Major A.P. Ardagh
9th Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Dragoons)

Doc planned to go in for aviation, and received training at Camp Borden for two summers, but a “crack-up” cut short a very promising career in that line. Since then Doc has taken considerable interest in riding, besides various other activities, and no one was surprised to hear that he had decided to join the regular army as a cavalryman, in the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Doc will do well in the army—we expect to hear of his continued success, and we all wish him good billets and quick promotions.

(RMC Yearbook, 1931, 34)

Born on 30 March 1908 in Orillia, Ontario, Ainslie Power “Doc” Ardagh graduated from RMC in 1931 and joined the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He had showed an early interest in flying but a crash in 1929 put an end to a career in the air force. Following mobilization in 1940, he served overseas with the Dragoons at the rank of major and filled various staff positions with the Armoured Corps until January 1942 when recalled to Canada. Nine months later he returned to England and by January 1943 had become second-in-command of the 9th Armoured (British Columbia Dragoons) Regiment.

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