The Governor General's Horse Guards

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=The Governor General's Horse Guards


caption=Cap Badge of the Governor General's Horse Guards
dates=1810-Present
country=Canada
branch=Militia
type=Household Cavalry
role=Armoured Reconnaissance
size=One Regiment
command_structure=Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
garrison=Toronto
current_commander=LCol Shawn Matheson, CD
ceremonial_chief=HM The Queen
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment=HE The Governor General
honorary colonel=Col Peter W Hunter, CD
nickname=Gugga Huggas "or" Gee-Gees
motto="Nulli Secundus"
(Latin: Second to None)
"Honi soit qui mal y pense"
(Norman: Shame to him who thinks evil of it)
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Tactical Recognition Flash
march=March - "Men of Harlech"
Trot - "Keel Row"
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The Governor General's Horse Guards is an armoured reconnaissance regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. Based in Toronto, it is the most senior reserve regiment in Canada, and the only Household Cavalry regiment of Canada's three Household units. They are the Amoured equilent to the Governor General's Foot Guards.

tructure

The regiment maintains a traditional structure, with squadrons for combat, training, ceremony, administration, and youth engagement.

A Squadron

The Field Squadron is tasked to maintain no fewer than two armoured reconnaissance troops, using the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

B Squadron

The Training Squadron develops soldiers to serve in their respective roles. This includes personal development through the completion of preliminary trade courses (BMQ/SQ/DP1&2), and playing the role of an enemy opposing force against the Field Squadron in unit-level training field exercises.

Cavalry Squadron

The Cavalry Squadron provides a horse-mounted presence at public and regimental events.

Regimental Support Group

The RSG provides leadership and administrative support.

Band

The full brass and reed military band provides concerts and music for regimental functions. The band includes three specialized musical sub-units: the Fanfare Trumpeters, the Brass Quintet, and the Woodwind Quintet.

Battle honours

*North West Canada 1885, South Africa 1900
*World War I: Mount Sorrel, Somme 1916, Flers-Courcelette, Ancre Heights, Arras 1917 '18, Vimy 1917, Hill 70, Ypres 1917, Passchendaele, Amiens, Scarpe 1918, Hindenburg Line, Canal du Nord, Cambrai 1918, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1915-18
*Second World War: Liri Valley, Melfa Crossing, Gothic Line, Lamone Crossing, Misano Ridge, Fosso Munio, Italy 1944-45, Ijsselmeer, North-West Europe 1945

Lineage

*Button's Troop - 1810
*Denison's Troop - 1822
*Governor General's Body Guard - 1866
*The Mississauga Horse - 1901
*The Governor General's Horse Guards - 1936 (formed by amalgamation of the Governor General's Body Guard and the Mississauga Horse)

Affiliated Regiment

*The Royal Canadian Dragoons

Alliances

*GBR - The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)
*GBR - 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

Perpetuating

*Governor General's Body Guards
*4th Canadian Mounted Rifles (CEF)
*7th Canadian Mounted Rifles (CEF)
*216th Battalion (CEF)
*Mississauga Horse

Notable members

* HNR Jackman, Honorary Colonel
* TW Holmes, Victoria Cross honorand
* [http://www.maharaj.org/cavalry.shtml AAM Maharaj] Cavalier
* [http://www.yorku.ca/cjv/db/view.php?pid=227 S Rose] Trooper
* [http://www.warchronicle.com/canadian_third_div/soldierstories_wwii/hester.htm D Hester] Bugler

ee also

*Household Division
*Household Cavalry
*Governor General's Foot Guards
*Canadian Grenadier Guards
*Canadian Guards

External links

* [http://www.militaryheritage.com/gghg.htm History and Uniform of the Governor General's Horse Guards, 1822 to 1970]
* [http://www.army.dnd.ca/gghg/ Official web site]

References

* "The Governor General's Horse Guards - Second to None", John Marteinson & Scott Duncan, 2002, Robin Brass Studio Books, ISBN 1-896941-28-1
* "Historical Record of the Governor General's Body Guard and its Standing Orders", Frederick Denison, 1876, Hunter, Rose, & Co

Order of precedence

"Note:" The Governor General's Horse Guards is first in precedence of Reserve regiments. Regular regiments maintain a separate precedence list.