The Canadian Armed Forces: The Canadian Army

The pre-Second World War Canadian 'Militia,' was tiny and its resources few: it had, for example, only ten Bren light machine guns for the entire army. By 1945, there were 730,159 men and women in the army, an astounding number for a country of only 12 million people who were far away from the main action.

After the declaration of war, the government announced that it would raise two army divisions, one for service overseas and one for home defence. By 1943 the overseas force, based in Britain, had grown into the First Canadian Army, with three infantry and two armoured divisions, as well as two armoured brigades and support troops. The equivalent of three more divisions were serving on home defence duties in Canada.

The army began sustained combat when the 1st Canadian Infantry Division joined in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 ( see the Sicilian and Italian campaigns ). From then on the army played a significant part in the defeat of the Italy and Germany, especially after D-Day, 6 June 1944, when the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed in Normandy, followed into action by the main body of the First Canadian Army ( see D-Day and the Normandy Campaign ). The whole of army fought continuously until the end in Northwest Europe. To this day, the people of Holland remember the Canadian Army's liberation of their country.

Related Newspaper Articles

English Articles

• Forming Army From Militia Found Benefit
  The Globe and Mail, 29/11/1939
   
• Ralston Reveals Set-Up of Units Here and Abroad
  The Hamilton Spectator, 14/05/1943
   
• Quarter Million Men Serve in Canada and at Outposts
  The Hamilton Spectator, 21/05/1943
   
• United Canadian Army Popular, Veterans Say
  The Globe And Mail, 30/04/1945
   
• Many Milestones Mark Part Played by Canada In Victory Over Huns
  The Globe And Mail, 09/05/1945
   
• Canadian Army Statistics
  The Globe And Mail, 17/10/1945
   

French Articles

• "La première division canadienne d'outre-mer, comprenant 16,000 hommes est maintenant en Angleterre"
  Le Devoir, 02/01/1940
   
• Un corps expéditionnaire canadien plus nombreux?
  Le Devoir, 05/01/1940
   
• Le gouvernement canadien décide la création d'une quatrième division
  Le Devoir, 06/05/1940
   
• Bloc-Notes - Le général Tremblay
  Le Devoir, 23/05/1940
   
• Notre Milice devient l'armée canadienne
  Le Devoir, 08/01/1941
   
• Nos camps d'entrainement
  Le Devoir, 28/02/1941
   
• Chez le général Panet. Les meilleurs soldats sont les volontaires
  Le Devoir, 25/06/1941
   
• Création d'une sixième division canadienne
  Le Devoir, 08/08/1941
   
• "Une brigade canadienne aux points stratégiques en Angleterre"
  Le Devoir, 07/01/1942
   
• Réorganisation importante et considérable parmi nos officiers outre-mer. On a besoin de sang plus jeune
  Le Devoir, 12/01/1942
   
• La Femme dans l'armée. L'enrôlement dans la C.A.F.A.C.
  Le Devoir, 31/01/1942
   
• Le général McNaughton demande des technicien
  Le Devoir, 05/02/1942
   
• Quartier généraux de la première armée canadienne établis en Angleterre
  Le Devoir, 06/04/1942
   
• Grande responsabilités des unités de réserve
  Le Devoir, 20/05/1942
   
• Des mécaniciens pour notre armée
  Le Devoir, 23/07/1942
   
• Les premiers parachutistes canadiens
  Le Devoir, 28/07/1942
   
• Une nouvelle unité de spécialistes canadiens et américains de la guerre offensive
  Le Devoir, 06/08/1942
   
• L'armée canadienne en Angleterre
  Le Devoir, 02/09/1942
   
• Bloc-notes. Deux divisions dans le pacifique. Un corps d'armée
  Le Devoir, 11/05/1945
   
• L'armée canadienne d'occupation
  Le Devoir, 28/05/1945