Lieutenant-Colonel V.W. Hugman
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Hussars)

 The Col., an old 17th man, took over control of the unit over two years ago, in this country. He was always regarded as a keen strategist, and highly esteemed by men of the regiment. Security forbids the mention of his new post, but, as he said when he left, “No matter where I am I will always think of the Regiment–I could always count on it in any emergency—a great unit to command.”

(“C” Squadron Freebooter, 25 Mar 1944)

Born in Quebec on 7 January 1907, Victor Wellesley Hugman was a tennis player, horseman, and graduate of McGill University. He had joined the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars in 1926 and rose to the rank of major. With the promotions of Lieutenant-Colonel C.B. Price and Major C.F. Smith in late 1939, Hugman was named second-in-command. Although the Hussars mobilized in May 1940, Hugman was assigned to staff duties with the 5th Infantry Brigade and later the Canadian Armoured Corps.

Overseas, Hugman reunited with the 17th Hussars, by then redesignated 7th Reconnaissance Regiment. In March 1942, he succeeded Smith who had been recalled to Canada. Hugman commanded and trained the regiment for exactly the next two years. He performed well in exercises, but his future war service would be in staff duties not in combat command. During his final inspection of the unit on 7 March 1944, the war diary recorded:

Commanding Officer stopped to shake hands and say goodbye to some of the older members of the Hussars. He thanked these me for their efforts and wished them the best of luck in the future … In closing Colonel Hugman said that wherever he would be in the future he would follow the progress of the Hussars with the keenest interest and for the time being Goodbye and good luck.

Lieutenant-Colonel T.C. Lewis, formerly of the 32nd Reconnaissance Regiment (Royal Montreal Regiment) replaced Hugman who was struck off strength to attend the war staff college. He went on to serve on the general staff of 1st Canadian Division in Italy and in the Canadian Armoured Corps in Northwest Europe. By the end of the war he had been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

He died in Montreal on 20 April 1993.