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1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment - The Kangaroos
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It may surprise you to learn that there were/are Canadian Kangaroos - a whole Regiment of them. The name is not the sole distinguishing characteristic as they were also the only Canadian regiment never to set foot in Canada having been formed in Holland in 1944 and disbanded in Germany, June 20th, 1945. Unfortunately, those Kangaroos of the human kind are disappearing quickly. The Elgin Military Museum is very proud to help keep their spirit alive and provide an opportunity for future generations to appreciate this unique Canadian contribution to the Second World War effort. The surprise doesn't end there. These Kangaroos are not only Canadian but arguably, the very first modern day armoured personnel carriers - the forerunners of the M113 APCs on display on the grounds of the Elgin Military Museum.
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Canadian Ingenuity
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With D-Day (June 6th 1944) behind them, good old Canadian ingenuity channeled by Lieutenant General Guy Simonds, Commander of the II Canadian Corps in Northwest Europe, saw Canadian troops modify 72 American M7 Priest self-propelled guns (guns removed and scrounged armour plate added) to create vehicles that could carry troops quickly and relatively safely to the front line. They were dubbed Kangaroos. Thus, the first of many Canadian Kangaroos was cut and bolted together in Holland and christened 'Marion' - the name of the wife of Bill Copley, a Canadian soldier from St. Thomas, Ontario. In the irreverent spirit of the times, these modified 'Priests" were said to be 'defrocked" and those they carried were said to be 'empouched'. Their effectiveness proved under fire, the well worn Priests were retired and the Montreal built light tank, the RAM, was modified to carry on the role.
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Attached to the Elgin Regiment
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On August 26, 1944, the squadron was formally designated the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment. While the regiment was made up of soldiers from across Canada, for administrative purposes, it was attached to the Canadian 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment - 'The Elgins' - from St. Thomas, Ontario under the command of the DCO of the Elgins, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon M. Churchill. Success during the break out of Normandy resulted in a further transition. Only two months later, on October 24th, 1944, the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment became the core of a two Regiment team of Kangaroos and other specialized vehicles under the 79th Armoured Division of the British Army where they played a significant role to the end of the hostilities in Europe.
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Colours Officially Retired
This example of Canadian ingenuity saved countless lives in the final years of the grueling Second World War and subsequent generations of armoured personnel carriers continue to do so today.
In September 2011, the Armoury of The Elgin Regiment in St. Thomas, Ontario became the new home of the Kangaroo Regiment Association as a permanent testament to the metal of these men and their unique machine.
In September 2011, the Armoury of The Elgin Regiment in St. Thomas, Ontario became the new home of the Kangaroo Regiment Association as a permanent testament to the metal of these men and their unique machine.
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Unceremoniously disbanded in 1945 while still in Europe, the Regiment’s distinguished Colours were finally officially retired to the care of the Elgin Regiment in September 2011 in a ceremony attended by Lord Elgin, the Honorary Colonel of ‘The Elgins’.
This recognition was the result of the determined efforts of Bill Miller of Calgary, Alberta whose father was a ‘Kangaroo’. Without Mr. Miller, much of the history of this should be famous regiment would have been lost to the ravages of time. |
'Marion'
Marion Copley of St. Thomas, Ontario
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The first of many Canadian Kangaroos (armoured personnel carriers) was cut and bolted together in Holland and christened 'Marion', the name of the wife of Bill Copley, a Canadian soldier from St. Thomas, Ontario. Bill and Marion were married in March of 1941 just before he went overseas. They made a handsome couple. Bill was a member of the Elgin Military Museum.
The original Marion did not make it home from Europe. However, this replica of the Marion II (which appears in the banner at the top of this page) was lovingly created by Canadian Kangaroos and it is now in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. 
The original 'Marion'.
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Bob Copley as a student at 'STCI' (St. Thomas Collegiate Institute) and right, in the service of his country.
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