Have you ever thought of where the phrase ‘Here comes the Cavalry’ comes from? Most people think of rescuers arriving just in the nick of time to save the day when they hear this, however, not that long ago, it was used to announce the arrival of the mounted horse unit of an army. These mounted men were quick and deadly. They could turn the tide in any conflict making them a necessary staple in major encounters. The Canadian Cavalry Brigade was originally formed in 1914, comprising of two Canadian and one British regiment as well as an attached artillery battery. These units went overseas to join the First World War conflict.
One of these regiments was the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). They were part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade from 1914 to 1918 and were formed once again in 1923 to honour and maintain Cavalry traditions. Today, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) still exists, and they are the only regular force armoured unit in Western Canada. Although they now use tanks and light armoured vehicles as their primary methods of transportation, the mounted troop was re-formed once more in 1977 and serves as an authorized voluntary unit that tours the region to demonstrate the Musical Ride and Cavalry skills to audiences.
This year, the twenty-five-man troop will be performing in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Their shows will range across Alberta and British Columbia starting this spring. The Okanagan Military Tattoo is hoping to partner with Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) this spring to bring a combined show that would include the musical ride, marching bands, pipes, and drums, as well as dancers and singers into an event called A Taste of the Tattoo. Seeing either one of these groups alone is exciting, putting them together will be even more thrilling and it will be something you won’t want to miss!
Keep your eyes peeled for more details as we work toward making the Taste of the Tattoo a reality for this May.