3CMR was formed during World War One and this monument is to honour those who've fallen. Frank Buck/CHAT News

By Adrian St.Onge

‘It’s critically important’: celebrating the Canadian Mounted Rifles

Aug 12, 2024 | 5:11 PM

Medicine Hat is home to a storied military history.

Passing through the city, you can see a monument commemorating the Third Canadian Mounted Rifles, formed in the Hat during the First World War.

Museum curator Wes Krause said that the CMR monument honours the sacrifices made and is crucial to creating a conversation.

“Honouring these men that served is critically important,” Krause said.

“The thing is though is that these two units, the South Alberta Light Horse, perpetuates these units, which means we honour their history, we preserve their history and the work that they did for our country.”

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Krause said that the 175th battallion was known as the “Medicine Hat Battalion” and saw action in Europe.

A substantial amount of soldiers returning to the hat worked at the old IXL brick plant and according to Krause, was the biggest volunteer contributor to the monument.

Situated on the James Robertson Victoria Cross Memorial Hill, the monument is maintained in part by the city, but mainly by volunteers from the United Services Institute.

Krause said that the vibrant colours seen are intentional as they grab the attention of people travelling by.

“People get kind of into this narrow tunnel vision sort of thing that they just want to just drive through town real quick, get to wherever they’re going,” Krause said.

“But if they have a chance to kind of look like, wait a minute, what is that? What is this? What does that mean? Well, if it’s in our tour guides, which I believe it is, they can open it up and they can read about it”

Krause says that the Regimental Museum is also picking back up, opening Sept. 18.