5th Canadian (Armoured) Division
Encyclopedia
5th Canadian Division was a Canadian division during World War II. Following its redesignation from '1st Canadian Armoured Division', the bulk proceeded overseas in one main convoy, arriving in the UK at the end of November 1941.
The 5th Armoured spent two years of the war uneventfully in the UK, finally transferring to the Mediterranean in November 1943 to join I Canadian Corps
. The division moved without its tanks and vehicles, inheriting heavily used equipment as a legacy from the British 7th Armoured Division
who they relieved in Italy. The majority of the vehicles were completely worn out, having first been issued in North Africa or were two-wheel drive – useless in Italy. It took several months for the division to be fully equipped with new vehicles, including M4 Shermans. Only the 11th Infantry Brigade was committed prior to 31 January, 1944..
The 5th Armoured took part in the Italian Campaign
until the end of 1944 seeing notable action on the Hitler Line
after the Allied breakthrough at Cassino in May 1944 and also during Operation Olive on the Gothic Line
in August 1944. During the latter battle its single infantry brigade was augmented by a second, which was raised using reinforcements and units serving in other roles. Among them was 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards – 1st Canadian Division's armoured recce unit. As with other Allied armoured divisions in the Mediterranean, local resources were used to establish an additional infantry brigade, the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
In January 1945, the division moved by truck, train, and naval transport to Belgium
via Livorno
and Marseille
. After arriving, it disbanded the 12th Brigade, and re-equipped to join the First Canadian Army
in time to participate in the final offensives across the Rhine.
The 5th Armoured spent two years of the war uneventfully in the UK, finally transferring to the Mediterranean in November 1943 to join I Canadian Corps
I Canadian Corps
I Canadian Corps was one of the two corps fielded by the Canadian Army during World War II. From December 24, 1940 until the formation of the First Canadian Army in April 1942, there was a single unnumbered Canadian Corps...
. The division moved without its tanks and vehicles, inheriting heavily used equipment as a legacy from the British 7th Armoured Division
British 7th Armoured Division
The 7th Armoured Division was a British armoured division which saw service during the Second World War where its exploits made it famous as the Desert Rats....
who they relieved in Italy. The majority of the vehicles were completely worn out, having first been issued in North Africa or were two-wheel drive – useless in Italy. It took several months for the division to be fully equipped with new vehicles, including M4 Shermans. Only the 11th Infantry Brigade was committed prior to 31 January, 1944..
The 5th Armoured took part in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
until the end of 1944 seeing notable action on the Hitler Line
Hitler Line
The Hitler Line was a German defensive line in central Italy during the Second World War. The strong points of the line were at Aquino and Piedimonte. In May 1944, the line was re-named the Senger Line, after General von Senger und Etterlin, one of the generals commanding Axis forces in the area...
after the Allied breakthrough at Cassino in May 1944 and also during Operation Olive on the Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
in August 1944. During the latter battle its single infantry brigade was augmented by a second, which was raised using reinforcements and units serving in other roles. Among them was 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards – 1st Canadian Division's armoured recce unit. As with other Allied armoured divisions in the Mediterranean, local resources were used to establish an additional infantry brigade, the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
In January 1945, the division moved by truck, train, and naval transport to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
via Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
and Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. After arriving, it disbanded the 12th Brigade, and re-equipped to join the First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
in time to participate in the final offensives across the Rhine.
Commanding officers
- Jun 1941 to Jan 1943 Major-General E.W. SansomErnest William SansomErnest William Sansom, C.B., D.S.O. was a Canadian Lieutenant-General who was the 3rd ranking commander of Canadian troops in Europe in 1944 during World War II.-World War I military career:...
- Jan 1943 to Oct 1943 Major-General C.R.S. SteinCharles Ramsay Stirling SteinMajor General Charles Ramsay Stirling Stein was a Canadian Army officer who commanded the 5th Canadian Division during World War II.-Education:...
- Oct 1943 to Jan 1944 Major-General G.G. SimondsGuy SimondsLieutenant General Guy Granville Simonds, CC, CB, CBE, DSO, CD was a Canadian Army officer who commanded the II Canadian Corps during World War II. He served as acting commander of the First Canadian Army, leading the Allied forces to victory in the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944...
- Jan 1944 to Mar 1944 Major-General E.L.M. BurnsE. L. M. BurnsEedson Louis Millard "Tommy" Burns, was a Canadian Army Lieutenant General and diplomat.-Early Education:...
- Mar 1944 to Jun 1945 Major-General B.M. HoffmeisterBert HoffmeisterMajor General Bertram Meryl Hoffmeister, OC, CB, CBE, DSO and Bar, ED was a Canadian Army officer, businessman, and conservationist.-Biography:...
Organization until July 1944 and after March 1945
5th Canadian Armoured Brigade
- 2nd Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of Land Force Western Area's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group...
) - 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)The 8th Canadian Hussars is one of the longest serving armoured regiments in the Canadian Army. A Squadron being Regular Force served in CFB Gagetown and B, C and HQ Squadrons served in Sussex, Moncton and Sackville...
) - 9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia DragoonsThe British Columbia DragoonsThe British Columbia Dragoons is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is based in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, British Columbia...
) - The Westminster Regiment (Motor)
11th Canadian Infantry Brigade
- 11th Independent Machine Gun Company
- The Perth RegimentThe Perth RegimentThe Perth Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Originally founded in 1866 as the 28th Perth Battalion of Infantry the regiment went through several name changes including: 1900 - 28th Perth Regiment; 1920 - The Perth Regiment; 1936 - The Perth Regiment ; 1941 - The Perth Regiment...
- The Cape Breton Highlanders
- The Irish Regiment of CanadaThe Irish Regiment of Canada2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in Sudbury, Ontario. The 1st Battalion was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplemental Order of Battle on 31 December 1964....
- 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The Governor General's Horse Guards)
- 11th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Other Units
- 17th Field Regiment, RCA
- 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), RCA
- 4th Anti-tank Regiment, RCA
- 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
- "G" Squadron, 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)31 Combat Engineer Regiment , is currently a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Forces, supporting 31 Canadian Brigade Group. It consists of two squadrons: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas, Ontario. The Elgins existed before the Confederation of...
(The Elgin Regiment), Royal Canadian Armoured CorpsRoyal Canadian Armoured CorpsThe Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.-History:... - 1 Cdn Field Squadron, RCECanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- 10 Cdn Field Squadron, RCECanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- 4 Cdn Field Park Squadron, RCECanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- 5th Canadian (Armoured) Divisional Signals, RCSigsRoyal Canadian Corps of SignalsThe Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
- No. 5 Provost Company, Canadian Provost CorpsCanadian Provost CorpsThe Canadian Provost Corps was the military police corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Provost Corps was authorized on 15 Jun 1940. The Canadian Provost Corps was amalgamated into the Canadian Forces in 1968.-Canadian Military Police Corps:...
5th Canadian Armoured Brigade
- 2nd Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians))
- 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars)
- 9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons)
11th Canadian Infantry Brigade
- 11th Independent Machine Gun Company (Princess Louise Fusiliers)
- The Perth Regiment
- The Cape Breton Highlanders
- The Irish Regiment of Canada
- 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
12th Canadian Infantry Brigade (raised in August 1944)
- 12th Independent Machine Gun Company (Princess Louise Fusiliers)
- The Westminster Regiment (Motor)
- 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards4th Princess Louise Dragoon GuardsThe 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards is an inactive armoured regiment of the Canadian militia.-Lineage:The Regiment's history dates back to Ottawa in the early 1870s and its membership in Canada's militia...
(from 1st Canadian Infantry Division) - The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment (from Corps anti-aircraft assets)
- 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The Governor General's Horse GuardsThe Governor General's Horse GuardsThe Governor General's Horse Guards is an armoured reconnaissance regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. Based in Toronto, it is the most senior reserve regiment in Canada, and the only Household Cavalry regiment of...
) - 12 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Other Units
- 17th Field Artillery Regiment
- 8th Field Artillery Regiment (Self-Propelled)
- 4th Anti-tank Regiment
- 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
- "G" Squadron, 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
- 1 Cdn Field Squadron, RCECanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- 10 Cdn Field Squadron, RCECanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- 4 Cdn Field Park Squadron, RCECanadian Military EngineersThe Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
- 5th Canadian (Armoured) Divisional Signals, RCSigsRoyal Canadian Corps of SignalsThe Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
- No. 5 Provost Company, Canadian Provost CorpsCanadian Provost CorpsThe Canadian Provost Corps was the military police corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Provost Corps was authorized on 15 Jun 1940. The Canadian Provost Corps was amalgamated into the Canadian Forces in 1968.-Canadian Military Police Corps:...
See also
- List of military divisions
- List of Canadian divisions in WWII