3rd CMR

Lt. Col. Sissons

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant Colonel Frank O. Sissons
1st Mounted Rifles BrigadeSissons

Col. Sissons is a real westerner in every sense of the word.

(Edmonton Bulletin, 14 Nov 1914, 1)

Born in Burnside, Manitoba on 23 March 1868, Frank Ogletree Sissons was a militia officer, rancher, and landowner in Medicine Hat. He had created the 21st Hussars in 1908 and with the formation of the Canadian Mounted Rifles in November 1914, Sissons was initially given command of the 3rd CMR. The militia council had selected Colonel Victor Williams to command the 1st CMR Brigade, but militia minister Sam Hughes favoured Sissons to represent the West. He was appointed brigade commander in March 1915.

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The Home Wrecker

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant Colonel L.J. Whitaker
3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles
Whittaker

The plaintiff [Mr. Hill] charges that the defendant [Col. Whitaker] alienated his wife’s affections and has broken up his home.

(Lethbridge Herald, 10 May 1917, 4)

Born in Staffordshire, England on 19 January 1869, Louis James Whitaker was a Fort Saskatchewan dry goods merchant and commanding officer of the 19th Alberta Dragoons. He had belonged to the Manchester Volunteers before immigrating to Canada. In December 1914, he was appointed to command the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles from Alberta. He served for four months in the trenches before the 3rd CMR was disbanded on the reorganization of the Mounted Rifles Brigades in January 1916.

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