LCol D.C. Hilton, CD

Commanding Officer, 1998-2000

Lieutenant-Colonel D.C. Hilton was commissioned in 1978 under the Direct Entry Officer Plan, following graduation from the University of Manitoba.  On completion of armoured officer training, he was gazetted to Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in August 1979, in the rank of Second Lieutenant.

During his initial tour of Regimental duty, (1979-82) Lieutenant-Colonel Hilton served as a Troop Leader in Cyprus (1979-80), a tank Troop Leader with B Squadron, and as the Strathcona Mounted Troop Leader/Administration Officer of Headquarters Squadron.

In 1982, he was posted to exchange duties with the 17th/21st Lancers in Germany with the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).  He served in this capacity for two years as Second in Command (2 IC) A Squadron, before returning to Canada in 1984 as Regular Support Staff/SO3 Operations at Headquarters Prairie Militia Area in Winnipeg.  During this tour, he also attended the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College.  Returning to Regimental duty in 1987, he attended the U.K. Combat Team Commanders course, and served as 2 IC A Squadron, 2 IC Headquarters Squadron in Cyprus (1988-89), and as the Adjutant.

On promotion to Major, he was posted for one year to Valcartier, Quebec on French language training, returning to the Regiment as Officer Commanding B Squadron from 1991-93.  He attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto during 1993-94, following which he was posted to Land Force Western Area Headquarters as G3 Coordinator.  On promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1995, he became the LFWA Restructure Coordinator and later the G3.  In July 1997, Lieutenant-Colonel Hilton was appointed Acting Chief of Staff of Land Force Western Area.

Lieutenant-Colonel D.C. (Craig) Hilton, CD assumed command of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) on 26 February 1998.