In early September 1944, the Kangaroos saw their first operational use at Le Havre, carrying soldiers of the British 51st Highland Division. The result was remarkable: only one infantry casualty was reported in that lift. That alone was a testament to the effectiveness of the concept. Over subsequent operations, including Boulogne, Calais, and in later assaults through the Netherlands and into Germany, the Kangaroos provided mechanized infantry transport, enabling surprise, speed, and safer advances in situations that previously demanded costly on-foot advances under fire. The formal unit, the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment (1 CACR), was constituted in October 1944 using the earlier squadron as its foundation. It was the only Canadian armoured regiment to be both formed and disbanded overseas. Battle honours earned by the Kangaroos include The Roer, The Rhineland, The Reichswald, Cleve and Goch-Calcar Road, among others.
Despite the danger, Kangaroo lifts were often successful, with infantry casualties sharply reduced in many operations. The mobility allowed commanders to better coordinate armour-infantry cooperation in assaults, improving mom- entum and reducing exposure in no-man’s land. For example, during Operation Totalize in August 1944, the Kangaroo concept was already being tested in modified Priests, anticipating what would follow. After October, Ram Kangaroos became increasingly standard.
The regiment’s last major action came in the final months of the European war. They crossed the Rhine on the 26th of March 1945, participating in Operation Plunder, where they aided in clearing the Rhineland, took part in liberation efforts across the Netherlands, and carried soldiers from both Canadian and British infantry regiments on dozens of operational lifts. The 1 CACR was finally disbanded in Holland (June 20th, 1945). Under its brief existence, only about ten months, the Kangaroos preserved lives, helped accelerate Allied gains, and helped establish doctrine for what would become the modern armoured infantry carrier. The connection with The Elgin Regiment remains central to how the Kangaroos are remembered locally. Men and officers from The Elgin’s played key administrative,
Operating these vehicles in battle was more than a mechanical conversion. Crews had to adapt to new hazards. The absence of a turret meant a different vulnerability. Radios were inconsistent (only some vehicles were equipped); logistics of fuel, maintenance, and organizing ‘lifts’ of infantry required constant im- provisation. One recorded loss occurred on February 9, 1945, when Trooper Russell ‘Russ’ Frederick Gerry of Strathroy, Ontario, serving in A Squadron of the 1 CACR, and two members of his crew (Trooper A. DeLisle and Trooper J. W. Park) were killed. He was 20 years old.
118 Wellington Street, St. Thomas 519-631-1160 We must never forget L. Brent Sifton Grandson of W.W.1 Veteran; The late Leonard B. Sifton
We remember and honour our veterans
190 Wilson Ave., St. Thomas 519-631-5530 elmdalememorial@bellnet.ca Remembering Canada’s Heroes 190 Wilson Ave., St. Thomas 519-631-5530 elmdalememorialpark@outlook.com “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude” Cynthia Ozick Remembering Canada’s Heroes
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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • November 2025 Page 7
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