AT VALCARTIER CAMP.
In May, 1915, the Regiment was moved to Valcartier, being brigaded with the 4th and 5th C.M.R.’s, under command of Colonel (later Brigadier-General) C. A. Smart.
Training at Valcartier was intensive and performed on foot, as horses had not been received, the Cavalry formation being however retained. Here the Unit received instruction in musketry and rather prided themselves in their ability in this line.
While at Valcartier and also when at Amherst they were asked if they would volunteer to serve as dismounted troops, and the answer was always that “we will serve in any way we are needed.”
IN ENGLAND.
The 6th C.M.R. left Valcartier early in July for England, embarking at Quebec on the slow South American cold storage boat Herschel. Naturally the accommodations were not of the best, as there were six hundred men and four hundred horses on a boat without practically any passenger accommodation. Their eleven days’ voyage ended at Devonport, where they got a great reception. At Exeter they were met at the station by the good ladies of that town and given bags of food and fruit, and had their water bottles filled with hot coffee and tea. Many times since has this been spoken of in grateful words by the men, who were hungry and cold from the long train journey. On arrival at Camp in Dibgate they found themselves once more camping in the sand. As active service in Egypt had been spoken of, the Unit thought the authorities must be trying to accustom it to its future surroundings.
While at Dibgate the Unit received a draft of officers and men from the 8th C.M.R., under command of Lieut. T. D. Johnstone (later Capt. in Command of “B” Co., 5th C.M.R., wounded): second in command, Lieut. H. N. Bate (transferred to R.C.D.’s, when Regiment was broken up). Many of the men who had been sick, owing to the strenuous training, had been transferred to hospital, and when convalescent were sent to the Cavalry Reserve Depot. These had been replaced by the draft of men from the 8th.
IN FRANCE—PLOEGSTEERTE—MESSINES.
The Regiment proceeded to France on October 24, 1915, the Brigade being attached to General Seely’s Cavalry Division, operating as Corps Troops in the areas of Ploegsteerte and Messines.
The following officers and warrant officers went to France with the Regiment and saw service at Ploegsteerte and Messines during the fall and early winter months of 1915.