The Canadian Army 1943-44
The Canadian Army 1943-44
In the United Kingdom, 1st Canadian Army was established on April 1, 1942 and by 1943 included I Canadian Corps and II Canadian Corps. I Canadian Corps had been formed on September 1, 1939 but was not needed until December 25, 1940 in the United Kingdom. II Canadian Corps was formed January 14, 1943 to complete the army establishment. By August 1943, 1st Canadian Army underwent its final reorganization of the war and was organized into its final form for the forthcoming operations in North-West Europe and Italy.
At home, the year 1943 saw the beginning of the reduction of the units
formed for home defence. This reduction became more acute after the invasion
of France in June 1944, when mounting casualities led to an eventual man-power
crisis. The home formations were needed to reinforce the army in North-West
Europe. 7th and 8th Canadian Infantry Divisions were disbanded
on October 15, 1943 along with 16th-21st Canadian Infantry Brigades.
6th Canadian Infantry Division
remained on the west coast until disbanded on January 31, 1945. It was reorganized
a number of times before final disbandment. On 24 October 1943, it was reformed
with its original brigades13th,
14th and 15th Canadian Infantry Brigades. These brigades were formed
with four rather than the normal three battalions through August 1944.
13th Canadian Infantry Brigade assembled at Courtney, BC on 9 June 1943 as part of Kiska Force. It embarked on 10 July 1943 for Adak in the Aleutians and landed at Kiska on 15/16 August 1943. It left there from 22 December 1943 to 5 January 1944 and landed at Vancouver, BC by 18 January 1944. The brigade group moved to Vernon, BC on 19 January. It left Pacific Command in May 1944 and embarked for the United Kingdom on 25 May 1944. It arrived in the United Kingdom in June 1944 and was reformed as 13th Canadian Infantry Training Brigade in the United Kingdom on 1 November 1944 with four (later five) training regiments each of one (later two) battalions and a depot battalion.
To replace 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 16th Canadian Infantry Brigade was reformed on 20 August 1944 in Canada as the third brigade of 6th Canadian Infantry Division. 14th Canadian Infantry Brigade returned to the east in December 1944 and left for the United Kingdom on 10 January 1945. It was disbanded on 10 January 1945 and absorbed into 14th Canadian Infantry Training Brigade on arrival in the United Kingdom. 16th Canadian Infantry Brigade moved to Nova Scotia in December 1944 and was disbanded on 10 January 1945 (HQ on 15 April 1945). 15th Canadian Infantry Brigade returned to the east in January 1945 and embarked for the United Kingdom on 18 January 1945. It was disbanded on 18 January 1945 and absorbed into 14th Canadian Infantry Training Brigade on arrival. At this point, no active formations remained in Canada.