Elgin Regiment at Thames Valley Training Camp, August-September, 1940

Elgin Regiment at Thames Valley Training Camp, August-September, 1940. Elgin County Photograph Collection, C4 Sh4 P9

On May 24, 1940 the Elgin Regiment (the Elgins) was mobilized and recruitment began in early June, 1940. In one month the entire 962-man wartime strength for the battalion was achieved. After extensive training, the Elgins moved to Toronto in 1941 where they were placed in the 12th Brigade.

The Regiment was converted to armour and redesignated as the 25th Armour Regiment on January 26, 1942 and was finally shipped overseas to the United Kingdom in the fall of that year.

In January 1943, the Regiment was again reorganized and the Elgins became the 1st Tank Delivery Regiment (eventually becoming the 25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment) and were tasked with delivering tanks to Canadian Armoured regiments engaged in operations in forward areas. The Regiment was divided into several squadrons each attached to different Divisions of the Canadian Army. The Elgins supported these armoured regiments in Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany.

After the defeat of Hitler and the Nazi regime, the squadrons of the Elgin Regiment were reunited in Holland and subsequently moved to England in 1945 to prepare for departure back to Canada. The Elgins returned to St. Thomas in January 1946. Currently, the Elgin Regiment is the 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins), headquartered in St. Thomas.

 

Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Welcome from the County of Elgin
Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Program ECVF 68/1 Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Welcome from the County of Elgin ECVF 68/1
Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Welcome from the 2nd Battalion The Elgin Regiment Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Reception Schedule
Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Welcome from the 2nd Battalion The Elgin Regiment ECVF 68/1 Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Reception Schedule ECVF 68/1
St. Thomas Times January 26, 1946 Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Regimental Colours
St. Thomas Times January 26, 1946. R6S5Sh2B3F10 Elgin Regiment Repatriation Reception, January, 1946 - Regimental Colours ECVF 68/1

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