Canadian Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron

A Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron was attached to each Cavalry Brigade. It was formed from the Machine Gun Sections of a Cavalry Regiment. It formed part of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps.

Brigade attached to:Canadian Cavalry Brigade
Division attached to:5th Cavalry Division
3rd Cavalry Division (from 13 March 1918)
Formed from the Machine Gun Sections of: Royal Canadian Dragoons
Lord Strathconn’s Horse
Fort Garry Horse

The Canadian Cavalry Brigade was transferred complete from the 5th Cavalry Division on 13 March 1918.

As a unit of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.

1918
21 to 27 March and 01 to 05 AprilBATTLES OF THE SOMME
21 to 23 MarchBattle of St. Quentin [III. Corps, Fifth Army].
24 and 25 MarchActions at the Somme Crossings [XVIII. Corps, Fifth Army].
04 and 05 AprilBattle of the Avre [XIX. Corps, Fourth Army].
THE ADVANCE TO VICTORY
08 to 11 AugustBattle of Amiens
BATTLES OF THE HINDENBURG LINE
08 and 09 OctoberBattle of Cambrai [Cav. Corps, Fourth Army].
09 to 12 OctoberThe Pursuit to the Selle [Cav. Corps, Third and Fourth Armies].
09 to 11 NovemberTHE FINAL ADVANCE IN FLANDERS [Cav. Corps, Second Army].

On the 11th November, the leading troops of the 3rd Cavalry Division had reached the line of the Dendre at Leuze and Lessines. That night the division was withdrawn to the east of the Schelde near Tournai. Instructions were received on the 15th that the 3rd Cavalry Division (moving on the left of the front allotted to the Cavalry Corps) would cover the advance of the Second Army. On the 17th, the division moved forward, on the 21st its headquarters were established at Waterloo, and the 6th Brigade (in which was the 1/Royal Dragoons) marched across the old battlefield. Transport difficulties prevented more than one cavalry division accompanying the Second Army, so the 3rd Cavalry Division remained to pass the winter in Belgium.

Beginning in December, demobilization was gradually carried out. On the 31st March, 1919, the 3rd Cavalry Division ceased to exist, and its place was taken (for administrative purposes) by the 3rd Cavalry Division Cadre Brigade.


Strength

As of 11 November, 1918, the Canadian M.G. Squadron consisted of 12 Officers and 220 Other Ranks, with 12 Vickers MGs.


Sources

2 thoughts on “Canadian Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron

  1. This was great too read

    1. Thank you Walter.

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