Reference The British Columbia Horse
Here is the General Order for MC49
GO 37 /April 1910
British Columbia Horse
5. Badges as described hereunder, are authorized
Cap badge.
A wreath of fir boughs in the form of an 8 pointed star surmounted by the Imperial crown, the points of the star being formed by the protrusion of a cactus stem; across the bottom, a scroll in scribed “BRITISH COLUMBIA HORSE”. In the centre a circle bearing the motto “QUANSEM ILEP” enclosing a cougar couchant on a rock foreground, with a background of fir trees. Height 1 ½ inches.
Metal-Gilt or gilding metal, central figure of cougar on rock foreground to be in silver or white metal.
Collar badge.
Same as cap badge. Height 1 ¼ inches.
Metal-As for cap badge.
Helmet plate.
Same design as for cap badge. Height 4 ¼ inches.
Metal-As for cap badge. (H.Q. 6-10-4)
The following is from RH Roy's Sinews of Steel Page 464
The earliest badge worn by the unit had been designed originally for the Kamloops squadron by Mr. E.H. Drummond.1 It was in the shape of an eight-pointed star composed of the tops of fir boughs, the tips of which were cactus flower buds. The topmost points were surmounted by an Imperial crown. An annulus centre had the motto Quanasum Elip, meaning “Always First” in the Chinook tongue. The annulus enclosed a couchant cougar dexter with an open background broken by fir trees. A scroll supported by the four lower points read “British Columbia Horse”.2 When the 30th B.C. Horse was authorized in 1911, it adopted this badge adding one or two changes. The open centre of the annulus vanished and a cougar couchant, crouching on a rocky ledge, overlapped the annulus. The spelling of the motto changed to “Quansum Ilep”. A smaller version of the cap badge served as collar badges, and metal shoulder badges reading”30 B C HORSE” were adopted also.
1.Personal correspondence , Mr. H.T. Wilson to author, 17 April, 1961
2 Ibid.; P.A.B.C., Fyle O,B,B64, Vol. 1, W.R. Bone, “Notes on Badges of Western Canadian Military and Semi-Military Units, 1949”. See also General Order No. 37, 1 April 1910.
Finally, here is the entry from WR Bone's book. I believe that he relied on anecdotal evidence, and as he published in 1949, he was able to speak to people who had worn the badges.
Genesis of The British Columbia Dragoons is found in the British Columbia Horse formed in the Okanagan Valley in the post-Boer War period when the era of mounted fighting man was at its zenith.
The first issue of cap and collars (officers’, silver and men’s, brass) was in the form of an eight-pointed star composed of the tops of fir trees. The topmost points supported a crown. An annulus centre inscribed “Quanasum Elip”* enclosed a couchant cougar dexter in silver with an open background broken by fir trees. A scroll supported by the four lower points read “British Columbia Horse”.
With the growth of the unit, the 30th and 31st (see B.C. Hussars) British Columbia Horse came into being and the 30th continued to use a badge on a similar line to the original. It varied, however, in that the open centre vanished and a cougar sinister, crouching on a rocky ledge, overlapped the annulus. On this badge the motto read “Quansem Ilep”.
* Despite the variation in spelling, both this motto and the one on the second issue mean “Always First”. Taken from the phonetic Chinook tongue, the actual spelling appears to rest with the individual.
Now, here are my observations:
Ref Mazeas Canadian Militia Badges Pre 1914
MC.49 Mazeas attributes this badge to the 30th BC Horse. In some ways, it follows the description in the General Orders, however, the cap badge is 2 inches tall.
I have photographic evidence of the MC.49 collar badge being worn as a cap badge, as well as the MC.50 cap badge being worn by the 31st BC Horse.
Ref: A Short History of the 31st British Columbia Horse By Flick.
There are some discrepencies.
MC.50 does not have the cactus buds, whereas MC49 does.
The sizes in the General Order for 1910 correspond to the sizes of MC.50
The spelling of the motto in the General Order corresponds to MC.49, rather than MC.50.
I believe MC.50 to be The British Columbia Horse
The cap badge is 1 1/2 inches high
The collar badge is 1 1/4 inches high.
I think that both MC.49 and MC.50 were worn by The British Columbia Horse.
What is important, is that these badges were authorized in 1910, whereas the 1st and 2nd Regiments, British Columbia Horse did not become the 30th BC Horse and 31st BC Horse respectively until 1912 - G.O. 74/1912.
Phil
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