This World War I Memorial is located along 3rd St., Northwest at the Trans Canada Highway in Medicine Hat. The memorial is composed of red bricks crushed white stone on the side of Robertson Hill.
From CHAT-TV News: (
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"WWI monument taking shape
Aug 2, 2017 | 5:03 PM
by Leah Murray
MEDICINE HAT, AB — A monument commemorating the efforts of local soldiers during World War I is taking shape on the side of Robertson Hill.
Project 175 is meant to recognize the Third Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 175th Infantry Battalion.
3CMR and 175 will be written out using white painted stone. The numbers and letters are currently being dug out of the hill on Third Street northwest.
Two 40 foot maple leafs will flank either side of the lettering and use around 7,000 bricks donated from the old IXL brick plant in Redcliff. Many of the bricks date back over 100 years and took a team of volunteers 12 days to clean.
The Royal United Services Institute of Medicine Hat is looking for more volunteers to help out with the initiative. They want this to be a real community project and need people to help place some of the 70 tons of stone.
The area will also be outfitted with lights and park benches and will be visible to the estimated 16,000 drivers who pass by the area every day.
The project is being paid for entirely by the group through fundraising efforts. They will also cover the cost for utilities and take care of maintenance for the site indefinitely.
Volunteers will be needed starting August 8th to the 28th. Those interested in helping out are encouraged to register by visiting www.project175.com or sending an email to 175volunteers@gmail.com with the dates and times you are available."
From Wikipedia: (
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"The 3rd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF, was a mounted infantry unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War.
History
The regiment was formed in November 1914 at Medicine Hat and recruited personnel in Alberta. It sailed from Montreal to England on 12 June 1915 aboard the Megantic, and after training arrived in France on September 22, 1915. It served in the field as dismounted infantry until December 1915.
On January 1, 1916, the six regiments of the Canadian Mounted Rifles were converted to infantry and reorganized into the four battalions of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The personnel of the 3rd Regiment were absorbed into the 1st and the 2nd Battalions, CMR.
Perpetuation
In 1920, the perpetuation of the 3rd Regiment CMR was assigned to 1st Regiment, the Alberta Mounted Rifles, and it is now held by the South Alberta Light Horse.
1st Regiment (3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF), The Alberta Mounted Rifles (1920–1931)
1st Regiment (3rd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF), The Alberta Mounted Rifles (1931–1936)
19th Alberta Dragoons (1936–1946)
19th (Alberta) Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC (1946–1949)
19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment, RCAC (1949–1954)
19th Alberta Dragoons (19th Armoured Car Regiment) (1954–1958)
19th Alberta Dragoons (1958–2006)
The South Alberta Light Horse (2006–present)"
And also from Wikipedia: (
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"175th (Medicine Hat) Battalion, CEF
The 175th Battalion, CEF, was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
History
Based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in the Medicine Hat district. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 21st Reserve Battalion on January 10, 1917. The 175th Battalion, CEF, had one officer commanding: Lieutenant-Colonel Nelson Spencer.
Battle Honours
In 1929, the battalion was awarded the theatre of war honour The Great War, 1916–17.
Perpetuation
Perpetuation of the 175th Battalion was assigned to The Alberta Regiment in 1920. When this regiment split in two in 1924, the South Alberta Regiment carried the perpetuation. The South Alberta Regiment merged into the South Alberta Light Horse (29th Armoured Regiment) in 1954, and this regiment (now simply the South Alberta Light Horse) carries on the perpetuation of the 175th Battalion.