3rd Canadian Division

The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from the city of Thunder Bay.

It was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. It was stood down following the war and was later reactivated as the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during the Second World War. The second iteration served with distinction from 1941 to 1945, taking part in the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. A duplicate of the 3rd Canadian Division was formed in 1945 to serve on occupation duty in Germany and was disbanded the following year.

History

First World War

The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General Malcolm Mercer. Its members served in France and Flanders until Armistice Day. While with the 3rd Division at Ypres, Mercer became the highest-ranking Canadian officer killed in action during the First World War. On the same day, Brigadier V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Infantry Brigade, became the highest-ranking Canadian officer captured in the First World War, also at the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Mercer was replaced by Louis Lipsett, who commanded the division until September 1918, shortly before he too was killed in action on 14 October 1918, while commander of British 4th Division. Major-General Frederick Loomis closed out World War I as the commander.

Battles and engagements on the Western Front

1916:
* Battle of Mount Sorrel – 2–13 June
*Battle of Flers-Courcelette – 15–22 September
*Battle of Morval – 25 September
*Battle of Thiepval – 26–28 September
* Battle of Le Transloy – 1–18 October
*Battle of the Ancre Heights – 1–11 October3rd Canadian Division
retrieved 20 November 2007

1917:
* Battle of Vimy Ridge – 9–14 April
* Attack on La Coulotte – 23 April
* Third Battle of the Scarpe – 3–4 May
* 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 – 8–11 August
* Actions round Damery – 15–17 August
* Battle of the Scarpe – 26–30 August (including the capture of Monchy-le-Preux)
* Battle of the Canal du Nord – 27 September – 1 October (including the capture of Bourlon Wood)
* Battle of Cambrai – 8–9 October (including the Capture of Cambrai)
* Battle of Valenciennes – 1–2 November
*Pursuit to Mons – 11 November

Second World War

The formation of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was authorized during the Second World War on 17 May 1940. There was then a considerable delay until the brigade and divisional headquarters were formed on 5 September, and the first divisional commander was appointed on 26 October.

While the division's components were forming, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa was detached and transferred to Iceland as part of Z Force. The battalion spent the winter of 1940–41 there, then moved to the United Kingdom. The division's 8th and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades began embarking as early as 1 July 1941 and arrived in the United Kingdom at the end of that month. The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade embarked in August and arrived at the beginning of September.

After its arrival, the division spent three uneventful years in garrison and training duties prior to the assault landing on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, as part of the British Second Army, later joining the newly formed First Canadian Army.

Battle honours include Caen