4th Canadian Division
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Corps
- 4th Canadian Division – World War I:
The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the Britain
in April 1916 from several existing units and others scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter. Under the command of Major-General David Watson
, the Division embarked for France in August of that year where they served both in France and in Flanders
until Armistice Day
. The 4th Canadian Division was a part of the Canadian Corps
in the Battle of Vimy Ridge
, which attacked and defeated the Germans, driving them from the ridge. As a result the Canadians became known as masters of offensive warfare and an elite fighting force.
In the Battle of Vimy Ridge
, the 4th Canadian Division was given the job of capturing Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of Vimy Ridge. However, when they attempted to capture the hill, they were hampered by fire from the "Pimple", which was the other prominent height at Vimy Ridge. To capture Hill 145, forces which were supposed to attack the Pimple were redeployed and captured Hill 145.
11th Canadian Brigade:
12th Canadian Brigade:
Pioneers:
1917:
1918:
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
- 4th Canadian Division – World War I:
The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in April 1916 from several existing units and others scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter. Under the command of Major-General David Watson
David Watson (general)
Major General Sir David Watson, was a Canadian journalist, newspaper owner, and general.Born in Quebec City, Quebec, the son of William Watson and Jane Grant, Watson was a journalist with the Quebec Morning Chronicle...
, the Division embarked for France in August of that year where they served both in France and in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
until Armistice Day
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
. The 4th Canadian Division was a part of the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
in the Battle of Vimy Ridge
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
, which attacked and defeated the Germans, driving them from the ridge. As a result the Canadians became known as masters of offensive warfare and an elite fighting force.
In the Battle of Vimy Ridge
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
, the 4th Canadian Division was given the job of capturing Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of Vimy Ridge. However, when they attempted to capture the hill, they were hampered by fire from the "Pimple", which was the other prominent height at Vimy Ridge. To capture Hill 145, forces which were supposed to attack the Pimple were redeployed and captured Hill 145.
Infantry Units
10th Canadian Brigade:- 44th (Manitoba) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 11, 1918. (Re-designated New Brunswick in August 1918);
- 46th (South Saskatchewan) Battalion Canadian Infantry46th Battalion, CEF46th Battalion, CEF is battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Saskatchewan Dragoons perpetuated the 46th Battalion, CEF....
. April 1916 - November 11, 1918; - 47th (British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 11, 1918. (Re-designated West Ontario in February 1918);
- 50th (Calgary) Battalion Canadian Infantry50th Battalion, CEFThe 50th Canadian Battalion was a battalion of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. The battalion was commanded by Colonel E.G. Mason at the beginning of the war. Later in the war, he was put with another battalion and Lieutenant-Colonel Page took over the battalion. The battalion...
. April 1916 - November 11, 1918.
11th Canadian Brigade:
- 54th (Kootenay) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 11, 1918;
- 75th (Mississauga) Battalion Canadian Infantry75th Battalion, CEFThe 75th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was formed on 1 July 1915 and was awarded Sixteen Battle Honours for its service during WW I. It was renamed The Mississauga Regiment in 1920 and The Toronto Scottish Regiment in 1921....
. April 1916 - November 11, 1918; - 87th (Canadian Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry87th Battalion, CEFThe 87th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting in September 1915 in Montreal, the surrounding districts, and also in mining districts elsewhere in the province...
. June 1916 - November 11, 1918 (transferred from 12th Canadian Brigade); - 102nd (North British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 11, 1918.
12th Canadian Brigade:
- 38th (Ottawa) Battalion Canadian Infantry38th Battalion, CEFThe 38th Battalion, CEF was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force. It was mobilized in Ottawa and recruited in Ottawa, Brockville, Perth, Prescott and Alexandria. An initial draft of five officers and 251 other ranks was sent to England on June 24, 1915...
. June 1916 - November 11, 1918; - 51st (Edmonton) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 13, 1916 (Became the 51st Garrison Battalion);
- 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 11, 1918;
- 73rd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - April 19, 1917 (disbanded);
- 78th (Winnipeg Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 - November 11, 1918;
- 85th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1917 - November 11, 1918;
- 87th (Canadian Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry87th Battalion, CEFThe 87th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting in September 1915 in Montreal, the surrounding districts, and also in mining districts elsewhere in the province...
. April 1916 - June 1916. (transferred to 11th Canadian Brigade).
Pioneers:
- 67th (Western Scot) Pioneer Battalion Canadian Infantry. September 1, 1916 - November 11, 1918;
Battles and Engagements on the Western Front
1916:- Battle of Le TransloyBattle of Le TransloyThe Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the 1916 Battle of the Somme.-Prelude:With the successful conclusion of the preceding Battle of Morval at the end of September, the Fourth Army of Lieutenant General Henry Rawlinson had finally captured the...
- October 1–17 - Battle of the Ancre HeightsBattle of the Ancre HeightsThe Battle of the Ancre Heights was a prolonged battle of attrition in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Lieutenant General Hubert Gough's Reserve Army had finally managed to break out of the positions it had occupied since the start of the Somme fighting and Gough intended to maintain...
- October 17-November 11, (capture of the Regina TrenchRegina TrenchThe Regina Trench was a German trench dug into the top of the slope of a valley running from northwest of the village of Le Sars in a southwest direction almost to the German fortifications at Thiepval on the Somme Battlefield...
) - Battle of the AncreBattle of the AncreThe Battle of the Ancre was the final act of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Launched on 13 November 1916 by the British Fifth Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough, the objective of the battle was as much political as military.-Prelude:The Allied commanders were due to meet at Chantilly on 15...
- November 13–18
1917:
- Battle of Vimy RidgeBattle of Vimy RidgeThe Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
- April 9–14 - Affairs South of the Souchez River - June 3–25
- Capture of Avion - June 26–29
- Battle of Hill 70Battle of Hill 70The Battle of Hill 70 was a localized battle of World War I between the Canadian Corps and five divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France between 15 August 1917 and 25 August 1917.The primary...
- August 15–25 - Second Battle of Passchendaele - October 26 – November 10
1918:
- Battle of Amiens - August 9–11
- Actions round Damery - August 15–17
- Battle of Drocourt-QuéantDrocourt-QuéantThe Drocourt-Quéant Line was a set of mutually supporting defensive lines constructed by Germany between the French cities of Drocourt and Quéant during World War I...
- September 2–3 - Battle of the Canal du NordBattle of the Canal du NordThe Battle of Canal du Nord was part of a general Allied offensive against German positions on the Western Front during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I. The battle took place in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, along an incomplete portion of the Canal du Nord and on the outskirts...
September 27 – October 1 - Battle of Valenciennes 1–2 November 1–2, (capture of Mont Houy)
- Passage of the Grande Honelle - November 5–7