Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association History Website
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Presented by the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association (Cavalry)
Sponsored by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada
Formation Orders of Battle are as of the start of the war or when created. It was not uncommon for units to change roles and/or formations. Each divisional formation would also have assets assigned to them from the supporting branches. This would include but may not be limited to: Royal Canadian Artillery, Anti-Tank Regiment, Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Canadian Postal Corps, Canadian Provost Corps, and Canadian Intelligence Corps. These have been left out of the Orders of Battle for brevity.
On 17 July 1940, the British VII Corps was reformed (it was active during the First World War) in order to defend against an anticipated German invasion. Its area of operations was south east England in the counties of Surrey, Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. The corps consisted of 1st Canadian Infantry Division, 1st Canadian Armoured Division, and the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (a division sized infantry force). The corps was commanded by Maj-Gen Andrew McNaughton.
On 25 December 1940, it was renamed the Canadian Corps.
Commanders
Once there was enough of a Canadian military presence in England, a Corps formation was created for administrative purposes. It was officially created on 25 December 1940 and was composed of 1st and 2nd Canadian Infantry Divisions. Its primary concern was the training of Canadian forces. Canadian Corps was commanded by Maj-Gen McNaughton until replaced by Maj-Gen Peakes in November 1941. Canadian Corps was re-designated as I Canadian Corps on 6 April 1942 as a part of the 1st Canadian Army.
Commanders
As of 1942, there were 5 Canadian Divisions and 2 independent tank brigades established in England. At that point, a Canadian Army formation was created from the Canadian Corps. Other than the Dieppe raid, the Army’s focus was on preparing for the defense of England.
The Army was split into two corps formations. To support the Mediterranean campaign; I Canadian Corps was sent to Sicily and Italy while II Canadian Corps was active in D-Day.
The 1st Canadian Army did act as a combat formation in North-west Europe after the completion of the Italian Campaign.
1st Canadian Army was disbanded on 20 Jun 1946.
Commanders
The Canadian Corps was re-designated as I Canadian Corps on 6 April 1942 as a part of the 1st Canadian Army
I Canadian Corps was created to support the Canadian Troops in the Italian Campaign. It consisted of 1CID, 5CAD and 1CAB. It was attached to the British 8th Army from July 1943 to February 1945 when its role in Italy was finished and it moved and reverted back to 1st Canadian Army in North-West Europe (February 1945 – July 1945).
Although a Canadian Corps, different Allied units were attached at different times. While attacking the Gothic Line, I Canadian Corps was supplemented by the British, New Zealand, and Greek troops. In the Netherlands, the British 49th Infantry Division was attached.
The commander of I Canadian Corps Lt-Gen Foulkes took the surrender of German forces in the Netherlands on 6 May 1945.
Commanders
II Canadian Corps was authorized on 14 January 1943. It was composed of Canadian Forces not in I Canadian Corps which were later engaged in Europe. These units were 2CID, 3CID, 4CAD, and 2CAB.
II Canadian Corps engaged in combat in Northwest Europe from D-Day to VE Day. The Corps was the tip of the spear from Caen to Falaise, closing the Falaise Gap in 21 Aug 1944. The were then the left flank of the advancing Allied armies, moving up the coast and taking many port towns. The Corps also was heavily involved in liberating Belgium and the Netherlands. Starting with the Battle of the Scheldt and then the eastern provinces of the Netherlands before driving to the Rhine. Following that, the Corps liberated the northern part of the Netherlands and then crossed into Germany’s North Sea coast.
The Corps was active in Europe with attached units from Poland and Britain for certain operations.
Commanders
1st Canadian Division Headquarters
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade
2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade
3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Canadian Infantry Division (1CID) was mobilized in September 1939. 1CID sailed for England in two groups – 10 December 1939 and 22 December 1939.
Elements of 1CID (1st CIB) were dispatched to France in June 1940 but withdrawn shortly after the fall of Paris without any contact with the German forces.
1CID spent the next two years in England at first in defensive positions due to the threat of invasion, then in training both for the defense of England but also for invasion.
1CID landed in Sicily as a part of Operation Husky (9 July 1943) and then worked its way up the Italian countryside. 1CID crossed into Italy on 3 September 1943.
In 1945, 1CID moved to North-West Europe to join 1st Canadian Army. 1CID was committed to the liberation of the lowlands and ended the war near Rotterdam.
Commanders
2nd Canadian Division Headquarters
4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
2nd Canadian Infantry Division (2CID) was mobilized in September 1939 at the same time as 1CID. However, there was a temporary halt to recruitment due to a lack of supplies. Organization was not complete until after June 1940. Even after June 1940, the Division was spread out across Canada with 4th CIB in Borden, 5th CIB in Valcartier, and 6th in Shilo.
The majority of 2CID moved to England in August 1940. There was a brief relocation of two units (Royal Regiment, Mount Royal Fusiliers) to Iceland for a short Garrison stay until the end of October of that year; at which point they rejoined the rest of the formation.
2CID supplied the bulk of the Canadian Forces for Operation Jubilee (Dieppe) on 19 August 1942. Of the 5,000 Canadian Soldiers committed to the Dieppe landing, over half were causalities (Killed, Wounded, or Captured), In all, only 6% of those who landed on the beaches, were able to return to England.
On D-Day, 2CID did not land but was held in Reserve.
In the summer of 1944, 2CID was active in Normandy. by August, the unit had moved into the valley of the Seine. In September, 2CID was tasked with securing Channel ports. The first was Dieppe, which they captured on 3 September. The next day, the British captured Antwerp. 2CID then focused on the Scheldt Estuary which had to be secured before Antwerp was a viable port. It took 2CID over a month to to take the Scheldt during which they lost over 3,600 soldiers.
March saw 2CID in the Hotchwald Gap to assist in taking the Rhine Crossing. The end of the war saw them in Oldenburg on the German North Coast.
Commanders
2nd Canadian Division Headquarters
7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
9th Canadian Infantry Brigade
3rd Canadian Infantry Division (3CID) was mobilized in 23 May 1940 in response to the German invasion of the Lowlands. It took until September of that year for the organization to be stabilized and a commanding officer appointed. Elements of 3CID landed in Engjand at the end of July 1941.
In July 1943, it was determined that 3CID would begin training for a role in Operation Overlord. To support this, 3CID became part of 1st British Corps (2nd Army) in 1944 and went into accelerated training.
On D-Day (6 June 1944), 3CID landed in Normandy and spent the next month fighting in and around Caen. In early July/August, they were joined by 2CIB and became 2nd Canadian Corps (1st Canadian Army).
During fighting in Normandy, 156 3CID (North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Royal Winnipeg Rifles) and 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment) were executed by 12th SS under Col Kurt Meyer.
After the Falaise Gap, 3CID moved to clear the Scheldt estuary in order to allow the Allies to use the port at Antwerp. It was here that the 3CID gained the nickname “The Water Rats”.
9CIB was the first unit to cross the Rhine River at Rees.
Commanders
4th Canadian Armoured Headquarters
4th Canadian Armoured Brigade
10th Canadian Infantry Brigade
The 4th Canadian Infantry Division was mobilized in 1941 but was re-designated 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division (4CAD) Division in early 1942. This was due to a British request for a second Tank Division (5th Canadian (Armoured) Division was already deployed). Rather than creating a new Division, it was determined to convert an existing infantry division to a tank role. The Government felt that it was less expensive to reallocate an existing (and funded) division than create a new one (requiring new funding to be found).
Unlike 5CAD, 4CAD had access to a larger number of armoured vehicles as was able to arrive in England in the late summer and fall of 1942 with far more training in tank tactics in Canada.
4CAD deployed to Normandy as part of II Canadian Corps on 29 July 1944. During this time, Maj D. V. Currie was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions taken at Saint-Lambert in France. This was the only VC granted to a member of the Canadian Armoured Corps.
4CAD fought throughout the European theatre.
4CAD was commanded by Maj-Gen Worthington from 2 February 1942 until 29 February 1944.
Commanders
This unit starts life as the 1st Canadian Armoured Division on 27 February 1941. By June, it is renamed 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division to avoid confusion with 1 CID.
5 CAD was set up along British Armoured Division standards with a Headquarters squadron, an Armoured Car regiment for reconnaissance, and two brigades – each with 3 regiments.
5 CAD went overseas to England at the end of 1941; spending two uneventful years training.
In July 1943, 1 CID underwent it first significant transformation into a combined arms unit. One armoured brigade was changed to an infantry unit. (11 Canadian Infantry Brigade).
In November 1943, 5 CAD deployed to Italy to relieve the British 8th Army. Unfortunately, the division took over the 8th’s vehicles and equipment which were in sorry state. It took months to re-equip with new vehicles including new M4 Shermans.
The division participated in the Italian Campaign until the end of 1944. In August 1944, a second infantry brigade (12th Canadian Infantry Brigade) was added to the order of battle. This unit was manned by absorbing other Canadian Infantry Units already in Italy.
After the Italian campaign (January 1945), 5CAD (along with 1CIB) moved to Belgium for North-West Europe campaign. Upon arrival, 12 CIB was disbanded being in existence for only 8 months. The rest of 5 CAD was were able to join 1st Canadian Army in time to move into Germany.
Commanders
The 6th, 7th, 8th Divisions were raised in Canada for Home Defense. They each contained 3 Infantry Brigades plus supporting units.
6th Division existed from 18 March 1942 until 31 January 1945 and its area of operations was the Pacific Coast
The 7th Division existed from 12 May 1942 until 15 October 1943 and its area of operations was the Maritimes.
The 8th Division existed from 15 June 1942 until 15 October 1942 and its area of operations was the Pacific Coast.
1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade
This unit starts life as the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade on 27 February 1941. It is quickly authorized and put together as a response to the successful use of armour by the Germans in the Lowlands and France.
The Brigade went overseas in July 1941.
The Calgary Regiment was tasked to supply armoured support to the Dieppe raid with their Churchill tanks. Of the 417 who were part of the operation, 12 (including the commanding officer) were killed and 161 captured. 30 tanks were also lost (all that were landed).
Sicily was the next operation where Three Rivers Regiment support the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The rest of the brigade landed later and were attached to the British 13 Corps and then into the 8th Army Reserve. The brigade was reformed on 11August 1943.
The brigade was renamed 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade on 26th August 1943 and the Tank Battalions became Armoured Regiments with the same serial numbers..
The brigade landed in Italy in September 1943 and supported the Canadian Infantry.
The brigade rejoined 1st Canadian Army in early 1945.
Commanders
2nd Canadian Army Tank Brigade
2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade (after June 1943)
This unit is authorized as the 2nd Canadian Army Tank Brigade on 26 January 1942. It is formed using three infantry units that became extra when the 4th Infantry Division became the 4th Armoured Division.
The three units converted from infantry to Army Tank Battalions in early 1940.
The Brigade went overseas in June 1943. Once in the UK, it was determined that three Army Tank Battalions were surplus to need and only two were required.
3CATB was considered better trained and more experienced due to the units being trained in England for the past two years and more often with the infantry divisions.
All of the Army Tank Battalions from both 2 and 3 Army Tank Brigades were inspected by Lt-Gen H. Crerar (Commander, I Canadian Corps) and the top three were retained. This lead to the disbanding of 3 CATB with all three of its battalions moving to 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade and the Tank Battalions becoming Armoured Regiments. The original three battalions were disbanded by November of that year as in the intervening months; most of their strength was siphoned off as reinforcements to other Canadian Armoured Units..
In mid-1943, 2CAB was started training of a beach invasion and along with 3CIB – transferred to British command and training in Scotland. They also began working with Duplex Drive (or DD) amphibious M4 Sherman tanks.
On D-Day, the 1st Hussars and the Fort Garry Horse landed as assault units providing close support to the infantry.
The rest of the war was spent supporting both 2CID and 3CID.
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Commanders
3rd Canadian Army Tank Brigade
3CATB was created in January 1943 as a temporary holding unit when the Canadian Armoured Divisions changed from two armoured brigades to one. This reorganization took place in the UK.
In June 1943, 2CATB arrived in the UK and it was determined that three Army Tank Battalions were surplus to need and only two were required.
3CATB was considered better trained and more experienced due to the units being trained in England for the past two years more often with the infantry divisions.
All of the Army Tank Battalions from both 2 and 3 Army Tank Brigades were inspected by Lt-Gen H. Crerar (Commander I Canadian Corp) and the top three were retained. This lead to the disbanding of 3 CATB with all of its three battalions moving to 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade with the Tank Battalions becoming Armoured Regiments.
The original 2CATB units were transferred to 3CATB and their members used for reinforcements for other armoured units until their strength was reduce to essential nothing by November of that year.
3CATB was then disbanded.
Commanders
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McNaughton was born in Moosomin, Saskatchewan but moved to Quebec later in live to attend Bishop's College School and then McGill University. He received degrees in Physics, Engineering, and Electrical Engineering before becoming a Professor of Engineering. 
Pearkes was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. In 1906, he and his brother came to Canada, and lived near Red Deer. In 1911, he joined the North-West Mounted Police in the Yukon.
Kenneth Stuart was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.
Harry Crerar was born in Hamilton, Ontario and attended Upper Canada College and Royal Military College of Canada. 
Guy Simonds was born in Ixworth, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England to a military family. His family emmigrated to British Columbia in 1911. His father enlisted for World War 1 and was wounded in 1918; released with the rank of Colonel. The war was hard on the family and Simonds has to leave school to work,
Burns was born in Montreal, Quebec to a Military family. He served with the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars where he was a signal sergeant. After graduating from Royal Military College, he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers as a second lieutenant in 1915.
Charles Foulkes was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England, and came to Canada when he was young. He was educated at the University of Western Ontario.
Sansom was born in Stanley, New Brunswick. He joined the 71st York Regiment in 1905 and commissioned in 1907.
Harry Salmon was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. After attending St. John's College in Winnipeg, he worked as a clerk. 
Vokes was born in the town of Armagh, Ireland to a British officer, Major Frederick Patrick Vokes. By 1919, Vokes' father was the engineering officer at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. 
In 1944, he was promoted to major general commanding 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division in Normandy. 
Odlum was born in Cobourg, Ontario. At the age of 6 his family moved to Japan and then to BC when he was 10 (1889).
Roberts was born in Pipestone, Manitoba. He studied in Upper Canada College and then Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1914.
Matthews was born 1909 in Ottawa, Ontario to a well off family. His father was a successful stock broker and had political connections leading to his appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1937.
Keller was born in Tetbury, England and attended the Royal Military College in Kingston at the end of World War 1.
Spry was born in Winnipeg to a military family. His father was a Major-General. He joined the militia (Princess Louise Fusiliers) when he was studying at Dalhousie University. 
Keefler was born in Weston, Ontario.
Lionel Frank Page was born in Fordingham, Yorkshire, England and emigrated by himself to Red Deer Albert while in his late teens.
George Kitching was born in Guangzhou (Canton), China.
Charles Ramsey Stirling Stein was born in
Bertram Meryl Hoffmeister was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was a sales manager with Canadian White Pine (Forestry company).