History 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards

1 history

1.1 prewar
1.2 second world war
1.3 postwar

history
prewar

in 1936 4th hussars , princess louise dragoon guards amalgamated form 4th princess louise dragoon guards.

second world war

the 4th princess louise dragoon guards militia regiment activated wartime service canadian army (active) in 1941. former cavalry regiment roots in ottawa area dated late 1800s assigned royal canadian armoured corps had been activated in 1940. in 1942 redesignated 4th reconnaissance regiment (4th princess louise dragoon guards), same year first of soldiers sailed united kingdom 4th pldg joined 1st canadian infantry division @ camp aldershot.

4th recce began expanding ranks, taking volunteers infantry regiments serving in united kingdom , steady flow of reinforcements canada. 4 squadrons raised in addition regimental hq squadron. reserve squadron, based in ottawa continued provide reinforcements throughout war well.

squadron of 4th pldg landed in sicily on july 13, 1943, part of follow forces. squadron, commanded major arthur duck took part in sicily fighting. b , c squadrons not equipped requisite number of otter light, , fox heavy reconnaissance cars , universal carriers until october, when regiment serving on italian mainland. d squadron raised winter when heavy rains , freezing temperatures rendered princess louise dragoon guards vehicles useless , personnel latter squadron patrolled sector on horseback instead.

4th pldg took part in virtually of major actions in campaign, lasted 38 days. regiment landed @ reggio di calabria, on italian mainland on september 3, 1943, on heels of 3rd canadian infantry brigade , began providing 1st canadian infantry division headquarters information regard ground north including condition of roads , bridges , location , strength of enemy forces. each of squadrons composed of 3 scout troops , assault troop, equipped combination of otter light reconnaissance cars , fox heavy reconnaissance cars. fox had revolving turret fitted .50 calibre browning machine gun bren. 303 calibre light machine gun. otter mounted single bren did universal carriers used transport scout , assault troops.

when reporter asked squadron commander major harold parker , men did in italy replied: keep driving until enemy shoots @ us. know there . parker doing when armoured car struck 75mm shell on torella-duronia road. major killed , crew badly wounded. scouts, operated behind enemy lines: during hitler line battles in may 1944 sergeant hubert ditner, farmer petersburg, ontario, , men took opportunity catch few hours sleep in roadside ditch. awoke find section sharing grenadiers 44th hoch und deutschmeister division. ditner, spoke fluent german managed ten surrender without firing shot.in letter younger brother ditner confessed didn t know shaking more, jerry or me.

one of notable engagements fought 4th pldg took place @ miglionico. numbers 4 , 8 (assault) troops, under lieutenant don white used rail tunnel infiltrate rear area of positions held oberst ludwig heilmann s 3rd fallschirmjager regiment , launch attack killed estimated 50 paratroopers , destroyed several trucks, armoured car , large quantity of ammunition.

all 3 squadrons active, on italian mainland time 4th princess louise dragoon guards transferred infantry corps. regiment assigned 12th infantry brigade of arrived 5th armoured division on july 13, 1944. decision result of 8th army commander general montgomery s concern division lacked sufficient number of infantry battalions protect division s tanks against attacks enemy infantry armed shoulder fired anti-tank weapons , self-propelled guns. regiment, having established reputation courage , tenacity while operating scouts, distinguished in new role. ordered take monte peloso on september 1, 1944, known point 253. hill, part of enemy s gothic line targeted 1st division s gunners better part of hour before c-squadron began closing on position @ 13:10. princess louise began climbing ran headlong patatroopers 3rd fallschirmjager regiment, preparing mount counterattack on nearby point 204 , there furious, close-quarters gun battle prior lord strathcona s horse joining 4th pldg in assault on main german defences, handful of farm buildings midway slope. shermans blasted startled paratroopers buildings , waiting princess louise cut them down small arms fire. last light point 253 in canadian hands. first battle infantry had cost regiment dearly, however: 35 men dead , 94 wounded.

a message penned 8th army s commander, general leese, congratulated princess louise victory, made more remarkable based on unit s brief training infantry.

on humorous note, members of unit once urged general simonds (goc 1st canadian infantry division) beat u.s. army unit sicilian village of enna , take credit capture. mixed bag of nco s , troopers mounted armoured cars , headed town halted demolished culvert. not denied, soldiers commandeered mule , continued race arriving in village troops 1st infantry division did so. though weary canadians happy clamber aboard 1 of latter unit s jeeps , ride rest of way town, regimental history of 4th princess louise dragoon guards maintains corporal jackson first dismount in enna s piazza rendering canadian army rightful liberators of town.

the regiment returned reconnaissance role, , armoured corps status on 15 march 1945 , finished war in rotterdam, netherlands, after being transferred theatre part of operation goldflake. fighting in number of engagements heavily armoured german divisions fled, role unit had performed distinction in italy, 4th pldg suffered heavy losses. battlefield deaths, ranks, entire year of 1944 150. in 4 months 4th recce fought in north west europe, third of time in italy, lost 187 men (4th pldg history page 306).

postwar

the 4th princess louise dragoon guards moved supplementary order of battle of canadian army in 1965.