Kamloops Military History

As Kamloops grew, meetings were held in 1895 to start a militia unit as a rifle company. It started slowly, but by 1899, the Kamloops Rifle Company was formed. At the end of the year, the name changed to the Rocky Mountain Rangers.

The first taste of war would come to Kamloops in 1900 with the Boar War. Twenty recruits joined the Strathcona Horse in South Africa. Several more people joined up, and two local men were killed in action.

1908, a second unit was organized under the 31st British Columbia Horse. This unit shared armouries with the Rangers, which allowed them to train together as needed.

Both units would recruit men for WWI, but neither fought separately. The soldiers were sent to reinforce units as needed. Many of these recruits earned battle honours because of their heroic activities.

The Canadian army disbanded the British Columbia Horse in the 1930s.

When WWII started, the Rocky Mountain Rangers, like in previous efforts, raised a battalion of loyal men ready to put their lives at risk. Again, the Rangers assisted as needed in Europe.

They served one mission together: fighting with the American troops at the Kiska Landings in Alaska. Japanese soldiers invaded the island, but they had already left when the Rocky Mountain Rangers arrived.

Rangers would serve all over Europe, with some transferring to the Navy and Airforce.

Our Rangers also fought in the Korean War and many UN missions worldwide.

They also served with NATO in the former Yugoslavia.

The citizens of Kamloops and our local area can be very proud of the young men and women who served Canada.