Canadian 3rd Infantry Division

The formation of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division was authorized on 17 May 1940. There was then a considerable delay until the brigade and divisional headquarters were formed on September 5, and the first divisional commander was appointed on October 26.

While the division’s components were forming, The Cameron Highlanders were detached and transferred to Iceland as part of Z Force. The battalion spent the winter of 1940-41 there before moving to the UK. The division's 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades began embarking as early as July 1 1941 and arrived in the UK at the end of that month. The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade embarked in August and arrived at the beginning of September. After its arrival, the division spent three uneventful years in garrison and training duties prior to the assault landing on Juno Beach in Normandy. Battle honours include Caen, Falaise, capturing the Channel ports, the Breskens pocket, and the final offensives of 1945.

Formation

; 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade :

• The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
• The Regina Rifle Regiment
• 1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment

; 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade :

• The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
• Le Regiment de la Chaudiere
• The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment

; 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade :

• The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
• The Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders
• The North Nova Scotia Highlanders

; Other Units :

• 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars)
• The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (machine gun)
• 12th Field Artillery Regiment
• 13th Field Artillery Regiment
• 14th Field Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Anti-tank Regiment
• 4th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment

Referenced By