The British Columbia Dragoons trace their origins to the formation of the
Canadian Mounted Rifles, two independent squadrons of horse in Kamloops and Vernon in 1908. In 1910 two additional squadrons were raised and the regiment was renamed the
British Columbia Horse. In 1912 the unit was reorganized into two separate regiments: the
30th Regiment, British Columbia Horse and the
31st Regiment, British Columbia Horse (later known as the
British Columbia Hussars). 1914 saw the formation of the Victoria Independent Squadron on
Vancouver Island.
First World War , Cardiff, died 19 November 1917. In the
Great War the regiment was not mobilized, but in December 1914 many volunteers from the regiment joined the newly formed 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles. After some limited service in France as cavalry, the unit was reroled to infantry as
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion on January 1, 1916. The battalion became part of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and fought with great luck and success on the
Western Front. Despite being trained as cavalry but deployed as infantry, the regiment managed the war well. Captain
"Jock" MacGregor was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions taken in the battle at
Cambrai on September 29, 1918. The actions and awards of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles are perpetuated today by the British Columbia Dragoons, their direct descendants. The British Columbia Dragoons perpetuate the following units of the
Canadian Expeditionary Force: •
2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles • 11th Regiment,
Canadian Mounted Rifles 1920s–1930s In the post-war reorganization, the regiment was renamed
The British Columbia Mounted Rifles in 1920, and then to the name still carried today,
The British Columbia Dragoons in 1929. Part of the reason for the change was to forever divorce the regiment from infantry duties.
Second World War When the
Second World War loomed, the regiment was designated the 5th Motorcycle Regiment (BCD), and later an armoured car unit. Finally made into an armoured regiment, the 9th Armoured Regiment (BCD), they were deployed to Italy as part of the 5th Armoured Brigade,
5th Canadian (Armoured) Division. The regiment saw heavy action in the Liri Valley, were the first unit to break through the
Gustav Line in Italy, 1944, and helped smash the
Gothic Line, holding Point 204 right in the centre of the line. They continued to fight until orders were given to move the regiment to
North West Europe with the British-led
21st Army Group. They served with distinction until the end of the war, at which point the regiment was demobilized and returned to
Militia service.
Post war to present The regiment has since seen many ups and downs, with losses of manpower and funding, hostile popular attitudes, and the ever-changing nature of Canada. The 1970s and 1980s saw the deployment of individual members to Cyprus as part of the UN operations there as part of larger Canadian formations. The 1990s and the new century has seen numerous members deploy to Bosnia as part of NATO operations with the
Implementation Force and the
Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regimental service personnel served overseas as part of NATO operations with the
International Security Assistance Force (to 2014) in Afghanistan, and
Operation Impact in the Middle East as well as on
Operation Reassurance in Latvia, and on
Operation Unifier in Ukraine prior to the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. == Lineage ==