The Canadian Army 1941



The 1941 program began with units mobilised for the coast defence of Canada. On January 1, 1941, ten infantry battalions with headquarters near the coast were mobilised. Also, the major components of the Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Engineers, whose role were coast defence, were also mobilised. Units mobilised of this date follows:

To complete the Canadian forces that were rapidly expanding in Great Britain, a number of corps and army troops were mobilised. These units conisted of units to be used for reconnaissance in 1st and 2nd Canadian Infantry Divisions, corps defence troops, and various RCA and RCE units. The list of units is shown below:

February 1941 saw the expansion of the Canadian Armoured Corps. Both 1st Canadian Armoured Division and 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade were formed from the original 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade at Camp Borden. 1st Canadian Armoured Division was raised February 11, 1941. The division assembled at Camp Borden and remained there until it went overseas in November 1941. It was retitled 5th Canadian Armoured Division on 11 June 1941. In consisted of 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, the original formation of the CAC raised on 13 August 1940, 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, and the Support Group. The later two formations were raised along with the division at Camp Borden. In addition, the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade was raised at Camp Borden. This brigade left Canada in June 1941 and arrived in the United Kingdom on 30 June 1941.

In order to complete formations in the Canadian Armoured Corps, a number of units were "borrowed" from 4th Canadian Infantry Division. Additional units were then mobilised to complete the establishment of this division. The following units were mobilised to complete 4th Infantry Division:

The brigade groups that were to later form part of 6th Canadian Infantry Division were formed on 29 July 1941. 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade had been formed during 1940 and it was formed into a brigade group with the addition of a field artillery regiment. In addition, 14th Canadian Infantry Brigade was formed in the Niagara Peninsula for internal security and remained there until March 1942, when it was sent to Terrace, British Columbia. 15th Canadian Infantry Brigade was formed at Valcartier, PQ and remained there until early February 1942, when it was sent to Debart, Nova Scotia. The units mobilised on July 29, 1941 with these brigade groups is shown below:

HQ 14th Canadian Infantry Brigade - Raised in Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
The Algonquin Regiment - Previously mobilized 24 May 1940
The Kent Regiment - Previously mobilized 24 May 1940
The Midland Regiment - Previously mobilized 24 May 1940
HQ 15th Canadian Infantry Brigade - Raised at Valcartier, PQ
Les Voltiguers de Québec - Mobilized 10 May 1941.
Le Régiment de Hull - Mobilized 29 July 1941.
The Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Regiment - Mobilized 29 July 1941
19th Field Regiment, RCA (55th, 63rd, 99th Fd Btys) - Raised and att. to 14th Inf Bde
20th Field Regiment, RCA (58th, 72nd, 50th Fd Btys) - Raised and att. to 15th Inf Bde
21st Field Regiment, RCA (59th, 64th, 39th Fd Btys) - Raised and att. to 13th Inf Bde

The year 1941 ended with the despatch of 'C' Force to Hong Kong on October 27th. This force consisted of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada. It arrived in Hong Kong on 16 November 1941 and surrendered with the garrison on 25 December 1941. The Winnipeg Grenadiers has been part of 'B' Force sent to Bermuda and Jamaica on 24 May and 13 June 1940 to relieved British garrisons on those islands. It was relieved there by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada on 26 September 1941. In addition, various battalions and units of the RCA and RCE were sent to Newfoundland during 1940 and 1941 as part of 'W' Force. Forces sent to Iceland, 'Z' Force, have been previously mentioned.

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The Canadian Army in 1942

The Canadian Army 1943-44

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