The Regimental Manual Second Edition.pdf - Lord Strathcona's Horse

REGIMENTAL MANUALHISTORY OF THE REGIMENTA Company Westminster Regiment (Motor) commanded by Major J.K. Mahony reinforced the Troop.On the other side of the river, meanwhile, the remainder of the Regiment was engaged in a mercilessbattle that resulted in the destruction of more than thirty enemy tanks and guns. Lieutenant Perkins wasawarded the Distinguished Service Order, as was the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel P.G.Griffin, whose battle cry “PUSH ON!” was familiar to every man in the Regiment by the end of the day.Sergeant C.N. Macey and Trooper J.K. Funk of Reconnaissance Troop were awarded the DistinguishedConduct Medal and the Military Medal respectively, while Major Mahony of the Westminsters wasawarded the Victoria Cross. 146. After the Melfa, the Regiment participated in a number of major battles in Italy, including thebreaching of the Gothic Line on 1 September 1944; Misano Ridge on 3 September; Coriano on 12/13September; the Lamone Crossing on 12 December; and Fosso Munio on 19 December. In the latterbattle, the Light Aid Detachment officer, Captain Whittle, demonstrated in full measure the spirit of“Perseverance” when, while under heavy fire, he recovered a bogged tank that was holding up theRegiment’s advance. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross and his driver the MilitaryMedal.7. The Regiment left Italy on 18 February 1945, landing in southern France a few days later toproceed to the front in North West Europe. Arriving in Holland on 2 April, the Regiment participated inoperation “Dutch Cleanser” along with the 8 th New Brunswick Hussars. During this operation a longdash was made from Arnhem to the Zuider Zee to cut off the remaining Germans in Western Holland.This was to be Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) last major operation of the war.8. During active servicein the Second World War theRegiment lost 12 officers and95 other ranks killed. Thewounded numbered 27 officersand 194 other ranks. 15Decorations conferred onmembers of the Regimentincluded five DistinguishedService Orders, three MilitaryCrosses, two DistinguishedConduct Medals, eightMilitary Medals, one Memberof the Order of the BritishEmpire, one British EmpireMedal, ten Mentions inDispatches, one Bronze Crossand one Bronze Star (UnitedStates of America). 16Figure 6 – Regimental Tanks Fighting in Holland (Regimental Museum Archives)14 See pp. 67 - 81 of Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. McAvity, A Record of Achievement, (Toronto: Brigdens Limited, 1947) for anaccount of the Crossing of the Melfa River.15 Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. McAvity, pp. 257 – 259.16 Ibid. p. 260. This list was published in A Record of Achievement in 1947 and is not exhaustive. It did not include honours andawards won by Strathconas who were serving away from the Regiment nor account for any awards that may have been grantedafter the war.1-7