4th Canadian Division

History

First World War

The 4th Canadian Division was formed in 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 the Western Front 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 in April 1917, 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 – 11 November 1918. (Re-designated New Brunswick in August 1918);
• 46th (South Saskatchewan) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918;
• 47th (British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918. (Re-designated West Ontario in February 1918);
• 50th (Calgary) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918.

11th Canadian Brigade:

• 54th (Kootenay) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918;
• 75th (Mississauga) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918;
• 87th (Canadian Grenadier Guards) Battalion Canadian Infantry. June 1916 – 11 November 1918 (transferred from 12th Canadian Brigade);
• 102nd (North British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918.

12th Canadian Brigade:

• 38th (Ottawa) Battalion Canadian Infantry. June 1916 – 11 November 1918;
• 51st (Edmonton) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 13 November 1916 (Became the 51st Garrison Battalion);
• 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada), CEF. April 1916 – 11 November 1918;
• 73rd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 19 April 1917 (disbanded);
• 78th (Winnipeg Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – 11 November 1918;
• 85th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1917 – 11 November 1918;
• 87th (Canadian Grenadier) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1916 – June 1916. (transferred to 11th Canadian Brigade).

Pioneers:

• 67th (Western Scot) Pioneer Battalion Canadian Infantry. 1 September 1916 – 11 November 1918;

Battles and Engagements on the Western Front

1916:

• Battle of Le Transloy – 1–17 October
• Battle of the Ancre Heights – 17 October – 11 November, (capture of the Regina Trench)
• Battle of the Ancre – 13–18 November

1917:

• Battle of Vimy Ridge – 9–14 April
• Affairs South of the Souchez River – 3–25 June
• Capture of Avion – 26–29 June
• Battle of Hill 70 – 15–25 August
• Second Battle of Passchendaele – 26 October – 10 November

1918:

• Battle of Amiens – 9–11 August
• Actions round Damery – 15–17 August
• Battle of Drocourt-Quéant – 2–3 September
• Battle of the Canal du Nord 27 September – 1 October
• Battle of Valenciennes 1–2 November 1–2, (capture of Mont Houy)
• Passage of the Grande Honnelle – 5–7 November

Second World War

4th Canadian (Armoured) Division

The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was created during World War II by the conversion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. The division proceeded overseas in 1942, with its two main convoys reaching the United Kingdom in August and October.

The division spent almost two years training in the United Kingdom before crossing to Normandy in July 1944. In the United Kingdom, it participated in war games together with the Polish 1st Armoured Division, and later fought in France, in the Low Countries, and in Germany; both divisions followed very close paths. The division participated in the later stages of the Battle of Normandy at the Falaise Pocket, the advance from Normandy and spent almost two months engaged at the Breskens Pocket as well as Operation Pheasant.

It wintered in the Netherlands, fought in Operation Blockbuster (26 February – 3 March 1945) and took part in the final advance across northern Germany.

Formation

1944–1945

; 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade :

• 21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General's Foot Guards)
• 22nd Armoured Regiment (The Canadian Grenadier Guards)
• 28th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own))
• The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)

; 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade:

• 10th Independent Machine Gun Company (The New Brunswick Rangers)
• The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
• The Algonquin Regiment
• The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
• 10 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

; Other units :

• 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment)
• "D" Squadron, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), Canadian Armoured Corps
• 15th Field Regiment, RCA
• 23rd Field Regiment, RCA
• 5th Anti-tank Regiment, RCA
• 8th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, RCA
• 4th Canadian Armoured Division Engineers
  • 8th Field Squadron, RCE
  • 9th Field Squadron, RCE
  • 6th Field Park Squadron, RCE
  • 4th Canadian Armoured Division Bridge Troop, RCE
  • No. 46 Light Aid Detachment, RCEME
• 4th Canadian Armoured Divisional Signals, R.C. Sigs
• No. 4 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
• 12 Light Field Ambulance, RCAMC
• No. 8 Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps

Officers commanding

David Vivian Currie VC

David Vivian Currie VC was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in command of a battle group of tanks from the South Alberta Regiment, artillery, and infantry of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada at St. Lambert-sur-Dives, during the final actions to close the Falaise Gap. This was the only Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian soldier during the Normandy campaign (from 6 June 1944 to the end of August 1944), and the only VC ever awarded to a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. Currie, 32 years old, was a major in the South Alberta Regiment. During the Battle of Falaise, Normandy, 18 to 20 August 1944, Currie was in command of a small mixed force of tanks, self-propelled anti-tank guns and infantry which had been ordered to cut off one of the main German escape routes. After Currie led the attack on the village of St. Lambert-sur-Dives and consolidated a position halfway inside it, he repulsed repeated enemy attacks over the next day and a half. Despite heavy casualties, Major Currie's command destroyed seven enemy tanks, twelve 88 mm guns and 40 vehicles, which led to the deaths of 300 German soldiers, 500 wounded and 1,100 captured. The remnants of two German armies were denied an escape route.

Image:Flamethrowerscheldt.jpg|Members of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division demonstrating the use of flame throwers across a canal, Maldegem, October 1944. Image:Armoured cars in the Belgian-Dutch border town of Putte.jpg|Armoured cars in the Belgian-Dutch border town of Putte – 11 October 1944 Image:Major david currie vc.jpg|Major David V. Currie (with pistol), accepting the surrender of German troops at St. Lambert-sur-Dives, France, 19 August 1944. This photo captures the actions that led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross Image:Canadians in Bergen op Zoom.jpg|Canadians enter Bergen-op-Zoom, early November 1944 File:Moerbrugge (Oostkamp) - Monument.jpg|War Memorial in Moerbrugge File:Moerbrugge - Bordje aan monument.jpg|Plaque on the World War II Memorial in Moerbrugge

Land Force Central Area and 2013 reactivation

The LFCA was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously Central Militia Area and the Regular Force Army units and formations in Ontario from the northern Lakehead region to the border with Quebec. At that point in time, the six subordinate militia districts were reorganized into four: Northern Ontario District, London District, Toronto District, and Ottawa District each one garrisoned by a brigade of militia troops and a small number of regular support staff. Later that decade, in 1997, the four reserve force districts were again reorganized into three brigade groups.

At the time of its creation in the early-1990s, it was housed on the grounds of the former base and subsequently moved ca 1993 to the Place Nouveau office tower at Yonge Street north of Finch Avenue; this was controversial as the offices of the area commander, Major-General Brian Vernon, were lavishly renovated, attracting political criticism and attention from the Auditor General of Canada.

In 2013, the LFCA was renamed the "4th Canadian Division". With this change of name, the formation was also granted the identifying patch and historical lineage of the division that fought in the two world wars.

Present day organization

Main article: Structure of the Canadian Army

The division is headquartered in Toronto and covers the province of Ontario.

• 4th Canadian Division, in Toronto
  • 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, at CFB Petawawa
  • 31 Canadian Brigade Group, in London (covering Southwestern Ontario)
  • 32 Canadian Brigade Group, in Toronto (covering the Golden Horseshoe and Central Ontario)
  • 33 Canadian Brigade Group, in Ottawa (covering Eastern Ontario and Northeastern Ontario)
  • 4th Canadian Division Headquarters, in Toronto
  • 4th Canadian Division Support Group, at CFB Petawawa
  • 2 Military Police Regiment, in Toronto
  • 2 Intelligence Company (Reserve), in Toronto
  • 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, at CFB Borden
  • 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, in Meaford
  • Ceremonial Guard, in Ottawa
  • Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Kingston

3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group

Abbreviations

• ASU: Area Support Unit
• CFB: Canadian Forces Base
• RCA: The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
• RCAC: Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
• CFMS: Canadian Forces Medical Service

Commanders

• Brigadier-General C.I. Oberwarth, MSM, CD – 2024 – present
• Brigadier-General J.J. Major, MSM, CD – 2022 – 2024
• Brigadier-General Peter Scott, CD – 2021–2022
• Brigadier-General Conrad Mialkowski, MSM 2019–2021
• Brigadier-General Jocelyn Paul Canadian Forces Organization Orders, MSC, CD – 2018–2019
• Brigadier-General Stephen Cadden CD – 2016–2018
• Brigadier-General Lowell Thomas, CD – 2014–2016
• Brigadier-General Omer Lavoie – 2012–2014
• Brigadier-General Fred Lewis, MSM, CD – 2010–2012
• Brigadier-General Jean-Claude Collin, OMM, CD – 2008–2010
• Brigadier-General John Howard, MSM, CD – 2007–2008
• Brigadier-General Guy Thibault, CD – 2005–2007
• Brigadier-General Greg Young, CD – 2005
• Brigadier-General Marc Lessard, CD – 2003–2005
• Brigadier-General Andrew Leslie, OMM, MSM, CD – 2002–2003
• Brigadier-General Michel Gauthier, CD – 2000–2002
• Colonel Chris Corrigan, CD – 1999–2000
• Brigadier-General Walter Holmes, MBE, MSM, CD – 1998–1999
• Major-General Bryan Stephenson, CD – 1995–1998
• Major-General Brian Vernon, CD – 1993–1995
• Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, CD – 1992–1993
• Major-General Nicholas Hall, CD – 1991–1993

References

References

1. "4th Canadian Armoured Division – Quartermaster Section".
2. [https://archive.today/20080117035007/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lfca-jtfc/about.asp#aboutJTFC Official LFCA-JTFC Web Site]
3. "www.canadiansoldiers.com". canadiansoldiers.com.
4. M.Dorosh. (24 July 2013). "CSC: Clarification on the Canadian Army's Historic Insignia Announcement". canadiansoldierscom.blogspot.ca.
5. Honey, K., (9 April 2002). [http://www.canadahistory.ca/news/slippinghistory.htm A once-proud history, slipping away] {{Webarchive. link. (11 September 2011 . ''The Globe and Mail''. Retrieved on: 2 September 2008.)
6. ibiblio.org: [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/Victory/Victory-20.html ''The Rhine Crossing and the 2nd Corps' Advance to the North Sea. 23 March-22 April 1945''] (Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume III: ''The Victory Campaign. The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945'')
7. Defence, National. (2018-11-05). "The Royal New Brunswick Regiment".
8. "www.canadiansoldiers.com".
9. (8 May 1945). "Juno Beach Centre – First Canadian Army, 8 May 1945". Junobeach.org.
10. "4th Canadian (Armoured) Division". Canadian Soldier.
11. (22 February 2013). "Domestic Military Organization 1900–1999". Canadian Soldiers.com.
12. "Restoring the Canadian Army's historical identity". Department of National Defence.
13. Government of Canada, National Defence. (2016-10-03). "Commander 4th Canadian Division and Joint Task Force Central – Canadian Army".