IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards

IV PRINCESS LOUISE DRAGOON GUARDS

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Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada

Regimental Birthday: 27 May 1872.

Current Role: The Supplementary Order of Battle

IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (RCAC)

The IV Princess Louise Guards are on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

In 1964, the Honourable Paul Hellyer, Minister of National Defence, announced sweeping changed to be carried out in the organization and establishments of the Canadian Army. The Army itself would be integrated into a new entity called the Canadian Forces (CF). Overall the manpower would be reduced both because of the greater efficiency of the CF organization and in order to free up money needed for new capital projects. The Militia, likewise was to be reorganized and revitalized. As a first step, several regiments of the RCAC were converted to non-armoured roles and several more were reduced to nil establishment and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle.

The revitalization of the Militia was not achieved and the Corps was left the poorer by the loss of these historic regiments.

In the late 1960's, the Regular component of the Corps was subject to a traumatic restructure and the end result was the loss to the Regular Force of The Fort Garry Horse. In the 1990's, a similar traumatic restructure, again saw the loss of a Regular Force Armour unit, The 8th Canadian Hussars (PL). Both of these units still live on in their Reserve Force units.

Lineage

The IV Prince Louise Dragoon Guards (RCAC) trace their lineage to 27 May 1872 when The Ottawa Troop of Cavalry were raised in Ottawa. It was redesignated The Dragoon Guards on 15 November 1878, The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards on 3 Jan 1879, the 5th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards on 1 February 1903, and then the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards on 15 March 1920. Amalgamated with the 4th Hussars of Canada on 15 December 1936, they created The IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. They were Redesignated the 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion, (IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) on 1 April 1941, then 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion, (Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) on 8 June 1942, the 4th Armoured Car Regiment, (IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) on 19 June 1947. On 4 February 1949, they were Redesignated to the IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (4th Armoured Car Regiment). The present designation, IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (RCAC), was authorized on 19 May 1958. Historical Section.