The history of 3rd Canadian Division
On 24 June 1915 the British Government enquired whether Canada could supply any more formed bodies of troops. It was decided that there were enough reserve and surplus troops already overseas and the 3rd Division began to form in France in December 1915. A shortage of artillery led to the guns of the 3rd (Lahore) Division of the Indian Corps being attached. The Division fought in many of the major actions of the war, including:
1916
The Battle of Mount Sorrel
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette*
The Battle of Thiepval*
The Battle of Le Transloy*
The Battle of the Ancre Heights*
The battles marked * are phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916
1917
The Battle of Vimy**
The Attack on La Coulotte**
The Third Battle of the Scarpe**
Operations towards Lens**
The affairs south of Souchez river**
The capture of Avion**
The Battle of Hill 70**
The battles marked ** are phases of the Arras Offensive
The Second Battle of Passchendaele (a phase of the Third Battle of Ypres)
1918
The Canadian Divisions were not affected by the restructuring of the army to having three brigades per Division, that took place in the British Divisions in February 1918. They were not involved in the defensive fighting against the German attack in spring 1918.
The Battle of Amiens and actions around Damery
The Battle of the Scarpe and the capture of Monchy le Preux+
The battles marked + are phases of the Second Battles of Arras 1918
The battle of the Canal du Nord and the capture of Bourlon Wood^
The Battle of Cambrai and the capture of the town^
The battles marked ^ are phases of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line
The pursuit to the Selle
The Battle of Valenciennes and the capture of Mons
The Division was not selected to advance into Germany and demobilisation commenced in late 1918. Most elements crossed to England in February 1919 and home soon after.
The order of battle of the 3rd Canadian Division
| 7th Canadian Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Royal Canadian Regiment | |
| Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry | |
| 42nd Bn, the Canadian Infantry (Royal Highlanders) | |
| 49th Bn, the Canadian Infantry (Edmonton) | |
| 7th Canadian Machine Gun Company | formed April 1916 left to move into 3rd Canadian MG Battalion March 1918 |
| 7th Canadian Trench Mortar Battery | joined June 1916 |
| 8th Canadian Brigade | |
| 1st Bn, the Canadian Mounted Rifles | |
| 2nd Bn, the Canadian Mounted Rifles ) | |
| 4th Bn, the Canadian Mounted Rifles | |
| 5th Bn, the Canadian Mounted Rifles | |
| 8th Canadian Machine Gun Company | formed March 1916 left to move into 3rd Canadian MG Battalion March 1918 |
| 8th Canadian Trench Mortar Battery | joined June 1916 |
| 9th Canadian Brigade | |
| 43rd Bn, the Canadian Infntry (Cameron Highlanders) | |
| 52nd Bn, the Canadian Infantry (North Ontario) | |
| 58th Bn, the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario) | |
| 60th Bn, the Canadian Infantry (Victoria Rifles) | disbanded April 1917 |
| 9th Canadian Machine Gun Company | formed April 1916 left to move into 3rd Canadian MG Battalion March 1918 |
| 9th Canadian Trench Mortar Battery | formed May 1916 |
| Divisional Troops | under direct command of Divisional HQ |
| 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion | joined January 1916, retitled from 48th Bn, the Canadian Infantry |
| 15th Canadian Machine Gun Company | joined February 1917 left to move into 3rd Canadian MG Battalion March 1918 |
| 3rd Canadian Machine Gun Battalion | formed March 1918 |
| 3rd Canadian Divisional Train ASC | later titled 676, 677, 678 and 679 Companies |
| 3rd Canadian Mobile Veterinary Section AVC | |
| 3rd Canadian Divisional Employment Company | joined June 1917 |
| Divisional Mounted Troops | under direct command of Divisional HQ |
| Service Sqn, the 1st Hussars | joined February 1916, left May 1916 |
| 3rd Canadian Cyclist Company | joined February 1916, left May 1916 |
| Eaton’s Armoured Motor Battery | joined February 1916, left December 1916 |
| Divisional Artillery | |
| V Brigade, RFA | British unit. Joined 20 March 1916, left 13 July 1916 |
| XVIII Brigade, RFA | British unit. Joined 20 March 1916, left 13 July 1916 |
| 8th Canadian Brigade, RFA | joined July 1916, left June 1917 |
| 9th Canadian Brigade, RFA | joined July 1916 |
| 10th Canadian Brigade, RFA | joined July 1916 |
| 11th Canadian Brigade, RFA | joined July 1916, broken up June 1917 |
| 3rd Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| W.3.C Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA | joined June 1916, retitled as V.3.C in 1918 |
| X.3.C, Y.3.C and Z.3.C Medium Mortar Batteries RFA | formed March 1916; in February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each |
| Royal Engineers | Field Companies formed into a 3rd Brigade in June 1918 |
| 7th Canadian Field Company | |
| 8th Canadian Field Company | |
| 9th Canadian Field Company | |
| 3rd Canadian Divisional Signals Company | |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | |
| 8th Canadian Field Ambulance | |
| 9th Canadian Field Ambulance | |
| 10th Canadian Field Ambulance |