The relationship between the British and Canadian military was the subject of the pre-war Visiting Forces Act. The Act, essentially a theoretical document laying down the principles behind how the two forces would cooperate, now had to be implemented. On 21 March, it was clarified: Canadians would be responsible for their own training policies, discipline, and internal administration. All other activities would be under the British.

On 10 June 1940, Italy declares war and begins the North African campaign.

The campaign is characterized as a number of back and forth actions. But between 9 December 1940 to the following February, the British and Allies destroy the Italian 10th Army. That results in German reinforcements being sent in; the German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel.

The Battle of Britain starts on 10 July 1940 and lasts unit 31 October 1940.  This time period also includes the “Blitz” or bomber campaign.  

The goal of the Germans was to force a negotiated peace or to soften the UK for an invasion by gaining air superiority over south eastern Britain.

The air campaign involved just fewer than 2,000 Allied aircraft and over 2,500 Axis aircraft.

The 7^th Corps is dissolved and 1^st and 2^nd Canadian Infantry Divisions are joined to form the Canadian Corps. It would later become I Canadian Corps.

Lend Lease Agreement signed whereby the United States will ‘loan’ war supplies to Britain on credit.

The brigade landed in Greenock Scotland on 1 July 1941. They then moved south to Lavington, Wiltshire on the Salisbury plain. The 11^th Army Tank Battalion (The Ontario Regiment (Tank)) was issued four Churchill Mk II tanks (with another 15 delivered by September). The other two battalions were issued Matilda tanks.

By mid-July 1841, each battalion had six tanks, six universal carriers, and about 18 trucks.

It would take until September 1941 for each battalion to have a full squadron of tanks.

1 CATB becomes part of the Canadian Corps.

Just under 2,000 Ram tanks were manufactured in Canada with the majority being sent to England for training purposes.

The armoured units of the two army tank brigades had been designated “battalions” harkening back to the days when the infantry had the tanks.  The armoured units of the two armoured divisions were “regiments.” On 15 May 1942, it was ordered that all armoured units were to be called “regiments.”

5 CAD arrives in England and is concentrated in and around Aldershot, Hampshire.

Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe, ended in disaster. No objectives were achieved and the casualty rate was heavy.

No Canadian units took part in the operation. In January 1943 the British component, First (British) Army, would temporarily include 78 Canadian officers and 63 Canadian non-commissioned officers. They were “attach posted” for a three month-period into appropriate units holding the rank and carrying out the duties that they normally had in the Canadian Army. This was to generate much needed battle experience that the Canadians were lacking. Canadian generals Crerar and Simonds also spend some time in Africa.

Fourteen officers and 11 other ranks became casualties during the North African campaign. Four officers and four other ranks lost their lives.

As a result of the divisional reorganization, the army has a surplus of armoured units. The 3^rd CATB is a provisional unit to hold the excess units until their disposition can be determined.

The campaign between Allied forces (British, Indian, US, French, New Zealand, and Greek) against Axis forces (German, Italian) led to the decisive defeat of the Axis. Over 250,000 German and Italian troops were taken as prisoners of war, including most of the Afrika Korps.

Operation Husky is the beginning of the Italian Campaign. Canada contributed the 1^st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1^st Canadian Tank Brigade. The 5^th Canadian Armoured Division goes to Italy in November 1943. The Canadian formations in Italy become I Canadian Corps and the remaining units in First Canadian Army become II Canadian Corps.

About 30,000 Canadian soldiers were billeted in and around Aldershot awaiting repatriation. A rumour had spread that 3 Canadians were being held by the Aldershot police.

About 500 soldiers marched to the police station where they dispersed after being informed that there were no Canadians being held.

The next night, the rioters returned and threw rocks and bricks at cars and windows. They also broke into a brewery and purloined beer.

About £10,000 of damage was done.

100 soldiers were tried at courts martial with 5 sentenced to 2 to 7 years.