Description
Physical description
badge
A rectangle of maroon wool on which embroidered in gold the sans-serif legend 6H, with no stops between.
Label
The badge is the 5 Division formation sign with the abbreviated name title of the unit embroidered over. This particular badge dates from the period February 1941 to January 1943, after which date the unit was disbanded (see below).
The lettering is yellow to denote an unbrigaded, Divisional Troops unit.
For a summary history of 5 Division's patches, see INS 17.
Unit history: in 1939 this Montreal-based Regiment was one of seventeen militia cavalry units. It appears to have converted to armoured cars at some stage and was assigned to the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps in January 1941. It was mobilized on 27 February 1941, but apparently as a representative squadron rather than a full unit. The squadron was assigned as the HQ Squadron of 5th Armoured Division and went with the Division to the UK in November 1941. They retained their separate identity, also presumably their own cap badge, until January 1943. At this time there were significant changes to armoured divisional organisation and the Hussars were disbanded, the personnel largely absorbed into the generality of Divisional HQ.
Retaining a unit identity through representative sub-units was not unique to this unit, and was a practice well represented in 5 Division. It reflected a perceived need to ensure that as many units as possible of the militia were represented in active combat units.
The 15th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars) served with the Reserve Army.
Formation history: For a summary history of 5 Division see INS 17.
History note
Associated person: John Tiffin Murray Stewart b. 1917, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. d. 6 August 1964, 47 yrs., heart attack. Service record: Gunner M 4044 RCA. 1942: Reg. H2, HQ RCA, 1st Administration Corps. RCA CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) 1st Division. 1943: Reg. H3, 3rd Field Regt. RCA CASF 1st Division. 1944: 1st A Wing. No. 1 CARU (Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit).
Family history: 11 December 1942, married Elfreda Joan, nee Knight, at Congregational Church West Wickham, Kent. 15 June 1945, returned Canada. 27 June 1946, joined by family (on board 'Letitia'). August 1948, all family return to UK ('Queen Mary'). Moved to family home, Cavendish Way, West Wickham, Kent. Subsequently bought house, Oak Avenue, Shirley, Croydon.
History note
Bibliographic sources: CANADA'S ARMY IN WORLD WAR II: Badges and Histories of the Corps and Regiments. F. R. Tripp. Unitrade Press, Toronto, 1983
On centre of badge
6H