CMR Units

emblem or field patch

Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group

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Component:

Canadian Mounted Rifles

Active Dates:

Contributors:

rlaughton; Donald Bondy, Chris Wight

Theatre of Operations:

Major Battles:

Location of War Diaries:

	Library and Archives Canada (WD Link)
	CEFSG War Diary Transcription (in progress = IP)

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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.

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, 19^th Alberta Dragoons
C Squadron from 3rd and 4th Division Cavalry both supplied by 16^th 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.

Sub-Components:

Primary References:

	Stewart, C. H. 1970. "Overseas" The Lineages and Insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914 -1919. Little & Stewart, Mission Press, Toronto, Canada.
	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:

Nicholson, G. W. L. 1962. Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919. Queens Printer and Controller of Stationary, Ottawa, Canada.

Internet References:

This Page Last Updated On:

Tuesday January 29, 2008 01:17:05 PM -0800