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4th Canadian Division

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Mergefrom
 It has been suggested that [[::Land Force Central Area|Land Force Central Area]] be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2013.
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
4 Canadian Armoured Division patch
4th Canadian Division formation patch
Active 1940–1946
1916-1919
2013-Present
Country Canada
Allegiance Allies
Branch Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Army
Type Infantry
Armoured
Engagements Battle of Normandy
Battle of the Scheldt
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 David Watson
George Kitching
Chris Vokes

The 4th Canadian Division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. It was stood down following the war only to be reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantry Division and then quickly rebranded the 4th Canadian Armoured Division during the Second World War. In both wars the division was recognized by the distinctive green patch worn on the sleeve of its soldiers.

First World War[]

The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the 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 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.[1]

In the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 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:

11th Canadian Brigade:

12th Canadian Brigade:

Pioneers:

Battles and Engagements on the Western Front[]

1916:

1917:

1918:

4th Canadian (Armoured) Division[]

The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was created 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 UK before crossing to Normandy in July 1944. In UK, it did participate in war games together with the 1st Armoured Division (Poland), and in France, Low Countries, and Germany, both divisions followed very close paths. It participated in the battle of the Falaise pocket, the advance from Normandy and spent almost two months engaged at the Breskens pocket. It wintered in the Netherlands and took part in the final advance across northern Germany. The division is to be reactivated with the renaming of Land Force Central Area

Formation[]

1944–1945

4th Canadian Armoured Brigade
4th Canadian Armoured Division formation sign

Formation sign used to identify vehicles of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division

10th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Other units

Commanding Officers[]

Date General Officer Commanding
10 Jun 1941 - 24 Dec 1941 Major General L.F. Page, DSO
2 Feb 1942 - 29 Feb 1944 Major General F.F. Worthington, CB, MC, MM
1 Mar 1944 - 21 Aug 1944 Major General George Kitching, DSO
22 Aug 1944 - 30 Nov 1944 Harry W. Foster, CBE, DSO
1 Dec 1944 - 5 Jun 1945 Major General Chris Vokes, CBE, DSO

[3]

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. The then 32 year-old Currie was a Major in The South Alberta Regiment. During the Battle of Falaise, Normandy, between 18–20 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 Germans' main 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.

Gallery[]

Land Force Central Area and 2013 reactivation[]

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.[4] 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, it LFCA was renamed 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.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Honey, K., (April 9, 2002). A once-proud history, slipping away. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on: September 2, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Juno Beach Centre - First Canadian Army, 8 May 1945". Junobeach.org. 1945-05-08. http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-inf-1CA1945-e.htm#FourthArmouredDivision. Retrieved 2011-11-13. 
  3. ↑ "4th Canadian (Armoured) Division". Canadian Soldier. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/fieldforces/casf/4thdivision.htm. Retrieved August 9, 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Domestic Military Organization 1900-1999". Canadian Soldiers.com. 22 February 2013. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/districts.htm. 

External links[]

Disbanded:


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