Lieutenant-Colonel F.L. Caron
12th (Three Rivers) Tank Regiment

There was a good deal of shelling, and continuous mortaring and sniping of our positions in the area. In spite of the enemy fire, Lt.-Col. Caron was continually among the forward positions personally supervising the employment of his Squadrons and seeking information about the enemy, which he might employ to advantage.

(D.S.O. citation, 30 June 1945)

Born in Montreal on 11 November 1918, Fernand Ludger Caron was a University of Montreal graduate and an accountant in civil life. He volunteered for active service in September 1939 and was soon commissioned with the Régiment de Trois-Rivières and rose to second-in-command of the redesignated 12th Tank Regiment in 1943.

He was wounded near the end of the Sicily campaign in July 1943. Following evacuation and leave home, he rejoined the regiment in the Italian campaign. After Lieutenant-Colonel J.F. Bingham’s brief stint in command, Caron took over the Three Rivers Tanks in March 1944.

He remined on duty for the rest of the campaign through the heavy fighting up the Italian peninsula from the Liri Valley through the Gustav Line to the Gothic Line. The armoured regiments redeployed to Northwest Europe in March 1943 along with the rest of I Canadian Corps.

Caron earned the Distinguished Service Order for his actions on 15 April 1945 during the liberation of Holland:

By his energy, good judgment, and disregard for his own safety, Lt.-Col. Caron was able to break up resistance in the Doesburg area, thereby, contributing in a large measure to the success of the 1st Canadian Division drive southward from Zutphen.

Remaining with the reserve army after demobilization, Caron commanded Régiment de Chateauguay from 1949 to 1951 when he was promoted to brigadier. He was named honourary lieutenant-colonel of Régiment de Trois-Rivières in 1980.

Caron died on 5 December 1997 in St. Sauveur des Monts, Quebec.