List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII

The Canadian 1st Infantry Division was formed at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. The division was sent to fight on the Western Front in France in February 1915.

During World War II the division was mobilized on 1 September, 1939, even before the formal declaration of war, with the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade , 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade , and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade . The division crossed the Atlantic in two main convoys at the end of 1939, with additional troops reaching the UK at the beginning of February 1940.

The unit's insignia was a simple red rectangle. From this, and a fearsome fighting reputation, two generations of German soldiers (in both World Wars) gave the division the nickname "The Red Patch Devils".

Formation history

World War I

World War II

All elements of the division were far from completely equipped: of the artillery and machine guns on hand, most were obsolete, and the troops lacked steel helmets. Only gradually did a full complement of more modern weapons, equipment, and transport begin reaching the division in 1940.

Nevertheless, in the wake of the Dunkirk evacuation the Canadians were ordered to France in June 1940. Only the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade actually arrived on the continent, and it returned almost immediately. The division trained in England for three years before transferring to the Mediterranean to take part in the assault landing on Sicily. It then landed in Calabria and fought its way up the Italian peninsula from Ortona to the Senio with the British 8th Army, earning an excellent reputation along the way.

The 1st moved from Italy as part of Operation Goldflake in March 1945, finishing the war in the Netherlands with Canadian 1st Army.

Formation

World War I

The component battalions were originally known by their province of origin but this was replaced by numerical designations before the division sailed from Quebec City.

1st Canadian Brigade

• 1st (Western Ontario) Battalion
• 2nd (Eastern Ontario) Battalion
• 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Battalion
• 4th (Central Ontario) Battalion

2nd Canadian Brigade 

• 5th (Western Cavalry) Battalion
• 7th (1st British Columbia Regiment) Battalion
• 8th (Canadian Rifles) Battalion
• 10th (Canadians) Battalion

3rd Canadian Brigade 

• 13th (Royal Highlanders) Battalion
• 14th (Royal Montreal Regiment) Battalion
• 15th (48th Highlanders) Battalion
• 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion

The division included a 4th Brigade which was broken up before moving to France.

World War II

1st Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Royal Canadian Regiment
• The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
• 48th Highlanders of Canada

2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade

• Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
• The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
• The Loyal Edmonton Regiment

3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade

• Le Royal 22e Régiment
• The Carleton and York Regiment
• The West Nova Scotia Regiment

Other Units 

• 4th Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards)
• The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun)
• 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
• 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
• 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
• 1st Anti-tank Regiment, RCA
• 2nd Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, RCA

(In July 1944, the divisional reconnaissance battalion (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) converted to infantry and transferred to 5th Canadian Armoured Division, to be replaced by The Royal Canadian Dragoons. The Princess Louise returned to its original role in Northwest Europe, and The Royal Canadians became the armoured car regiment of I Canadian Corps .)

Battles

World War I

• Battle of Vimy Ridge

World War II

• Landing in Sicily
• Motta Montecorvino
• San Leonardo
• Ortona
• Gustav Line
• Hitler Line
• Gothic Line
• Lomone Crossing
• Rimini Line