Commanding Officer at Hill 70
Lieutenant-Colonel Dennis Colbourn Draper, CMG, DSO and Bar.
Origins
The 5th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) was authorized in November 1914 as one of six mounted infantry regiments being raised in Canada. The 5th Regiment initially recruited and mobilized in the Eastern Townships in Quebec. But the conditions of trench warfare on the Western Front did not allow for mounted troops to be employed effectively, and so in January 1916 the units were dismounted and converted to infantry. The 5th Regiment CMR became the 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles.
Role at Hill 70
When the Battle of Hill 70 opened on August 15th, 1917, the 3rd Division was the Canadian Corps’ reserve formation and its units were out of the line. The 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles were doing training exercises in the rest areas during the opening phase of the battle. On August 18th, they received movement orders, and began marching towards the forward areas. On August 19th, they proceeded to the support lines, and the next night moved into the front lines, relieving the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment) in a stretch of HUGO Trench north of Hill 70. The Battle of Lens had started to rage to the south, and the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles caught some of the retaliatory enemy shelling along the front trenches. A German gas attack struck the 5th CMR battalion headquarters. Considerable enemy movement was observed facing the unit, and the battalion's snipers claimed many kills. On August 22nd enemy aeroplanes repeatedly strafed the 5th CMR position and spotted for artillery, but the snipers and trench mortars kept up harassment of the Germans.
In the early morning of August 23rd a very heavy bombardment was put on the 5th CMR. At 0230 on August 25th the battalion was relieved in the front line by the 4th CMR. During its time in the line, the 5th CMR suffered 14 killed and 28 wounded among its officers and men.
Baule Honours and Perpetuations
The 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles was initially perpetuated by the 7th/XI Hussars, which eventually became The Sherbrooke Hussars, RCAC (Sherbrooke, QC), which today carries the Hill 70 Battle Honours.
Extract from the Book Victory
Forgotten HILL 70 by
Dr Robert Engen
Comments