York Troop The Governor General's Body Guard for Upper Canada and in 1867 became The Governor General's Body Guard for Ontario. After British forces completely left Canada in 1870 the Canadian Government raised a small regular force and began to look at reorganizing the Militia cavalry into full regiments. Most of the independent troops across the country were amalgamated into numbered regiments of dragoons or hussars during the 1870s. The GGBG was the only non-numbered corps and was expanded to squadron strength in 1876. With a final rationalization of the Canadian Cavalry Corps in 1889, the GGBG was brought to full regimental strength with the amalgamation of the local Markham and Oak Ridges Troops of the 2nd Regiment of Cavalry (later the 2nd Dragoons). The name was changed a final time in 1895 to The Governor General's Body Guard of Canada. The North-West Rebellion The GGBG was mobilized as a full squadron and participated in the North-West Rebellion in 1885 as rear area security for General Middleton's force. The squadron's task was to protect the main supply route for the force in place with routine patrols from the rail line to Batoche and to secure the only supply depot and telegraph station at Humboldt. A fort was built, consisting of an earthen berm, around the telegraph station and named "Fort Denison". Middelton's force defeated the Metis at Batoche. The South African War The GGBG, as a regiment, supplied some 50 men to augment the small Canadian Regular Army for service in South Africa in 1900. Lt HZ Cockburn earned the Victoria Cross while serving as a volunteer with the Royal Canadian Dragoons during this conflict. The Great War The GGBG, like all of the militia during the First World War, was not activated for duty, but rather assisted in raising numbered battalions for the Canadian Expeditionary Force and recruiting to fill the CEF ranks. Thousands of Toronto's citizens were recruited through the GGBG for service in the trenches. The GGBG supplied soldiers for the 3rd Bn, 2nd Bn, 4th CMR, 216th Bn, 124th Bn to name a few. 1920s-1930s In 1936 the regiment was amalgamated with The Mississauga Horse to become The Governor General's Horse Guards. Campaigns Rebellions of 1837–1838 / Upper Canada Rebellion Fenian Raids 1866 North-West Rebellion 1885 Boer War (1899) First World War 1914-1918 Organization The Governor General's Body Guard for Ontario (17 May, 1889) A Troop