4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
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| 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
 2nd Canadian Infantry Division Formation Patch |
|
| Active | 1939-1945 |
| Country | Canada |
| Allegiance | Allies |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 2nd Canadian Infantry Division |
| Engagements | Dieppe Raid Normandy The Scheldt The Rhineland Battle of Groningen |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
n/a |
The 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade was mobilized on 1 September 1939 part of 2nd Canadian Infantry Division , even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. However, further expansion of the Brigade was hindered by a temporary halt in recruitment and uncertainty about overseas deployment. Consequently, brigade headquarters were not actually formed until May and June 1940.
The 2nd Division conducted Operation Jubilee, a large-scale raid on Dieppe, France in August 1942 with the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades, suffering extensive losses in the landing and the ensuing withdrawal.[1]
Following reconstruction, the Brigade with 2nd Canadian Division moved to Normandy in time to serve with the British 2nd Army. It then participated in the advance along the Channel coast with the Canadian 1st Army including the liberation of Dieppe. The division saw heavy action in the Netherlands in late 1944 and took part in the final offensives in 1945.
Contents |
[edit] Organization
In 1939, The Second Division was organized along regional lines, like the 1st Canadian Infantry Division.4th Infantry Brigade's orbat was as follows[2]
[edit] Fourth Canadian Infantry Brigade - Ontario
- The Royal Regiment of Canada - Toronto, Ontario
- The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) - Hamilton, Ontario
- The Essex Scottish Regiment - Windsor, Ontario
- The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun) - Ottawa, Ontario
[edit] Fourth Canadian Infantry Brigade 1944-45
[edit] Victoria Cross
[edit] John Weir Foote
Rev. John Weir Foote, VC , CD (May 5, 1904—May 2, 1988 , In December 1939, after the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted in the Canadian Army. He was posted to The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) (RHLI) as the Regimental Chaplain with the rank of Honorary Captain. He was 38 years old when, as padre of the RHLI, when (during the Dieppe Raid) he performed the following deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:
On 19 August 1942 at Dieppe, France, Captain Foote coolly and calmly during the eight hours of the battle walked about collecting the wounded, saving many lives by his gallant efforts and inspiring those around him by his example. At the end of this gruelling time he climbed from the landing craft that was to have taken him to safety and deliberately walked into the German position in order to be taken prisoner so that he could be a help to those men who would be in captivity until May 5, 1945.
His VC award was gazetted after the Second World War in 1946. Prior to his death, John Foote donated his medals to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry where it is held at the RHLI Heritage Museum at the John W Foote VC Armoury.
[edit] Frederick Albert Tilson
Frederick Albert Tilson was in The Essex Scottish Regiment in an administrative role. By early 1945, he held the rank of acting Major. During the Battle of the Rhineland, he volunteered to go forward and lead an infantry company in an attack on the Hochwald.
On 1 March 1945, near Uedem, Germany, he led "C" Company in a 500 yard attack through barbed wire and enemy automatic weapons fire. He personally destroyed an enemy machine gun, and though wounded several times, refused to be evacuated while he organized his men for defence against German counter-attacks. Six times he made trips to a neighbouring company to get more ammunition and grenades for his men and was hit in his unwounded leg on his last trip.
In 1945 Tilson who joined The War Amps Association (a non-profit organization of "amputees helping amputees" (War Amps) in 1945. He also returned to his former place of business as vice-president in charge of sales.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Robertson, Terence. The Shame and The Glory
- ^ Stacey, C.P. The Canadian Army 1939-1945 (Queen's Printer, 1948)
