Saskatchewan Dragoons
Encyclopedia
The Saskatchewan Dragoons is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment
of the Canadian Forces
. The unit is based in Moose Jaw. Their primary job is to assist the Regular Force in meeting Canada's military commitments. Their training and equipment closely follow that of the Regular Force, which the Reserves are called upon to assist increasingly often. The Saskatchewan Dragoons are part of Land Force Western Area
's 38 Canadian Brigade Group
.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
, became colonel-in-chief
of the regiment on visiting Saskatchewan
in 2003, when he congratulated the regiment on its "contribution to Canada's proud tradition of citizen-soldiers in the community". Involved in peacekeeping operations in Cyprus
, the Golan Heights, Bosnia
and Croatia
, members of the regiment have also provided aid during floods and forest fires in the prairies.
Their role is that of a reconnaissance
squadron
. They examine an area in preparation for the advance of a main body of troops. They go forward, sometimes many miles, and gather information on enemy strength, equipment, movements, and intentions. They pass this information, together with other helpful information on such things as bridges, blocked roads, and areas of potential danger, back to higher command so the advance can take place as safely as possible. At the same time they deny such information to the enemy. In the withdrawal, they maintain contact with the enemy while the main body pulls back. Thus, they often speak of their role as "first in last out".
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. The unit is based in Moose Jaw. Their primary job is to assist the Regular Force in meeting Canada's military commitments. Their training and equipment closely follow that of the Regular Force, which the Reserves are called upon to assist increasingly often. The Saskatchewan Dragoons are part of Land Force Western Area
Land Force Western Area
Land Force Western Area is one of four operational commands of the Canadian Army. LFWA is responsible for all Canadian Army administration and operations in western Canada from the Pacific Ocean to Thunder Bay, Ontario...
's 38 Canadian Brigade Group
38 Canadian Brigade Group
38 Canadian Brigade Group is composed of all Canadian Forces' Primary Reserve Army units in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Western Ontario East to Thunder Bay. 38 CBG is part of Land Force Western Area. Geographically, 38 CBG is Canada's largest brigade group.-Brigade Units:-External links:* official...
.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
, became colonel-in-chief
Colonel-in-Chief
In the various Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel of the Regiment. They do not have an operational role. They are however kept informed of all important activities of the regiment, and pay occasional visits to its...
of the regiment on visiting Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
in 2003, when he congratulated the regiment on its "contribution to Canada's proud tradition of citizen-soldiers in the community". Involved in peacekeeping operations in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, the Golan Heights, Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, members of the regiment have also provided aid during floods and forest fires in the prairies.
Their role is that of a reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
. They examine an area in preparation for the advance of a main body of troops. They go forward, sometimes many miles, and gather information on enemy strength, equipment, movements, and intentions. They pass this information, together with other helpful information on such things as bridges, blocked roads, and areas of potential danger, back to higher command so the advance can take place as safely as possible. At the same time they deny such information to the enemy. In the withdrawal, they maintain contact with the enemy while the main body pulls back. Thus, they often speak of their role as "first in last out".
History
Originally formed in 1913 as The 60th Rifles of Canada, the regiment went through numerous name changes, including the King's Own Rifles of Canada, before acquiring its current name in 1958.| 1905 | Regt of inf. authorized | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 95th Regt | |||||
| 1909 | 95th Saskatchewan Rifles | |||||
| 1912 | 95th Saskatchewan Rifles | 105th Regt North Saskatchewan Regiment The North Saskatchewan Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces, headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with companies in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Its current commanding officer is Lieutenant-Colonel Dan Whittaker, who took over from Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm... |
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| 1913 | 60th Rifles of Canada | |||||
| 1914 | 46th Bn, CEF 46th Battalion, CEF 46th Battalion, CEF is battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Saskatchewan Dragoons perpetuated the 46th Battalion, CEF.... |
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| 1915 | 128th "Overseas" Bn, CEF 128th Battalion, CEF The 128th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in that city and the surrounding district. After sailing to England in August 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 15th... |
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| 1917 | Absorbed by 19th Reserve Bn, CEF | |||||
| 1920 | 1st Bn, The South Saskatchewan Regt | Disbanded | 2nd Bn, The South Saskatchewan Regt | 3rd Bn, The South Saskatchewan Regt | 4th Bn, The South Saskatchewan Regt | 5th Bn, The South Saskatchewan Regt |
| 1924 | The Regina Rifle Regt | The South Saskatchewan Regt | The Weyburn Regt | The Assiniboia Regt | The Saskatchewan Border Regt | |
| The King's Own Rifles of Canada | ||||||
| B Coy, 12th Machine Gun Bn, CMGC Canadian Machine Gun Corps The Canadian Machine Gun Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade was organized in the Permanent Force on 3 Nov 1919. The Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade was redesignated the Royal Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade on 16 Jun 1921... |
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| 1936 | The King's Own Rifles of Canada (MG) | |||||
| 1942 | 1st Bn, The King's Own Rifles of Canada, CASF | 2nd Bn, The King's Own Rifles of Canada | ||||
| 1946 | Disbanded | 20th (Saskatchewan) Armoured Regt, RCAC | ||||
| 1949 | 20th Saskatchewan Armoured Regt | |||||
| 1954 | The Saskatchewan Dragoons (20th Armoured Regt) | |||||
| 1958 | The Saskatchewan Dragoons | |||||
| 1970 | Restricted to one sqn | |||||