The 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards is an inactive armoured regiment of the Canadian Militia / Canadian Army. It is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle.
Lineage
Several independent troops of cavalry in the Province of Canada's volunteer militia were formed in the Kingston area starting in 1855. Four of these troops (in Kingston, Napanee, Loughborough and Picton) were united under a regimental headquarters in 1875, becoming the 4th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry. This regiment adopted hussar uniforms (with buff facings) and hussar customs in 1893, being Redesignated as the 4th Hussars. In 1932, they were again Redesignated as the 4th Hussars of Canada.
Meanwhile, in Ottawa, the city's independent cavalry troop (formed in 1872) came under the patronage of the Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, during her time there as vice-regal consort (1878–80), and the troop was expanded to an independent squadron named The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. During the Second Boer War, volunteers from the squadron fought with the Imperial forces in South Africa. The squadron was again expanded into a regiment in 1903 as the 5th "Princess Louise Dragoon Guards".
The 4th Hussars and the 5th PLDG were not mobilized in the First World War, but they both contributed volunteers to and aided in the recruiting of the 8th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles. The 8th CMR did not enter combat as a unit, its personnel being absorbed by the reserves in England and the 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, in France, but enough of its former members fought at the Battle of Mount Sorrel that the regiment qualified for a battle honour, which the PLDG perpetuates.
In the 1936 reorganization of the Militia, the PLDG and the 4th Hussars were amalgamated as the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards.
4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
Originated on 1 January 1903, in Ottawa, Ontario, as the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Redesignated on 1 February 1903, as the 5th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Redesignated on 15 March 1920, as The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with the 4th Hussars of Canada and Redesignated as the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Redesignated on 11 February 1941, as the 2nd (Reserve) Regiment, 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Redesignated on 1 April 1941, as the 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion, (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards). Redesignated on 8 June 1942, as the 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), CAC. Redesignated on 2 August 1945, as the 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), RCAC. Redesignated on 19 June 1947, as the 4th Armoured Car Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), RCAC. Redesignated on 4 February 1949, as the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (4th Armoured Car Regiment). Redesignated on 19 May 1958, as the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Reduced to Nil Strength on 12 February 1965, and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.
4th Hussars of Canada
Originated on 30 April 1875, in Kingston, Ontario, as the 4th Provisional Regiment of Cavalry. Redesignated on 7 May 1886, as the 4th Regiment of Cavalry. Redesignated on 1 January 1893, as the 4th Hussars. Redesignated on 1 March 1932, as the 4th Hussars of Canada. Amalgamated on 15 December 1936, with The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards and Redesignated as the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards.
Lineage chart
Perpetuations
8th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles
History
Prewar
In 1936 the 4th Hussars of Canada and The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards were amalgamated to form the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards.
Second World War
The 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards was a Militia regiment activated for wartime service with the Canadian Army (Active) in 1941. It was assigned to the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps which itself had been activated in 1940. In 1942 it was redesignated the 4th Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), the same year the first of its soldiers sailed for the United Kingdom where 4th PLDG joined 1st Canadian Infantry Division at Camp Aldershot.
4th Recce immediately began expanding its ranks, taking volunteers from infantry regiments serving in the United Kingdom and a steady flow of reinforcements from Canada. Four squadrons were eventually raised in addition to the Regimental HQ Squadron. A reserve squadron, based in Ottawa continued to provide reinforcements throughout the war as well.