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IV Princess Louise
Dragoon Guards
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IV
Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
was a regiment of cavalry formed in the Canadian Army as
part of the Militia.
Lineage
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15 Dec
1936, 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards created
from amalgamation of 4th Hussars and Princess Louise
Dragoon Guards1
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Redesignated 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion,
(IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) 1 Apr 1941
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Redesignated 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment
(Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) 8 Jun 1942
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Redesignated 4th Armoured Car Regiment (IV Princess
Louise Dragoon Guards) 19 June 1947
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Redesignated IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (4th
Armoured Car Regiment) 4 Feb 1949
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Redesignated IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (RCAC)
19 May 1958
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Moved to
Supplementary Order of Battle, 1965
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IV
Princess Louise Dragoon Guards |
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Headquarters:
Ottawa, ON
Predecessor: 4th Hussars and Princess Louise
Dragoon Guards
Perpetuates: 8th Regiment, Canadian Mounted
Rifles, CEF
Created: 15 Dec 1936 as amalgamation of 4th
Hussars and Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
Moved to Supplementary Order of Battle: 1965 |
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Field Force Contributions
The Regiment mobilized the "4th
(Active) Princess Louise Dragoon Guards" on 26 January 1941.
The unit converted and redesignated to become "4th
Reconnaissance Battalion (4th Princess Louise Dragoon
Guards)" on 11 February 1941. The unit was created out of
personnel of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in the
United Kingdom, and reinforcements sent from Canada in July
1941. On 8 June 1942 the unit was again redesignated "4th
Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon
Guards)" and went to the Mediterranean in the summer of 1943
and the divisional reconnaissance regiment of the 1st
Canadian Infantry Division. "A" Squadron landed on Sicily
and the entire regiment landed in Southern Italy in
September. On 13 July 1944, the unit was again redesignated
4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards and converted to
infantry, as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade of the 5th
Canadian (Armoured) Division. After Operation GOLDFLAKE in
early 1945, and the movement of I Canadian Corps to
North-West Europe (the 4th PLDG made the move on 26 February
1945), the 12th Brigade was disbanded and the unit was again
converted back to a recce unit and redesignated "4th
Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards"
on 15 March 1945. The active unit was disbanded on 15
December 1945.2
A second
unit, designated "4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (4th
Princess Louise Dragoon Guards)" served simultaneously in
the Reserve Army. It's history of redesignations is
described above under "lineage".
Traditions
Regimental Quick March: Men
of Harlech
Regimental Slow March: God Bless The Prince of Wales
Motto: Pro Aris Et Focis (Latin: For God and Country)
Battle Honours
South Africa,
1900
Adrano
Sicily, 1943
Motta Montecorvino
Hitler Line
Gothic Line
Casale
Capture of Ravenna
Italy, 1943-45 |
Mount Sorrel
Troina Valley
Landing at Reggio
Liri Valley
Melfa Crossing
Tomba di Pesaro
Sant' Angelo in Salute
Naviglio Canal
North-West Europe, 1945 |
Insignia
Regiments and Corps describes
the regimental badge as
Two "Ls" for Lorne and
Louise intertwined, one reversed, banded in the centre
with the coronet of a Marquis; below a scroll inscribed
"PRINCESS LOUISE DRAGOON GUARDS"; beneath the centre of
the crossed "Ls" and above the centre of the scroll the
Roman numeral "IV", 1/4 inch in height; the whole
surmounted by the coronet of a Princess.3
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References
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The Regiments and Corps of the Canadian Army (Queen's
Printer, Ottawa, ON, 1964) , pp.55-56. See also
Stewart, C.H. The Concise
Lineages of the Canadian Army 1855 to Date
(self-published, Toronto, ON) p.13 who gives a designation of
"The IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards"
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Regiments and Corps,
Ibid.
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Regiments and Corps,
Ibid. The reference to a specific size (1/4") is extremely
unusual.
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