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5th Canadian Division

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  • 5th Canadian Division
  • 1st Canadian Armoured Division
  • 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division
5th Canadian Division formation patch
Active
  • February 1917–February 1918
  • 1939–1945
  • 2013–present
CountryCanada
Branch
Type
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)The Mighty Maroon Machine, Maroon 5
Engagements
Websitewww.canada.ca/en/army/corporate/5-canadian-division.html
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier-General J.D.S. Masson, OMM, MSM, CD
Division CWOChief Warrant Officer M. von Kalben, MMM, CD
Notable
commanders

The 5th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of most army units in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador; as well as some units in Kingston, Ontario. The division is recognized by the distinctive maroon patch worn on the sleeve of its soldiers.

It was first created as a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It was stood down during the war only to be reactivated through the renaming from '1st Canadian Armoured Division' to the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division during the Second World War. It was stood down following demobilization and was again reactivated in 2013 with the renaming of the former Land Force Area Atlantic.

First World War

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The 5th Canadian Division of the Canadian Corps was formed during World War I under Major-General Garnet Burk Hughes. The 5th began assembling in Britain in February, 1917, but was broken up in February 1918 before it was fully formed. The Division adopted a coloured formation patch identical in design to that worn by the four combatant divisions of the Canadian Corps. Its men were used as reinforcements for the other four Canadian divisions, helping to maintain the over-strength Divisions of 22,000–25,000 with more than 100,000 men total.[citation needed] It was reactivated in 2013.[1]

Infantry units

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13th Canadian Brigade:

14th Canadian Brigade:

15th Canadian Brigade:

Attached Troops:

Second World War

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Formation patch used to identify vehicles of the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division during the Second World War.

The 5th Canadian (Armoured) 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 United Kingdom at the end of November 1941.

The 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division spent two years of the war uneventfully in the United Kingdom, before finally transferring to the Mediterranean theatre in November 1943 to join the 1st Canadian Infantry Division as part of I Canadian Corps, under command of the British Eighth Army. The division moved without its tanks and vehicles, inheriting heavily used equipment as a legacy from the veteran British 7th Armoured Division ("The Desert Rats") who they relieved on the Italian Front. 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 Canadian Infantry Brigade was committed prior to 31 January 1944.[2]

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 the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards–1st Canadian Division's armoured reconnaissance regiment. As with other Allied armoured divisions in the Mediterranean, local resources were used to establish an additional infantry brigade, the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Based on the colour of its shoulder patch, the division became known as the "Mighty Maroon Machine".[3]

A Sherman Firefly of the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division assists British troops of the 11th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, British 49th Infantry Division, to clear the Germans from Ede, the Netherlands, 17 April 1945.

In January 1945, the division, together with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, as part of Operation Goldflake, moved by truck, train, and naval transport to Belgium via Livorno and Marseille. After arriving on the Western Front, it disbanded the 12th Brigade, and re-equipped to join the First Canadian Army in time to participate in the final advance into Germany.

In April 1945, the Irish Regiment of Canada was assigned to Operation Cleanser in the Netherlands. They had to liberate the route from Arnhem to Harderwijk. This unexpectedly resulted in a fierce fight at the Battle of Otterlo.

Commanding officers

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Organization until July 1944 and after March 1945

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5th Armoured Brigade

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11th Infantry Brigade

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Other units

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Organization July 1944 until March 1945

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5th Canadian Armoured Brigade

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  • 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

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12th Canadian Infantry Brigade (raised in August 1944)

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Other units

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  • 17th Field Artillery Regiment
  • 8th Field Artillery Regiment (Self-Propelled)
  • 4th Anti-tank Regiment
  • 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
  • "G" Squadron, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
  • 5th Canadian Armoured Division Engineers
    • 1st Field Squadron, RCE
    • 10th Field Squadron, RCE
    • 4th Field Park Squadron, RCE
    • 5th Canadian Armoured Division Bridge Troop, RCE
  • 5th Canadian Armoured Divisional Signals, RCSigs
  • No. 5 Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps

Land Force Atlantic Area

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Land Force Atlantic Area
Active1991–2013
CountryCanada
BranchCanadian Army
Roleresponsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
HeadquartersCanadian Forces Base Halifax

Land Force Atlantic Area (LFAA) was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously the militia areas and the Regular Force Army units and formations in Atlantic Canada. At that point in time, the Militia Areas ceased to exist, and the subordinate Militia Districts were reorganised.[5] Later that decade, the reserve force districts were again reorganized into two Canadian Brigade Groups. LFAA was the formation responsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island and was headquartered at Canadian Forces Base Halifax.

Organization of LFAA (2010)

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Regular Force

Reserve Force

5th Canadian Division Re-Activation

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In 2013, LFAA was re-designated the 5th Canadian Division and inherited the wartime heritage of the formation. The division continues to be headquartered at CFB Halifax and commands most Canadian Army units in the Atlantic provinces.

Organization

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5th Canadian Division organization in 2020
5th Canadian Division Headquarters, at CFB Halifax
6th Canadian Combat Support Brigade
Headquarters, 6th Canadian Combat Support Brigade, at CFB Kingston[6]
4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), RCA, at CFB Gagetown[7]
4 Engineer Support Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, at CFB Gagetown[8]
21 Electronic Warfare Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals, at CFB Kingston[9]
Canadian Army Intelligence Regiment HQ, at Kingston
Influence Activities Task Force, at Kingston
36 Canadian Brigade Group
Headquarters, 36 Canadian Brigade Group, at Royal Artillery Park, Halifax[10][11]
The Halifax Rifles (RCAC), at Halifax Armoury, Halifax[12]
The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC), at Queen Charlotte Armory, Charlottetown[13]
The Princess Louise Fusiliers, at Halifax Armoury, Halifax[12]
The West Nova Scotia Regiment, at 5 CDSB Detachment Aldershot, Kentville
The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North), at Truro Armoury, Truro[14]
The Cape Breton Highlanders, at Victoria Park Armoury, Sydney[15]
1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, at Bayers Lake Armoury, Halifax
84th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, at Yarmouth Armoury, Yarmouth[16]
36 Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, at CFB Shearwater[17]
36 Signal Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals, at Willow Park armoury, Halifax[18]
36 Service Battalion, at Willow Park armoury, Halifax[18]
37 Canadian Brigade Group
Headquarters, 37 Canadian Brigade Group, at 5 CDSB Detachment Moncton[19]
8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's), at 5 CDSB Detachment Moncton[20]
The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton & York), at Carlton Street Armoury, Fredericton[21]
The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, at Colonel CCL Gammon Armoury, Bathurst[22]
1st Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, at CFS St. John's[23]
2nd Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, at Gallipoli Armoury, Corner Brook[24]
3rd Field Artillery Regiment (The Loyal Company), Royal Canadian Artillery, at The Barrack Green Armoury, Saint John[25]
37 Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, at CFS St. John's[26]
37 Signal Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals, at CFS St. John's[27]
37 Service Battalion, at CFS St. John's
5th Canadian Division Support Group
5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, at CFB Gagetown
5th Canadian Division Support Base Aldershot
5th Canadian Division Training Centre, at CFB Gagetown
5th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, at CFB Gander
3 Intelligence Company (Reserve), in Halifax

Lodger units supported by 5 CDSG

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Combat Training Centre

2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Restoring the Canadian Army's historical identity". Archived from the original on July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  2. ^ Dancocks p208-209
  3. ^ Mark Zuehlke, The Liri Valley: Canada's World War II Breakthrough to Rome, Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., Vancouver, 2003, p 58.
  4. ^ "The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)". www.canada.ca. November 29, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Domestic Military Organization 1900–1999". Canadian Soldiers.com. February 22, 2013. and http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic=3223.0
  6. ^ "Canadian Combat Support Brigade". Canadian Army. June 24, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "In photos: Newfoundlanders continued to dig out Monday from a massive blizzard". The Globe and Mail. January 17, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Military starts construction of temporary base in Slemon Park". Journal Pioneer. October 26, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Canadian Forces reservists getting a pay raise". Whig Standard. June 27, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "New commander takes over 36 Canadian Brigade Group". Big Dog 100.9. October 16, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "36 Canadian Brigade Group". June 24, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "New Halifax armoury in Willow Park receives $66M in federal funding". Global News. January 10, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  13. ^ "P.E.I. Regiment celebrates anniversary with visit from Prince Edward". The Guardian. November 10, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "Reserves opening armoury to the public". Saltwire Network. September 26, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "More than 265 jobs available in the army reserves in Cape Breton". Cape Breton Post. April 14, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "'Do not take this honour lightly' 84th Independent Field Battery marks special weekend in Yarmouth with Freedom of the Town ceremony". The Chronicle Herald. September 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "WO/Adj RW MacDonald, CD". Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "New $55M armoury opens in Halifax". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 23, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  19. ^ "37 Canadian Brigade Group". June 24, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "History Of The Hussars". Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  21. ^ "Carleton Street Fredericton Armoury". Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "North Shore(NB) Regiment set to change commanders". Max 104.0. November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "1st Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment". June 24, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "Stephenville's Mark Felix takes over as commanding officer of Second Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Corner Brook". Saltwire Network. April 23, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  25. ^ "Barrack Green Armoury Host An Open House Tomorrow". 97.3 The Wave. September 29, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  26. ^ "'Sexual nature' allegations result in St. John's-based Armed Forces member charged". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 19, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  27. ^ "37 Signal Regiment (Headquarters & 8 Squadron)". Retrieved December 29, 2020.

References

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  • Dancocks, Daniel G. (1991). The D-Day Dodgers. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc. ISBN 978-0-7710-2544-0.
  • Groningen, J. Niemeijer "History of 17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, 5th Canadian Armoured Division" by (J. Niemeijer Groningen, 1946)
  • Zuehlke, Mark, "The Liri Valley: Canada's World War II Breakthrough to Rome", Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., Vancouver, 2003
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