Lieutenant-Colonel Allan Gregory
Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
Regina Rifles Regiment

Lt-Col Gregory was what is known as a “cool turkey”, his coolness under fire was remarkable to watch. His loss will be keenly felt by both his unit and ourselves. We understand his wound is not serious and he may be back before long.

(Iron Brigade News, 30 Aug 1944)

Born on 23 December 1915 in Battleford, Saskatchewan, Allan Stuart Gregory was a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, lawyer, and the son of Liberal MP John Gregory. He enlisted with the Regina Rifles in 1940 and went overseas as a lieutenant in August 1941. After a series of promotions, he was battalion second-in-command during the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. He served with the Regina Rifles through the Normandy campaign until appointed commanding officer of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders on 12 August 1944.

He served with the Regina Rifles through the Normandy campaign until appointed commanding officer of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders on 12 August 1944.

The Camerons had already gone through several commanding officer since arriving with the 2nd Division in early July. Lieutenant-Colonel Norman Ross had been wounded in the shelling of his jeep on 22 July. Lieutenant-Colonel John Runcie was injured in a night attack on 7 August. Major Bill Ferguson died the next day. Major E.P. Thompson filled in until Gregory’s arrival. His tenure would be equally brief. He was wounded by a mortar attack on battalion headquarters on 28 August. Thompson resumed command as acting lieutenant-colonel.

By the end of October 1944, Gregory recovered to replace Lieutenant-Colonel F.M. Matheson of the Regina Rifles. He led the battalion until the end of the war, earning the D.S.O. “I don’t exactly know what for. I never read the citation,” Gregory joked. The citation in fact read in part:

Lieutenant Colonel Gregory disregarding his own safety during the day had positioned himself in the town despite consistent enemy shelling and sniping … The actions and energy of this officer proved to be an inspiration to the troops under his command … The success which the Regina Rifle Regiment achieved and the aggressive eagerness displayed by this unit may be attributed to a great extent to Lieutenant Colonel Gregory. This officer by his leadership, persistence, energy and coolness in action against the enemy was an example to all ranks.

In April 1945, he was named acting commander of the 7th Infantry Brigade and command of the Regina Rifles passed to his friend Major Gordon Brown. “Allan Gregory, or ‘Greg,’ as I knew him,” Brown recalled, “was a competent and hard working officer who took his responsibilities very seriously.” He returned home in January 1946 and later that year was called to the British Columbia Bar. He died of a brain tumor in Vancouver on 10 September 1955, at the age of only 39.