Armour for the Infantry: The Elgin’s and the Birth of the Kangaroo Regiment
In the harsh months following D-Day in 1944, as Canadian, British and Allied forces pushed inland through Normandy, the battlefields revealed a grim lesson: advancing infantry across open country, before armour could reach and soften defences, resulted in heavy casualties. It was during this period that Canada developed one of its most inventive responses, an armoured personnel carrier born not of peacetime planning, but of urgent necessity. These were the Kangaroos, and their story is deeply intertwined with the Elgin Regiment of St. Thomas, Ontario. The Kangaroo was essentially a conversion of surplus or obsolete armoured vehicles, most notably the M7 “Priest”, a self-propelled gun with its turret removed, its interior modified, and repurposed to carry infantry into combat under armour. Rather than marching under fire, soldiers could now ride inside tracked, armoured hulls, shutting out bullets and shell fragments, as much as the machinery of war would allow. Lieutenant-General Guy Gruter Simonds, commanding II Canadian Corps, recognized that infantry needed to keep up with tanks, better protected, to make assaults more survivable. Canada’s role in conceiving, organizing, and operating the Kangaroo regiment is a point of national pride. The first Kangaroo squadron was organized on August 28,
1944, under the name 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron. It was administratively attached to the 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment, better known as The Elgin Regiment, based right here in St. Thomas. From the Elgin Regiment’s workshops, staff, and armoured troops, men were drawn to form crews, mechanics, drivers, and commanders. The transformation was rapid. Guns were removed, armour modified, interiors reconfigured. Soon, because of their greater availability, Ram tanks (proudly Canadian-built) replaced many of the early ‘Defrocked Priests’ (as disarmed, converted Priests were sometimes called).
The Municipality of Central Elgin proudly honours and remembers the sacrifice of our Veterans and all those who continue to serve our country. Lest We Forget.
“The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them.” Czesław Miłosz
Have questions or need assistance? Our team is here to help. centralelgin.org 519-631-4860
1026 Talbot St, St Thomas • 519-631-8428 www.elgincarpetonesaintthomas.com
Page 6 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • November 2025
To advertise here contact Geoff@villagerpublications.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs