car had eight horses in it, and five coaches, a sleeper, a diner, and a baggage car were provided for the troops. Officers included:
Lt-Col F.C. Jamieson
Maj W.A. Griesbach
Captain WG Stedman (Vet Officer)
Lieut N.F. Watson, JW Tipton, KW Edmiston, DN Ferris, and H McM Dawson.
The Edmonton Daily Bulletin for August 26th took special note that Ogema, the regimental mascot would also be departing with the squadron. The Bulletin reported that Ogema was "a yellow dog of the pure husky type, belonging to Edward Sydney Ross of 404 4th Street." The paper then reported that Ogema had apparently taken a disliking to his home surroundings as soon as the squadron had started to mobilize. When the horses were moved to the 112th Street curling rink, Ogema followed them and refused to leave. At far left in the following pic we can see Ogema standing on the side walk!
Upon arrival at Valcartier, the men were issued with Colt automatic pistols and the 1890 or 1899 pattern sword. While originally it was intended by Hughes to use the Regular army as a training cadre for the citizen soldier, the government reversed this decision and bowing to political pressure, announced that it would send the permanent cavalry units overseas. For this reason, before leaving Valcartier, the Dragoons had their reinforcement troop of 75 soldiers transferred to the Regular (permanent) units. Once again, the militia had to back-fill the Regular army! A first hand account written by new recruit Walter S Woods which details the recruiting effort, standards, and deployment of the Regiment is attached at the bottom of this page for your enjoyment!
By October 15th, the 19th Alberta Dragoons had received orders and had moved to Quebec to prepare for the voyage overseas. The horses were loaded onto the SS Montreal and the first Cyclist Company joined the Dragoons onboard. From Gaspe, the men were transported by ship to Plymouth where they boarded the train for Salisbury Plain. Initially, they set-up camp under canvass before occupying Newfoundland Farm, and ultimately, Bulford Barracks. While in England, the Dragoons were issued with the reliable SMLE III instead of the dreaded Ross rifle. The 1890 pattern sabers were also replaced with the more "modern" 1908 pattern. The boys landed at St Nazaire on 11 Feb 1915 and were thus, the first Canadian cavalry unit to set foot in France.
Upon arrival in France, the squadron went by train ("Hommes 40-Chevaux 8") to the Bailleul area, not far west of Ypres. The Canadian Division was promptly placed in the Sailly front. The service squadron and cyclists were required to study Aubers Ridge by looking from a tall mill, and by checking maps, so they would be ready for a rapid advance which was ultimately never to materialize. Following the British attack on Neuve Chappelle, the Dragoons carried out night time patrols in front of the entrenched infantry before being moved to Mount Cassell and ultimately the line, north of Ypres. It was while bivouaced near Trois Tours Chateau on April 22nd that the first German gas attack occurred, and the Dragoons were employed in reconnaissance and defining the enemy following the attack.
The severely gassed and broken French colonial troops had opened up the Canadian left flank and General Turner's Third Brigade had fought valiantly to hold the line. Lt Edmiston was sent to get in contact with General Currie and the Second Brigade and returned with a lengthy report. Following the departure of the Canadian Division from the line, Col Jamieson offered that "about one quarter of the NCO's and troopers and many of the cyclists were taken from the squadron to become officers in the rebuilt Canadian division. The next major front for the Dragoons was at Festubert and Ploegstert (or Plug Street as it was known). Here the Dragoons carried out their reconnaissance duties and established observation posts on the enemy lines.
An interesting letter regarding the condition of the Dragoon horses was sent to the Edmonton Bulletin in 1916 by Captain Tipton. It appears that the original squadron mascot had been replaced by this point by "Miss Alberta"
Glad to be Remembered
France, February 2, 1916
Dear Sir, I have your letter of January 2nd 1916 - And am very pleased to hear from you and know that some at least
think of us.
As you no doubt know, I have never given any letters for publication. However, since you have asked me for a direct
question as to the Alberta horses. I think there would be no objections to your publishing this letter, as it no doubt may be
of interest to some of the Alberta horsemen.
Horses Mostly from Edmonton
Our horses were brought mostly from the Edmonton District, though some came from Calgary district. These horses
stood the trip from Edmonton to Valcartier in good shape. They had no sickness, but unfortunately one horse that broke
loose had to be shot in order to save further trouble in the car. We were 22 days on board ship and never lost a horse.
At Salisbury Plain.
Our stay in England on Salisbury Plain will ever be remembered by the 1st Canadian Division. The conditions under
which we had to work there were worse than Flanders ever was. Our horses likes were simply a sea of mud, still we had
very little sickness among our horses. The last month we were in England we were in the artillery barracks at Bulford and
our horses picked up splendidly and on arrival in France were in A1 shape.
87 P.C. Still in Use, 90 P.C. Alive
Since then our horses have gone through a great deal of hardship, but at present are in splendid condition. Counting
losses through accidental injury, sickness and losses in action we still have a balance of 87 per cent of our original
horses with which, we left Edmonton in August 1914. If we could have got back from the mobile veterinary section
wounded horses that we turned in during the fight at Ypres, we would have over 90 percent of the original lot of Alberta
horses. I may say that the majority of horses that we have cast were remounts.
Horses Bought by Good Men.
Too great credit cannot be given to Major Richard Hardisty (Now of the 49th Battalion) Dr. Grely, Major F. Fane of the 3rd
Canadian Mounted Rifles and the late Colonel Boyle of Crossfield, who selected our original horses.
I think that this record is unique for a cavalry squadron. When you take into consideration the fact that these horses
averaged not less than 15 miles per day, rain or shine, since August 1914.
When I went to the South African War our horses were all from Alberta. They stood the ten-days journey they only had a
short rest before embarking and were 32 days on board ship. We only lost 11 horses out of 618 and the majority of them
were killed during a storm. The remainder stood the trip in good shape.
I have never seen our horses in any better shape than they now are in France, Although they are only getting a ration of
six pounds of hay per day.
Miss. Alberta a War Baby Colt.
I may say our squadron mascot is "Miss Alberta" "A war baby colt" whom we have raised in the service. Personally I think
we could not be better mounted than we are. Alberta horses suit us and all we ask is that our remounts turn out as well
as our original horses we brought from Edmonton. Naturally a cavalryman's first thought is for his horse and I must say
ours are well looked after.
With best wishes, I remain yours truly - Signed J.W. Tipton.
In May 1916, the Dragoons were grouped with the other divisional cavalry squadrons, and the Regiment was known as the Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment. Realizing the unwieldy nature of such a name, the unit was renamed the Canadian Light Horse on 21 February 1917. The Alberta Dragoons became "A" Squadron and, like the other squadrons, was permitted to keep its distinguishing badges. From May to September 1916, the CLH was largely employed repairing and fortifying the trenches and, in September, 240 men were sent to act as stretcher bearers for the 1st Canadian Division. Out of this group, the Dragoons were to lose 18 men with a further 4 wounded. Following this task, several patrols of mounted Dragoons were sent out front of the infantry to re-establish contact with the German forces. One patrol with Cpl Tomlison and Tpr "Nobby" Clark was forced to dismount and with their Colt .45's managed to capture a German officer. On the way back, they were shelled and wounded but Clark still managed to get the prisoner back to friendly lines. At the Somme front in 1918, the CLH busied themselves carrying out dismounted tasks for the majority of the time. It was not until the action at Arras that they mounted back up and joined with Brutinel's Independent Force. During this period, "C" Squadron and "A" Squadron (with "B" Squadron in reserve) were ordered to move forward and capture a road in front of the infantry positions. No 4 Troop, A Sqn, led by Capt Sharp, charged the road with sabers drawn. A first hand excerpt of this exciting action is attached at the bottom of this page! With all horses except one killed, the men pushed on on foot and captured the road as ordered.
Recounted by TA Hazlitt – MMG
I happened to be in this Calvary charge in front of Cambrai. Well old Colonel Leonard was a cavalryman, and he’d never seen cavalry in action. He wrote out a message and gave it to me and told me to take it down to the Major in charge of the two squadrons. So I took it down and when the Major read it he said, "Has the old man gone nuts?"
I said, "I don't know, what does he want?" "We're to charge." I said, "I guess he wants to see a cavalry charge. He's up on the side of the hill up there." He said, "I guess that's all there is to it – what are you going to do?
Well road goes down there and I go with it. So with two squadrons of cavalry down across open country – I went down the road on a motorcycle. So I would say I’m the only man who ever took part to the cavalry charge on a motorcycle.
Recounted by Doug Oliver 18th Bn
They were shot just like sitting ducks off their horses were just soon as they reached the crest of a little knowle.
And then, to add more confusion, somebody got the bright idea that they'd send the cyclist brigades - so the cyclist brigade debouched from the shrubbery around Escaudoeuvres and road gaily down that road in towards Escaudoeuvres and the Germans just let them get there to the town. Then there were more empty cyclist saddles and fellows tumbling their bikes cross country trying to find some cover.
Because mind you trench systems, or virtually I say there, we've got through an open country very much so and the only cover you could really find was in sunken roads.
By November of 1918, the CLH was one of the first units to enter Mons.
Over the course of the war, the 19th Alberta Dragoons had recruited and mobilized over 700 men. Along with the Special Service Squadron, the Dragoons contributed a full company of approximately 120 soldiers to the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles. This company was based on "C" Squadron from Vegreville and was commanded by Maj Frank Fane. The 3rd CMR would fight dismounted in the trenches for approximately one year before eventually being absorbed into other units as casualty replacements. The Dragoons also contributed many men to the 66th Battalion CEF which was broken up for re-enforcements upon arrival in England.
For a detailed look at the war diaries of the 19th Alberta Dragoons and the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles, click here for an external link to the Government of Canada site. Transcribed versions of the Dragoons war diaries (less appendices) are attached at the bottom of this page.
A short but interesting excerpt of the role played by the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers (later to amalgamate with the Dragoons in 1946) during the First World War can be found by clicking here.
NCOs of the Canadian Light Horse - 1919