4th Canadian Division
| 4th Canadian Division | |
|---|---|
|
4th Canadian Division formation patch | |
| Active |
1916–1919 1940–1946 2013–present |
| Country |
 Canada |
| Allegiance |
 Queen Elizabeth II[1][2] |
| Branch |
 Canadian Expeditionary Force Land Force Command.png){kind=icon} Canadian Army |
| Type |
Infantry Armoured |
| Engagements |
Battle of Normandy Battle of the Scheldt |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
David Watson George Kitching Chris Vokes |
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantry Division in 1941 and then converted to armour and redesignated as the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division.[3] Beginning in 1916 the division adopted a distinctive green-coloured formation patch as its insignia. In 2013 it was announced that Land Force Central Area would be redesignated 4th Canadian Division.[4]
First World War
The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the Britain in April 1916 from several existing units and others scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter. Under the command of Major-General David Watson, the Division embarked for France in August of that year where they served both in the Western Front in France and in Flanders until Armistice Day. The 4th Canadian Division was a part of the Canadian Corps in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which attacked and defeated the Germans, driving them from the ridge. As a result the Canadians became known as masters of offensive warfare and an elite fighting force.[5]
In the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, the 4th Canadian Division was given the job of capturing Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of Vimy Ridge. However, when they attempted to capture the hill, they were hampered by fire from the "Pimple", which was the other prominent height at Vimy Ridge. To capture Hill 145, forces which were supposed to attack the Pimple were redeployed and captured Hill 145.
Infantry Units
10th Canadian Brigade:
- 44th (Manitoba) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918. (Re-designated New Brunswick in August 1918);
- 46th (South Saskatchewan) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918;
- 47th (British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918. (Re-designated West Ontario in February 1918);
- 50th (Calgary) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918.
11th Canadian Brigade:
- 54th (Kootenay) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918;
- 75th (Mississauga) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918;
- 87th (Canadian Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry. June 1916 - 11 November 1918 (transferred from 12th Canadian Brigade);
- 102nd (North British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918.
12th Canadian Brigade:
- 38th (Ottawa) Battalion Canadian Infantry. June 1916 - 11 November 1918;
- 51st (Edmonton) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 13 November 1916 (Became the 51st Garrison Battalion);
- 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918;
- 73rd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 19 April 1917 (disbanded);
- 78th (Winnipeg Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - 11 November 1918;
- 85th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1917 - 11 November 1918;
- 87th (Canadian Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - June 1916. (transferred to 11th Canadian Brigade).
Pioneers:
- 67th (Western Scot) Pioneer Battalion Canadian Infantry. 1 September 1916 – 11 November 1918;
Battles and Engagements on the Western Front
1916:
- Battle of Le Transloy - 1–17 October
- Battle of the Ancre Heights - 17 October – 11 November, (capture of the Regina Trench)
- Battle of the Ancre - 13–18 November
1917:
- Battle of Vimy Ridge - 9–14 April
- Affairs South of the Souchez River - 3–25 June
- Capture of Avion - 26–29 June
- Battle of Hill 70 - 15–25 August
- Second Battle of Passchendaele - 26 October – 10 November
1918:
- Battle of Amiens - 9–11 August
- Actions round Damery - 15–17 August
- Battle of Drocourt-Quéant - 2–3 September
- Battle of the Canal du Nord 27 September – 1 October
- Battle of Valenciennes 1–2 November 1–2, (capture of Mont Houy)
- Passage of the Grande Honelle - 5–7 November
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was created by the conversion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. The division proceeded overseas in 1942, with its two main convoys reaching the United Kingdom in August and October.
The division spent almost two years training in the UK before crossing to Normandy in July 1944. In UK, it did participate in war games together with the 1st Armoured Division (Poland), and in France, Low Countries, and Germany, both divisions followed very close paths. It participated in the battle of the Falaise pocket, the advance from Normandy and spent almost two months engaged at the Breskens pocket. It wintered in the Netherlands and took part in the final advance across northern Germany.
Formation
1944–1945
- 21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General's Foot Guards)
- 22nd Armoured Regiment (The Canadian Grenadier Guards)
- 28th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Regiment)
- The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)
- The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
- The Algonquin Regiment
- The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
- 10 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
- Other units
- 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment)
- "D" Squadron, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), Canadian Armoured Corps
- 15th Field Regiment, RCA
- 23rd Field Regiment, RCA
- 5th Anti-tank Regiment, RCA
- 8th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, RCA
- 8th Field Squadron, RCE
- 9th Field Squadron, RCE
- 4th Canadian (Armoured) Divisional Signals, R.C. Sigs
- No. 4 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
- 12 Light Field Ambulance, RCAMC[6]
- No. 8 Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps
Commanding officers
| Date | General officer commanding |
|---|---|
| 10 Jun 1941 – 24 Dec 1941 | Major General L.F. Page, DSO |
| 2 Feb 1942 – 29 Feb 1944 | Major General F.F. Worthington, CB, MC, MM |
| 1 Mar 1944 – 21 Aug 1944 | Major General George Kitching, DSO |
| 22 Aug 1944 – 30 Nov 1944 | Harry W. Foster, CBE, DSO |
| 1 Dec 1944 – 5 Jun 1945 | Major General Chris Vokes, CBE, DSO |
David Vivian Currie VC
David Vivian Currie VC was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in command of a battle group of tanks from The South Alberta Regiment, artillery, and infantry of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada at St. Lambert-sur-Dives, during the final actions to close the Falaise Gap. This was the only Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian soldier during the Normandy campaign (from 6 June 1944 to the end of August 1944), and the only VC ever awarded to a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
The then 32 year-old Currie was a Major in The South Alberta Regiment. During the Battle of Falaise, Normandy, between 18–20 August 1944, Currie was in command of a small mixed force of tanks, self-propelled anti-tank guns and infantry which had been ordered to cut off one of the Germans' main escape routes.
After Currie led the attack on the village of St. Lambert-sur-Dives and consolidated a position halfway inside it, he repulsed repeated enemy attacks over the next day and a half. Despite heavy casualties, Major Currie's command destroyed seven enemy tanks, twelve 88 mm guns and 40 vehicles, which led to the deaths of 300 German soldiers, 500 wounded and 1,100 captured. The remnants of two German armies were denied an escape route.
Gallery
-
Members of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division demonstrating the use of flame throwers across a canal, Maldegem, October 1944.
-
Armoured cars in the Belgian-Dutch border town of Putte – 11 October 1944
-
Major David V. Curry (with pistol), accepting the surrender of German troops at St. Lambert-sur-Dives, France, 19 August 1944. This photo captures the actions that led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross
-
Canadians enter Bergen-op-Zoom, early November 1944
-
_-_Monument.jpg)
War Memorial in Moerbrugge
-
Plaque on the World War II Memorial in Moerbrugge
Land Force Central Area and 2013 reactivation
The LFCA was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously Central Militia Area and the Regular Force Army units and formations in Ontario from the northern Lakehead region to the border with Quebec. At that point in time, the six subordinate militia districts were reorganized into four: Northern Ontario District, London District, Toronto District, and Ottawa District each one garrisoned by a brigade of militia troops and a small number of regular support staff.[8]
In 2013, the LFCA was renamed the "4th Canadian Division". With this change of name, the formation was also granted the identifying patch and historical lineage of the division that fought in the two world wars.
4th Canadian Division Organization
- 4th Canadian Division Training Centre – Meaford
- 2 Intelligence Company – Toronto
- 7 Intelligence Company – Ottawa
- 2 Area Construction Troop, 4 Engineer Support Regiment – Petawawa
- 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment – Kingston – On 17 April 2010, the regular force 2 Electronic Warfare Squadron and reserve force 772 Electronic Warfare Squadron combined to form the new 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment under LFCA.[9][10]
- 2 Military Police Regiment
2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
| 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group | CFB Petawawa | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 CMBG Headquarters & Signal Squadron | Communications | CFB Petawawa |
| 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery | CFB Petawawa | |
| The Royal Canadian Dragoons | Armoured | CFB Petawawa |
| 2 Combat Engineer Regiment | CFB Petawawa | |
| 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment | Mechanized infantry | CFB Petawawa |
| 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment* | Mechanized infantry | CFB Gagetown |
| 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment | Light infantry | CFB Petawawa |
| 2 Service Battalion | Combat Support | CFB Petawawa |
*2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment is stationed at Gagetown, which falls under the administration of Land Force Atlantic Area
31 Canadian Brigade Group
| 31 Canadian Brigade Group | London | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | London and Sarnia, Ontario | |
| 1st Hussars | Armoured reconnaissance | London, Ontario |
| The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) | Reconnaissance | Windsor, Ontario |
| 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Guelph and Hamilton, Ontario |
| 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) | Engineer | St. Thomas and Waterloo, Ontario |
| 31 Signal Regiment | Communications | Hamilton, Ontario |
| The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) | Light infantry | Hamilton, Ontario |
| 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment | Light infantry | London and Stratford, Ontario |
| The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada | Light infantry | Cambridge and Kitchener, Ontario |
| The Grey and Simcoe Foresters | Light infantry | Owen Sound and Barrie |
| The Essex and Kent Scottish | Light infantry | Windsor and Chatham, Ontario |
| The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) | Light infantry | Hamilton, Ontario |
| 31 Service Battalion | London, Hamilton, Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie |
32 Canadian Brigade Group
| 32 Canadian Brigade Group | Toronto | |
|---|---|---|
| 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | Toronto | |
| The Governor General's Horse Guards | Reconnaissance | Toronto |
| The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) | Reconnaissance | Toronto and Aurora, Ontario |
| 7th Toronto Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Toronto |
| 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Brantford, Ontario |
| 32 Combat Engineer Regiment | Engineer | Toronto |
| 32 Signal Regiment | Communications | Toronto, Ontario |
| The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada | Light infantry | Toronto (downtown and Scarborough) |
| The Royal Regiment of Canada | Light infantry | Toronto |
| The Lincoln and Welland Regiment | Light infantry | St. Catharines and Welland, Ontario |
| The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) | Light infantry | Brampton, Oakville and Georgetown |
| 48th Highlanders of Canada | Light infantry | Toronto |
| The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's Own) | Light infantry | Toronto and Mississauga |
| 32 Service Battalion | Toronto |
33 Canadian Brigade Group
Units
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Personnel Services
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Operations Services
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Technical Services
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Engineers Services Squadron
- 4 CDSG Signal Squadron
Branches
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Safety Services
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Environmental Services
- 4 CDSB Petawawa Corporate Services
Other Reserve Units
- 3 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group – Borden
Abbreviations
- ASU: Area Support Unit
- CFB: Canadian Forces Base
- RCA: The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
- RCAC: Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
- CFMS: Canadian Forces Medical Service
See also
References
- ↑ Department of Canadian Heritage (27 September 2015). "The Queen of Canada". The Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada (2 October 2014). "The Royal Family". The Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ "www.canadiansoldiers.com". canadiansoldiers.com.
- ↑ M.Dorosh. "CSC: Clarification on the Canadian Army's Historic Insignia Announcement". canadiansoldierscom.blogspot.ca.
- ↑ Honey, K., (9 April 2002). A once-proud history, slipping away. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on: 2 September 2008.
- ↑ "Juno Beach Centre - First Canadian Army, 8 May 1945". Junobeach.org. 1945-05-08. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
- ↑ "4th Canadian (Armoured) Division". Canadian Soldier. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ↑ "Domestic Military Organization 1900-1999". Canadian Soldiers.com. 22 February 2013.
- ↑ nurun.com (2010-04-19). "'It's a great day to be a signaller' | The Kingston Whig-Standard". Thewhig.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
- ↑
External links
- Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 1917
- Lieutenant Charles Pearson: The Lincoln and Welland Regiment's WWII Campaign
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