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Wikipedia / 5th Canadian Division

The 5th Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Army which was active during the First World War, the Second World War, and again from 2013 to 2026. It was first created as a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1917 and stood down following the war. It was reactivated in 1941 through the renaming from '1st Canadian Armoured Division' to the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division during the Second World War, and again stood down during demobilization. The 5th Canadian Division was again reactivated in 2013 with the renaming of the former Land Force Area Atlantic. At that time it was 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 again formally stood-down on 27 June 2026. Through all its iterations, the division has been recognized by a distinctive maroon patch worn on the sleeve of its soldiers.

First World War

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. It was reactivated in 2013.

Infantry units

13th Canadian Brigade:

14th Canadian Brigade:

15th Canadian Brigade:

Attached Troops:

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.

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".

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.

Division Commanders

Organization until July 1944 and after March 1945

5th Armoured Brigade

11th Infantry Brigade

Other units

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

Organization July 1944 until March 1945

5th Canadian Armoured Brigade

  • 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

12th Canadian Infantry Brigade (raised in August 1944)

Other units

  • 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

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. 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)

Regular Force

Reserve Force

5th Canadian Division Re-Activation

In 2013, LFAA was re-designated the 5th Canadian Division and inherited the wartime heritage of the formation. The division continued to be headquartered at CFB Halifax and commanded most Canadian Army units in the Atlantic provinces. The division again formally stood-down on 27 June 2026.

Organization at January 2026

Lodger units at 5 CDSB Gagetown (Jan 2026)

Combat Training Centre

  • Combat Training Center Headquarters

  • Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School

  • Royal Canadian Artillery School

  • Royal Canadian Infantry Corps School

  • Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering

  • Tactics School

  • Canadian Army Trials and Evaluations Unit

2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

6 Canadian Combat Support Brigade

From other formations

  • 5th Canadian Division Training Centre

  • 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron

  • 3 Military Police Regiment Detachment Gagetown

  • 42 Health Services Unit

  • Joint Meteorological Centre

  • Real Property Operations Unit (Atlantic) Detachment Gagetown

See also

Notes

References

  • 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