The Governor General's Body Guard

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For the Indian regiment of the same name, see Governor General's Bodyguard

The Governor General's Body Guard was a Canadian Army, militia, Household Cavalry regiment.

[edit] History

The regiment dates as far back as 1822 in then York, Upper Canada, now Toronto. Also known as 'Dennison's Troop', it began as the York Dragoons under the command of Captain George Taylor Dennison. Like most regiments in Canada during this period, the Dragoons were financed by Dennison, as volunteers were not part of a regular army. The Dragoons was a local infantry battalion and linked to the parent West York Regiment of Militia. This unit like many local military units was made up of volunteers and formed to supplement the presence of British Army units in Upper Canada. The battalion broke from the parent battalion and became a separate battalion in 1839.

By the mid-19th Century, Britain began to pull their army out of Canada and the need to establish a Canadian army became clear. With the enactment of the Militia Acts, local militia units became a more critical part of the defence of Canada. In 1847 the unit was gazetted and became known as the 1st Toronto Independent Troop of Cavalry. It was renamed again in 1855 as the 1st Troop of Volunteer Militia Cavalry of the County of York. In 1866 it was renamed 1st York Troop The Governor General's Body Guard for Upper Canada and in 1867 became the The Governor General's Body Guard for Ontario. The name was changed a final time in 1895 to The Governor General's Body Guard for Upper Canada.

In 1936 the regiment was amalgamated with The Mississauga Horse to become The Governor General's Horse Guards.