Armstrong Ashcroft Athalmer Banff Blairmore Calgary Chase Coldstream Cranbrook Creston Elko Enderby Fernie Fort Steele Golden Grand Forks Hosmer Kamloops Kaslo Kelowna Kimberley Langley Prairie Lethbridge Lower Nicola Lumby Lytton Merritt Michel Nelson Penticton Prince George Quesnel Revelstoke Rossland Salmon Arm Trail Vancouver Vernon Victoria Walhachin Whitehorse Williams Lake
1
Militia General Orders (G.O.)
G.O. 67 / 1898, 1 July 1898.
This General Order also authorized the formation of the "Vernon
Mounted Rifles" with its headquarters in Vernon, however, it was never stood
up. A comprehensive review of
the reasons why this did not happen - and the vicissitudes of organizing
Militia units in the 19th century - are contained in the first chapter of
R.H. Roy's "Sinews of Steel (The History of the British Columbia Dragoons)".
While reference to the "Vernon Mounted Rifles" is included in the
Militia List in the editions of 1st October 1898, 1st January 1899, 1st
April 1899 and 1st July 1899, no mention of this unit is made in the 1st
October 1899 and subsequent editions.
2
G.O. 130 / 1899,
1 December 1899. It should
be noted that prior to 1914 the peace establishment of an infantry company
consisted of only 42 officers and men, commanded by a Captain.
As a rule there were eight such companies in a Canadian Militia
infantry battalion. (G.O. 58 /
1907, 2 April 1907 - see also
A and
B as this order had to be broken up to display)
By comparison, the war establishment of one of the eight rifle
companies in the Canadian Militia Field Formations in 1914 was 120 all
ranks. This would change in the
late fall of that year when the four company structure was adopted and there
would be 240 all ranks in each company. (Love, D.W.
A Call To Arms: The Organization and Administration of Canada's
Military In World War One
(Winnipeg: 1919) pp. 21 and 25 to 26)
3
G.O.172 / 1904,
1 December 1904
4
G.O. 59 / 1908,
1 April 1908
5
G.O. 64 / 1908,
1 April 1908
7
G.O. 123 / 1908,
1 June 1908
8
The change from numeric designation of companies in 'rural
regiments' of infantry was authorized by
G.O. 29 / 1907, 1 March 1907.
"The Quarterly Militia List of the Dominion of Canada - Corrected to
1st January, 1907" shows infantry companies as
"No. 1 Co.", "No. 2 Co.", etc., and the change is reflected in the next
edition of this list (Corrected to 1st April 1907) where companies are shown
as
"a Co.", "b Co.", etc.
9
G.O. 59 / 1908,
1 April 1908
10 G.O. 64 / 1908, 1 April 1908. There were 76 officers and men in the establishment of an independent cavalry squadron (G.O. 58 / 1907, 2 April 1907 - see also (A), (B).
11
G.O. 119 / 1908,
1 June 1908
12
G.O. 75 / 1909,
1 June 1909
13
G.O. 73 / 1909,
1 June 1909
14
G.O. 40 / 1910,
1 April 1910
15
G.O. 38 / 1910,
1 April 1910
16 G.O. 39 / 1910, 1 April 1910
17
G.O. 52 / 1911,
1 April 1911
18
G.O. 199 / 1911,
1 December 1911
19 G.O. 198 / 1911, 1 December 1911
20 G.O. 39 / 1912, 1 April 1912
21
G.O. 74 / 1912,
15 April 1912
22
G.O. 40 / 1912,
1 March 1912
23
"Wallachin" is the spelling used by both General Orders and the
Quarterly Militia Lists, but a query to either the
Natural Resources Canada / Geomatics
Canada website or the
BC Geographical Names Information System website will result in a reply
of "No records exist or your query was incorrectly typed".
The Commanding Officer of the 31st Regiment, British Columbia Horse,
in his post-Great War unit history refers to "Walhachin" (Flick, Lieutenant
Colonel C.L. A Short History Of
The 31st British Columbia Horse.
(Victoria: 1922) pp. 13-14.).
Walhachin is presently an unincorporated area to the West of Kamloops
on the Thompson River.
24
G.O. 40 / 1912,
1 March 1912
26
G.O. 157 / 1912,
3 September 1912
27
G.O. 158 / 1912,
3 September 1912
28
G.O. 159 / 1912,
3 September 1912
29
GO. 103 / 1912,
1 June 1912
30
G.O. 67 / 1913,
15 April 1913
31
G.O. 138 / 1913,
15 August 1913
32
G.O. 180 / 1913,
15 August 1913
33
G.O. 42 / 1914,
16 March 1914
34
G.O. 150 / 1914,
15 September 1914
35
G.O. 202 / 1914,
15 December 1914
36
G.O. 80a / 1914,
1 May 1914. A map showing the
battalion organization is here.
Map. It should be noted that
these orders are backdated and were issued in August 1914 after the start of
the First World War.
37
G.O. 179 / 1914,
2 November 1914
38
G.O. 51 / 1915,
15 April 1915
39
G.O. 41 / 1917,
16 April 1917. The transfer
was authorized with effect from 19 November 1914.
40
G.O. 8 / 1915,
6 February 1915
41
G.O. 138a / 1915,
15 November 1915
42
G.O. 33 / 1916,
1 April 1916
43
Information
drawn from "The Quarterly Militia List of the Dominion of Canada
(corrected to 1st January 1918)"
44
Goodspeed, D.J., Lieutenant-Colonel, ed.
The Armed Forces of Canada 1867 - 1967 A Century of Achievement
(Ottawa, 1967), p. 93. The
peace establishment of the Militia was to be over 140,000.
45
An example of this change is found at
G.O. 185 / 1920, 1 November 1920, that states, in part: "Reserve
Regiments will not, for the present, be limited in establishment, either in
Officers, Warrant Officers, N.C.O.'s or Other Ranks."
46
G.O. 26 / 1920,
15 March 1920
47 Ibid.
48
G.O. 30 / 1920,
15 March 1920
49 Ibid.
50
G.O. 30 / 1922,
15 February 1922
51
G.O. 184 / 1920,
1 November 1920, directed that cavalry regiments would consist of three
sabre squadrons.
52
G.O. 43 / 1922,
1 March 1922, lists only the headquarters, "A" and "B" squadrons of the
1st Regiment, B.C.M.R
53
G.O. 122 / 1922,
1 July 1922, authorized the localization of "C" Squadron in Penticton.
55
G.O. 34 / 1929,
15 March 1929
56
G.O. 135 / 1921,
1 May 1921, lists only the headquarters, "A" and "C" squadrons of 5
Horse - the localization of "B" Squadron was not detailed.
57 This is the result of comparing Quarterly Militia Lists to General Orders of the early 1920s. As stated, G.O. 135 / 1921 lists only “A” Squadron in Kamloops and “C” Squadron in Merritt. Throughout its history, “A” Squadron served in Kamloops. The Militia Lists of the Dominion of Canada for 1922 and 1924 show “B” Squadron in Merritt and “C” Squadron in Langley Prairie (the 1923 edition of the list has not been found). The 1925 Militia List (corrected to 31 December 1924), however, shows “B” Squadron in Vancouver and “C” Squadron in Merritt. It is assumed that the change of sub-unit titles and the move of the squadron in Langley Prairie to Vancouver were associated – noting that during the First World War the squadron in Vancouver was “B” and the one in Langley Prairie was “C”. The reallocation of squadron titles in 1924 would then be on an historical basis, with the squadron in Merritt continuing to be the ‘junior’ squadron of the regiment.
58
G.O. 151 / 1932,
15 November 1932
59
G.O. 43 / 1922,
1 March 1922
60
G.O. 146 / 1928,
1 August 1928
61
G.O. 43 / 1922,
1 March 1922
62
G.O. 3 / 1933,
15 January 1933
63
G.O. 119 / 1934,
1 January 1934
64
Goodspeed, op. cit., p. 95.
The peace establishment was to be 86,000.
(Nicholson, G.W.L. The
Gunners of Canada - The History of The Royal Regiment Of Canadian Artillery,
Volume II 1919 - 1967.
(Toronto, 1972), p. 595.
65
G.O. 177 / 1936,
5 December 1936
66
G.O. 178 / 1936,
5 December 1936
67
G.O. 168 / 1936,
1 December 1936
68
Regimental Headquarters moved back to Vernon with effect from 7
August 1940 (G.O.
211 / 1940, 19 September 1940)
69 This localization is detailed in G.O. 122 / 1937, 22 July 1937. See footnote 64 above.
70
G.O. 75 / 1939, 1 June 1939
71
This localization of the 24th (Kootenay) Field Brigade, R.C.A.
was authorized by
G.O. 197 / 1936, 9 December 1936.
72
This designation was authorized by
G.O. 60 / 1938, 1 May 1938.
73 It
should be noted that G.O. 168 / 1936,
1 December 1936, authorized the 'localization' of the headquarters of
The Rocky Mountain Rangers to Salmon Arm effective 15 December 1936, but it
was moved back to Kamloops with effect from 6 October 1937 by
G.O. 182 / 1937 (15 December 1937)
74
G.O. 135 / 1939, 1 September 1939 lists over 400 serials at
"Schedule 'D' - Schedule of Corps Named to Form Part of the Active Militia
and to Form the Canadian Active Service Force",
The 111th Field Battery is at serial 17, the 108th Field Battery (H)
at serial 82, the 109th Field Battery at serial 167 and the 107th Field
Battery at serial 216.
75
G.O. 236 / 1941,
1 October 1941
76 Roy,
R.H. Sinews of Steel - The
History of The British Columbia Dragoons.
(Brampton, Ontario, 1965), p. 443.
77
G.O. 194 / 1941,
4 September 1941
78
G.O. 52 / 1943,
29 January 1943
79
G.O. 156 / 1943,
16 April 1943
80
G.O. 115 / 1946,
13 May 1946
81
G.O. 116 / 1946,
13 May 1946
82 Goodspeed, op. cit., p. 213.
"... a Reserve Force of approximately 180,000 all ranks was proposed.
This would provide six divisions, four armoured brigades and
necessary corps and army troops for an army of two corps."
83
For example, the 8th Provost Company was stood up in Vancouver
with sections in Victoria and Vernon.
84
On 04 February 1949, the 9th Reconnaissance Regiment (The British
Columbia Dragoons) was redesignated "The British Columbia Dragoons (9th
Reconnaissance Regiment)". On
19 May 1958, The British Columbia Dragoons (9th Reconnaissance Regiment) was
redesignated "The British Columbia Dragoons"
(The Regiments and Corps of the Canadian Army (Volume I of the
Canadian Army List), 1964)
85 The date of the of the move of the Regimental Headquarters from Cranbrook is not known. G.O. 143 / 1946, 1 June 1946 advised that effective 31st March 1946 "Locations and changes of locations (of units and sub-units) will not, therefore, be notified as heretofore in General Orders." The Canadian Army Command and Location List (300-5-46 (9223) H.Q.S. 8948-2, 20 Mar 46) shows the Headquarters, 24th Field Regiment in Trail.
86
CAO 76-3 (Supplement Issue 48/62) dated 23rd February 1948
87
On 01 April 1946, the 108th Field Battery (Howitzer) was converted and
redesignated (by
G.O. 115 / 1946 – see footnote 80 above) "108th Anti-Tank
Battery (Self-Propelled), RCA" and allocated to the Calgary-based 41st
Anti-Tank Regiment (Self-Propelled), RCA.
In 1951 it was decided to move this battery to Banff, Alberta.
The battery would be included in the organization of the "41st" until
this unit was amalgamated with two others in 1954 to form the "South Alberta
Light Horse" (CAO 76-3 (Part "B" Supplement to Canadian Army Orders - Issue
415) dated 29 Nov 54).
88
As shown in "The Canadian Army List, 1st Edition, Part II -
Reserve Force, 1 July, 1948"
89
Except where otherwise noted, the reference for the location of
companies and platoons of The Rocky Mountain Rangers is from the appropriate
annual historical report submitted by that unit.
90 SD1 Letter No 58/64, 15 Sep 58
93
Army Headquarters HQC 2001-603/R8 (SD 1A) dated 26 February 1964
94
SD 1 Letter No 58/64, 15 Sep 58
95
SD 1 Letter 64/53 dated 26 Nov 65 - BC Area
96 The Canadian Army List, 1st Edition, Part II – Reserve Force, 1 July, 1948. A good description of the post Second World War reorganization of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers is found in Chapter XII of K.J. Holmes’ “The History of the Canadian Military Engineers: Volume III, to 1971”. In 1947 the Reserve Force sapper units' organizational basis was changed from a divisional engineer structure to one consisting primarily of field engineer regiments. Ten field engineer regiments were formed – six to support the Reserve Force divisions and four to be corps troops – each consisting of three field squadrons and one field park squadron. 44th Field Squadron in Trail became part of the 7th Field Engineer Regiment, along with 6th Field Squadron in North Vancouver, 22nd Field Squadron in New Westminster and the 54th Field Park Squadron in Vancouver (Regimental Headquarters was in Vancouver). As noted above, the “17th” was organized as an independent unit, but became part of the 8th Field Engineer Regiment in the 1950s. Other than the 17th Field Squadron, the 8th Field Engineer Regiment was located in southern Alberta with its headquarters in Lethbridge.
97
Annual Historical Report of the 44th Field Engineer Squadron RCE
CA (RF), Trail, B.C., 31 March 1949
98
Holmes, Kenneth John,
The History of the Canadian Military Engineers: Volume III, to 1971.
(Toronto, 1997), p.254.
100
Nicholson, op. cit., p. 596.
101
"Inter sub Headquarters, 24 Militia Group" commenced operations
effective 1 October 1961.
102 CAO 110-3 (Part "B" Supplement to Canadian Army Orders - Issue 744) dated 15 Apr 63
104 CAO
76-3 (Part "B" Supplement to Canadian Army Orders - Issue 62) dated 23rd
February 1948
105
18th Field Regiment (Self Propelled) "Annual Historical Report
for the Year Ending 31 December 1958"
106 CAO
76-3 (Part "B" Supplement to Canadian Army Orders - Issue 458) dated 26
Sep 55
108 CAO
76-3 (Part "B" Supplement to Canadian Army Orders - Issue 670) dated 13
Jun 60
109 CAO 76-3 (Part "B" Supplement to Canadian
Army Orders - Issue 740) dated 18 Feb 63
110
Report of the Commission on the Reorganization of the Canadian
Army (Militia) (Appendix A, Part I), (Ottawa, 1964) pp. 42-45.
111
The militia's strength in 1964 was approximately 45,000.
Goodspeed, op. cit., pp. 218-219.
112
Report of the Commission on the Reorganization of the Canadian
Army (Militia) (Part II), (Ottawa, 1964) pp. 7-10.
113
SD 1 Letter 64/53 dated 26 November 1965
114
The "Report of the
Commission on the Reorganization of the Canadian Army (Militia) (Part II)"
contains three appendices to Annex A that show:
* "Present Militia
Order of Battle by Areas" (this appendix lists, inter alia, units,
locations, their accommodation, etc)
* "Militia
Headquarters, Units and Sub-Units to be Relocated, Transferred to
Supplementary Order of Battle or Disbanded"
* "Reorganized Militia
Order of Battle"
115
The Suttie Commission proposals, where implemented, were promulgated
by SD 1 Letter 64/53 dated 26 November 1965
116
CFOO (CA) 66/15 "Organization CA (M) - The British Columbia Dragoons"
(CFHQ F 1901-0003/1 Vol 4 (DO) dated 24 November 1966)
117
Staff Duties Letter No 64/53;
118
This Field Troop was relocated to Trail effective 1 April 1968
(CFOO 68/8, CFHQ F 1901-0003/1 (DO) 28 February 1968).
120 A recommendation of the Suttie Commission at Serial 30 of Appendix 2 to Annex A to Part II of its report, but not included in the relevant Staff Duties Letter.
121
CFOO (CA) 67/10 "Organization CA (M) 8th Field Engineer Regiment,
RCE" (CFHQ F 1901-0402/8 (DO) dated 8 June 1967)
122
CFOO 68/51 "Organization - The Militia" (CFHQ F 1901-0189 (DO)
over F 1901-5058 (DO) over F 1901-6164 (DO) dated 25 November 1968)
123
The Mortar Platoon was relocated from Merritt to Kamloops
effective 1 April 1968 (Canadian Forces Organization Order 68/8, CFHQ F
1901-0003/1 (DO), 28 February, 1968)
124
Canadian Forces Organization Order (CA) 65/3 "Organization - CA
(M) Unit Bands" (CFHQ F 5050-0003/1 (DO) dated 26 May 1965)
125
According to the "Brief History of the Reserve Force" (V 3120-27 TD 1057 (D
Prog C) dated 4 October 1971) the combined establishment strength for the
Naval Reserve, the Militia and the Air Reserve was to be reduced to
approximately 23,000 subject to a budgetary limitation of 19,200.
The Militia's paid strength would therefore become something in the
area of 16,000 members. The
strength of the Militia in 1969 totaled 23,500.
126 The Rocky Mountain Rangers is NOT included in the
list of units with authorized bands as detailed in Canadian Forces
Organization Order 70/10 "Organization - Reserve Force - Militia Bands"
dated 1 May, 1970
127 The
Kamloops and Revelstoke companies were re-titled "A" and "B" respectively.
128 “B” Coy relocated from Revelstoke to Salmon Arm effective 4 Jul 78 under authority of Milarea Vancouver Log C216 262215Z JUL 78” (Annual Historical Report – 1979, RMR 2900-1, dated 31 May 1979) and in 1998 it was moved to Kamloops, but no longer manned.
