On 1 April 1908, the British Columbia Horse was authorized to be formed. It had independent squadrons based at
Kamloops,
Vernon and
Lower Nicola. On 1 April 1911, four more squadrons were authorized to be raised for the BC Horse in order to create two regiments of four squadrons each. Later that same year on 1 December 1911, these two regiments were formed and designated as the
1st Regiment, British Columbia Horse (now
The British Columbia Dragoons) and the
2nd Regiment, British Columbia Horse. The Regimental Headquarters of the 2nd BC Horse were first established at
Meritt and had squadrons based at Kamloops,
Salmon Arm,
Wallachin and Merritt. On 15 April 1912, the 2nd BC Horse was redesignated as the
31st Regiment, British Columbia Horse. On 1 November 1920, as a result of the Canadian Militia reorganization following the
Otter Commission, the 31st Regiment British Columbia Horse was redesignated as the
5th British Columbia Light Horse. On 15 August 1932, they were again redesignated as the
British Columbia Hussars. A few years later in March 1934, they relocated to
Vancouver and were based at the
Bessborough Armoury which they shared with the
15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. On 15 December 1936, as part of the 1936 Canadian Militia reorganization, the
British Columbia Hussars were amalgamated with the Headquarters and
“B” Company of the 11th Machine Gun Battalion and Redesignated as the
British Columbia Hussars (Armoured Car), becoming one of three designated armoured car regiments in the pre-war Canadian Militia. On 15 May 1939, the British Columbia Hussars were converted to artillery and redesignated as the 1st Searchlight Regiment,
Royal Canadian Artillery. As part of the coastal artillery defences of
Vancouver the searchlight regiment worked closely with the
15th (Vancouver) Coast Regiment, RCA and other units. == Organization ==