17th Hussars

Lt-Col. W.C. Bowen

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Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Bowen
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Hussars)

A man of considerable charm, Colonel Bowen spoke in the distinct accent of the English Montreal elite. It is an accent that is disappearing with his generation. Colonel was still a handsome man in his eighties. He was a mixture of the conventional and the eccentric. In the last decade of his life, he still wore jackets and a cravat at home, but also sported a small earring in his left ear lobe.

(National Post, 5 Apr 1999, 20)

Born on 12 August 1913 in Winnipeg, William Charles Bowen was a McGill University graduate had been commissioned in the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars in 1935. With the redesignated 7th Reconnaissance Regiment, he was promoted to captain in October 1941 then made major a year later. He landed on with the invasion force on D-Day and then commanded “A” Squadron during the Battle of the Scheldt.

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Lt-Col. C.A. Baerman

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Lieutenant-Colonel C.A. Baerman
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Hussars)

As far as the regiment is concerned, I think I can justly claim that it has done a very fine job. That dash up the coast alone is an achievement of which any unit might well have been proud … I had taken over command in October, and in November we received our first rest–four days in Ghent. Then we took charge of the Nijmegen bridges, where we did a lot of damage to the Germans with the colossal fire power we had at hand.

(Montreal Star, 3 Sep 1945, 3)

Born on 21 March 1910 in Lambhill, Scotland, Charles Alexander Baerman, was a broker in Montreal. He had enlisted as a trooper in the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars and served as sergeant-major since 1937. He received a commission in February 1940 and would be promoted again to captain by the time the now redesignated 7th Reconnaissance Regiment embarked for the United Kingdom in August 1941. He was promoted again to major the next year.

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Lt-Col. T.C. Lewis

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Lieutenant-Colonel T.C. Lewis
32nd Reconnaissance Regiment (RMR)
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Hussars)

Colonel Lewis was absolutely outstanding as a commander, and, had he lived, would have undoubtedly have proved one of Canada’s foremost military leaders … His name will always have a high place in the annals of both Regiments which he commanded, as well as in the hearts of all who served with him.

(Gen. C.B. Price, Montreal Star, 7 Nov 1944, 3)

Born in Montreal on 9 February 1911, Thomas Cripps Lewis was a Sun Life insurance statistician and junior officer in the Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR). He had joined in 1925, rose to regimental sergeant major and was commissioned a lieutenant before it embarked for the United Kingdom with the 1st Division in December 1939. When he returned to Canada for instructional purposes at RMC, he had risen to the rank of major. He returned overseas in May 1943 and took command of the RMR, now redesignated from a machine gun battalion to the 32nd Reconnaissance Regiment.

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Lt-Col. V.W. Hugman

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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.

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Lt-Col. C.F. Smith

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Lieutenant-Colonel C.F. Smith
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Hussars)
31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment

I believe I have received from you that loyalty which all C.O.s desire most earnestly and is expressed by the following words, “I don’t give a damn for your loyalty when you think I am right, but I do want it when you think I am wrong,” and to me your actions have proved that beyond words.

(War diary, 7 Mar 1942)

Born in Quebec on 5 August 1902, Clarence Fisher Smith was a senior militia officer with the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars. He succeeded Brigadier C.B. Price when he was appointed to command the 3rd Infantry Brigade in November 1939. “I suppose his outstanding characteristic is his loyalty to his subordinates no less than to his superiors,” Price said of his successor, “and it is that same loyalty that I ask you give him.”

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Maj-Gen. C.B. Price

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Major-General C. Basil Price
3rd Infantry Brigade
3rd Canadian Division

In this ideological struggle we must call upon our physical forces. We must build up our armed forces and industrial potential, we must be prepared for sacrifices, such as high taxes and austerity, if we are to prevent another world conflict.

(Quoted in Montreal Gazette, 10 Nov 1949, 13)

Born on 12 December 1889 in Montreal, Charles Basil Price was a decorated First World War veteran, Canadian Legion spokesman, diary farmer, and former commanding officer of the Royal Montreal Regiment. A member of the Victoria Rifles since 1905, he enlisted with the 14th Battalion in September 1914. While on patrol at St. Julien in May 1915, he earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing a comrade: “Company Sgt Major Price went out and shooting the two Germans who had wounded him brought in the man, undoubtedly saving life. His conduct all through the action was of the most meritorious and self-sacrificing kind.”

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