Lieutenant-Colonel R.H.F. Back
6th Armoured (1st Hussars) Regiment

We’re playing for keeps and we have to be a crack outfit. We know what those German panzers can do and we’ve been training ourselves accordingly. I’ve been to England. I’ve seen the Canadian troops in England and I would say this armored division won’t take second place to any of them.

(Ottawa Citizen, 24 Nov 1941, 24)

Born in London, Ontario on 27 May 1905, Ronald Henry Franklin Back was commissioned in the 1st Hussars in 1927 and promoted to major in 1938. After a six month attachment to the British Armoured Corps for training, he returned to Canada in March 1941. The next month he assumed command of the 6th Armoured Regiment, which had been redesignated from the 1st Hussars. He replaced Lieutenant-Colonel A.C. Spender on his promotion to command the 2nd Army Tank Brigade.

In October 1941, the Hussars along with the 1st Armoured Brigade embarked for England. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time and we’re finally on our way,” Back stated. “You know, we were originally slated for the 1st Division, but the additional time has done use a world of good.” Although official in command for over three years, his tenure had several interruptions due to illness and a temporary assignment to command 3rd Army Tank Brigade. Back relinquished command of the 6th Armoured Regiment in August 1943 on appointment to a reinforcement depot. He was replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel R.J. Colwell, former commanding officer of the Halifax Rifles.

Back retired from the army in 1946 and returned to civilian work as head of a photographic stock house. He died in London, Ontario on 15 October 1962.