S T R A T H C O N A’ S H O R S E
Regimental Order
Calgary, 10th February 1900
By Lt. Col. Steele, Commanding, Strathcona’s Horse[/b]
To - Lieut. Colonel Harris, Commanding 1st Contingent to Ottawa
R.O. 5a
Lieut. Colonel W. S. Morris will take command of the First Contingent at Medicine Hat, and carry out the following arrangments and orders :-
(1)Tourist cars, Sleepers and Commissariat will leave Calgary to-night at 8 p.m. (dead-heading) for Medicine Hat, and take on board the contingent from the Crow’s Nest Branch, also Palace Cars with Horses, if any. Train should leave Medicine Hat not later than 8 a.m. Sunday and proceed east taking on board the balance of the first contingent at the following places viz :-
Place - Men - Officers
Medicine Hat - 10
Maple Creek - 11
Regina - 61 - 1 – Quartermaster Parker
Indian Head - 1
Mossomin - 41 - 1 – Lieut. Christie
Oak Lake 1 – Lieut. Falls
Brandon 10)
Portage la Prairie 10) - 68
Winnipeg 48) - 1 – Lieut. Mackie
Nelson - 50 - 1 – Lieut. Leckie
Fort Steele - 42 - 1 – Capt. Parker
284 - Men, 6 - Officers
2. He will detail one officer daily to report as Orderly Officer to him and who will pass through each car after every long stop. The acting non-comm. officers in charge of each car will report to him if all correct. No man to be allowed to leave car without permission. If the horse train is attached to the cars of this train will be visited, if time permits, at every stopping point. An acting non-commissioned officer or experienced private should see that order is observed throughout his car and will be responsible to the officers in charge. The orderly officer will go through the train after each meal and find out if there are any complaints, and note in a book the result. He will make the usual reports of his work, which should be handed in to you and filed at the headquarters of the Regiment in Ottawa. It is not advisable to let the men leave the train unless a stop of over 10 minutes is made, when they are allowed on the platform, “All Aboard” should be called by the Acting Sergeant Major. The Acting Non-commissioned Officer a few minutes before must see every man on board and rounds taken immediately to see that the men are present: any misconduct on the part of any member of the Corps must be carefully noted as already ordered, in event of horses being on a train a Veterinary Sergeant or veterinary Acting Non- Commissioned Officer must visit them, as well as the orderly Officer. It is important that the greatest care be taken of these horses.
3. On your arrival at Winnipeg a banquet will be given to the contingent. Colonel Ruttan has been requested to have the station platform cleared by the police to enable you to detrain without confusion. The best way will be to march the men to each street car in half groups (street cars provided by Winnipeg Street Ry. Co.) Acting Non-commissioned Officers in charge of each street car being responsible for his number. On the return to the station march to street cars in the same manner and order. Entrain in like order, Acting Non-commissioned Officers checking over the reporting to the Officer in Charge of each portion of the train, the number if correct or otherwise and proceed east when all complete without delay.
4. Lieut. Leckie will command the Nelson detachment; Captain Parker the Fort Steele detachment. Medicine Hat and Maple Creek will board cars under the Acting Non-commissioned Officer and will be attached to the men from Prince Albert and Regina all of whom will be under command of Quartermaster Parker upon leaving Regina.
Lieut. Mackie, all Manitoba troops assisted by Lieut. Falls from Oak Lake.
Lieut. Christie will command the Moosomin detachment.
All these officers should have rolls of men and will have no trouble keeping track of them, if they form them into groups as already ordered to be done.
Ask all officers if their size rolls have been sent to the Minister of Militia and a copy sent to me also where there is no officer, find out from the men themselves.
When you are within a half day of Ottawa you will telegraph the Chief Staff Officer informing him what time the train will arrive. When you arrive at Ottawa you will fall in in the same manner as at Winnipeg, namely, by cars, and march to wherever you are directed by the Staff or other Officer who will receive you.
Everything must be done without confusion and noise. The Officers will instruct their men accordingly while en route. As the men are placed in quarters at the Exhibition Grounds, or other places assigned and have been served with blankets etc. the greatest care must be taken that the strictest discipline is maintained. This can be done without harshness and ungentlemanly conduct towards the men. The strictest watch must be kept on any intemperate habits, if by any chance such men have enlisted.
Drill must commence at once on arrival, the men being put into squads consisting of men of the same troop and they will be told off as follows
“A” Squadron
No. 1 Troop – 40 Men, Winnipeg - Lieut. Mackie
No. 2 Troop – 25 Men, Winnipeg
15 Men, Prince Albert, Battleford - Lieut. Falls
No. 3 Troop - 40 Men, Moosomin - Lieut. Christie
No. 4 Troop - 40 Men, Regina - Experienced N.C.O.
“B” Squadron
No. 1 Troop - 32 Men, Edmonton - Experienced N.C.O.
8 Men, Nelson
No. 2 Troop - 40 Men, Calgary - Lieut. Strange
Signed)
S. B. Steele
Lieut. Colonel
do they still this today at Canadian railway stations?