Polish Carpathian Lancers Regiment
The Carpathian Lancers Regiment was organized in Homs-Syria, in April, 1940 as the Polish Carpathian Brigade Cavalry Reconnaissance Unit. In January, 1941, in Egypt, the Brigade was reorganized along British Army lines and from that time was called the Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade (or the officially titled English name of Polish Independent Brigade Group).
Consequently in June, 1941, Carpathian Lancers gave up their horses to the English and they started to undergo the process of mechanization. It needed of course much time and intensive schooling and training. They used for that purpose various equipment usually of old types among the others they used Marmon Harrington armoured cars, Universal Carriers, American tanks M3 Stuart and some vehicles captured of enemy both Italian and German. The schooling lasted month after month at intervals for executing the combat duties in the Western Desert. For instance The Carpathian Lancers took part in the defence of besieged Tobruk, Libya from the 28th August until 9th December, 1941 (i.e. the Regiment remained all 104 days in the frontline). After leaving Tobruk the Lancers advanced in pursuit towards Acroma which they reached and conquered on forenoon of the 10th of December. On the 19-th December, 1941 the Regiment went back to Egypt where it was retrain and re-equip with motorized transport at Mena Camp under the Pyramids. During further dangers to Egypt in July, 1942 the Carpathian Lancers Regiment took part in the defence of the Nile Delta at Delta Barrage. Polish Tank Platoon of the Carpathian Lancers received captured PzKpfw III for training purposes, while in Egypt in August of 1942.
In the year 1943 the Carpathian Lancers Regiment became the Wide Reconnaissance unit of the Polish 2nd Corps under the command of Gen Anders, and was equipped with American armoured cars, type Staghound (14t) Mk. I furnished with 37 mm AT gun, and Staghound Mk. II furnished with 76.2 mm howitzer, and Staghound AA furnished with anti-aircraft machine guns mounted in the turret. The regiment also had a battery of self-propelled guns M3, caliber 75 mm mounted on half-truck chassis (it was the only regiment equipped in the heavy armoured cars in the Polish Forces in the West engaged in the battlefields).
In December, 1943 the Polish 2nd Corps Italy included to British Eight Army landed in Italy. In its ranks the Polish went through the whole Italian campaign. The Carpathian Lancers took part in all fights of the Polish Forces starting, in February, 1944, defending Sangro River front-line through Monte Cassino Battle, capture of Ancona, and entering Bologna on April 21, 1945. Since the Monte Cassino Battle the Lancers already fought for all time solely as a real reconnaissance unit on their Staghound armoured cars.
Just after the war the Polish 2nd Corps underwent a new reorganization. There was formed new combat unit named the 2nd Warsaw Armoured Division. As a result of that the Carpathian Lancers Regiment became divisional reconnaissance unit. It gave up all its armoured cars, Staghound, to the 12th Podolski Lancers Regiment which was to execute duties Carpathian Lancers did hitherto. The regiment got Sherman tanks of different types and modifications. In fact it was old, used equipment being suitable for schooling and training only and incomplete (e.g. without 17 pound AT guns). After rearming they decided to transfer and paint onto tanks and armoured cars the same names as they were given. And so photographs present the Carpathian Lancers during their march past the front of Gen H. Alexander and Gen W. Anders, in the vicinity of Loreto, on the 15th of August, 1945. To emphasize their cavalry tradition, the lancers wore or carried over their left shoulders French leather cavalry pouches that they had yet received when having been placed under French command from May to June, 1940.
Edited Account by "Nacht" from Andrzej Antoni Kaminski's work cited
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