My canadian grandad

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by John McGillivray
Also the 5th Canadian Armoured Division cooled their heels in N.Africa for a while in late 1943, before going to Italy.

Hi John;

Not to take away from Sarah's thread, but were did you get that the "5th Canadian Armoured Division cooled their heels in N.Africa for a while in late 1943, before going to Italy"?

The transports carrying the division sailed direct to Italy from the UK, docking at Naples on 8 and 10 November 1943, with the division itself going into a transit area five miles north of the port astride the road to Caserta.

Source:

- Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume II, The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945
- CMHQ Report No. 170 - OPERATION "TIMBERWOLF", The Movement of I Cdn Corps to the Mediterranean, 1943

also:

Originally posted by John McGillivray
the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards because this was a light recce regiment which was later converted to an Infantry regiment (i.e. no tanks).

Yes, they were converted to infantry (and allocated to the Canadian Infantry Corps) effective 13 July 1944 and redesignated: 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, C.I.C., but they were converted back to 'armour' (and allocated to the Canadian Armoured Corps) effective 15 March 1945 and redesignated: 4th Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), C.A.C., and resumed their role as the divisional reconnaissance regiment for the 1st Canadian Infantry Division when I Canadian Corps rejoined First Canadian Army in North West Europe.

Cheers