1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
Encyclopedia
1 Canadian Army Tank Brigade, later known as 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade, was composed of the 11th, 12th and 14th Canadian Armoured Regiments and saw service in the Italian campaign and in north-west Europe during the Second World War.
1st Tank Brigade moved to the UK in the summer of 1941; personnel arrived in the Clyde
on 30 June and were promptly moved to Salisbury Plain
where they were issued sufficient Churchill tank
s for training. The Calgary Regiment participated in the disastrous Dieppe landing
in 1942. Issued brand new M4 "Sherman" tanks, the entire brigade moved to the Mediterranean, with The Three Rivers Regiment participating in the assault landing at Pachino
. The remainder of the brigade landed with the follow-up convoy of 13 July and served alongside the Three Rivers Regiment for the final weeks of the brief campaign. 1st Tank Brigade's role in the latter operations was largely one of fire support, the rugged terrain limiting the role of the armoured corps. The fight for Sicily
ended with 1st Tank in reserve. Preparing for Operation Baytown, landings on mainland Italy, it was redesignated 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in August 1943. Although reorganized as an armoured brigade, no motor battalion served under command. Having established a reputation for both courage and skill, the Canadian tankers were in constant demand by British commanders.
It took part in 8th British Army’s assault landing on the toe of Italy in Operation Baytown
. Its regiments participated in the Battles of Potenza, Termoli, Ortona. It helped break the Gustav Line
crossing the Gari River with the 8th Indian Division. Its regiments helped the 1st Canadian Division and the 78th British Division in breaking the Hitler Line. It cooperated with the XIII British Corps in the Battle of Lake Trasimeno. It was active in the crossing of the Arno River.
Combined with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division
and 5th Canadian Armoured Division as part of I Canadian Corps
, the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade was moved from Italy and joined the First Canadian Army
at the beginning of 1945. Here it participated in the crossing of the Ijsel river.
In its two incarnations as 1st Tank and 1st Armoured, the brigade’s service at Dieppe, France, in Sicily
, Italy
, and Northwest Europe earned it the distinction of the longest and widest service of any brigade in the Canadian Army during the war.
History
The 1st Canadian Tank Brigade was formed on 4 February 1941. The Ontario Regiment and The Three Rivers Regiment were transferred from the incomplete 1st Canadian Armoured Division to provide the nucleus of 1st Canadian Tank Brigade in February 1941. In March, The Calgary Regiment joined the new brigade from 2nd Division. The Fort Garry Horse were also originally part of the brigade, but transferred to the 5th Canadian Armoured Division in May 1941.1st Tank Brigade moved to the UK in the summer of 1941; personnel arrived in the Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
on 30 June and were promptly moved to Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
where they were issued sufficient Churchill tank
Churchill tank
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV was a heavy British infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war...
s for training. The Calgary Regiment participated in the disastrous Dieppe landing
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
in 1942. Issued brand new M4 "Sherman" tanks, the entire brigade moved to the Mediterranean, with The Three Rivers Regiment participating in the assault landing at Pachino
Pachino
Pachino is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . The name derives from the Phoenician word pachum which means guardia in Italian ; an alternative origin is the Greek word paxum translating into fertile...
. The remainder of the brigade landed with the follow-up convoy of 13 July and served alongside the Three Rivers Regiment for the final weeks of the brief campaign. 1st Tank Brigade's role in the latter operations was largely one of fire support, the rugged terrain limiting the role of the armoured corps. The fight for Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
ended with 1st Tank in reserve. Preparing for Operation Baytown, landings on mainland Italy, it was redesignated 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in August 1943. Although reorganized as an armoured brigade, no motor battalion served under command. Having established a reputation for both courage and skill, the Canadian tankers were in constant demand by British commanders.
It took part in 8th British Army’s assault landing on the toe of Italy in Operation Baytown
Operation Baytown
Operation Baytown was a part of the Allied invasion of Italy during World War II on 3 September 1943.The operation consisted of the landing by sea of the British 13th Corps of British 8th Army at Reggio di Calabria...
. Its regiments participated in the Battles of Potenza, Termoli, Ortona. It helped break the Gustav Line
Winter Line
The Winter Line was a series of German military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt. The primary Gustav Line ran across Italy from just north of where the Garigliano River flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, through the Apennine Mountains to the...
crossing the Gari River with the 8th Indian Division. Its regiments helped the 1st Canadian Division and the 78th British Division in breaking the Hitler Line. It cooperated with the XIII British Corps in the Battle of Lake Trasimeno. It was active in the crossing of the Arno River.
Combined with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division
1st Canadian Infantry Division
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was a formation mobilized on 1 September 1939 for service in the Second World War. The division was also reactivated twice during the Cold War....
and 5th Canadian Armoured Division as part of I Canadian Corps
I Canadian Corps
I Canadian Corps was one of the two corps fielded by the Canadian Army during World War II. From December 24, 1940 until the formation of the First Canadian Army in April 1942, there was a single unnumbered Canadian Corps...
, the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade was moved from Italy and joined the First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
at the beginning of 1945. Here it participated in the crossing of the Ijsel river.
In its two incarnations as 1st Tank and 1st Armoured, the brigade’s service at Dieppe, France, in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Northwest Europe earned it the distinction of the longest and widest service of any brigade in the Canadian Army during the war.
Organization
- Headquarters Squadron, 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
- 11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment)
- 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment)
- 14th Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment)
- "A" (& later "B") Squadrons, 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins)31 Combat Engineer Regiment , is currently a combat engineer regiment of the Canadian Forces, supporting 31 Canadian Brigade Group. It consists of two squadrons: 48 Engineer Squadron in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 Engineer Squadron in St. Thomas, Ontario. The Elgins existed before the Confederation of...
(The Elgin Regiment) - 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade Signals (RCCSRoyal Canadian Corps of SignalsThe Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was a corps of the Canadian Army. Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established the corps in 1903, making it the first independent Signal Corps in the British Empire...
) - 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade 83 Company (RCASCRoyal Canadian Army Service CorpsFor successor see Logistics BranchThe Royal Canadian Army Service Corps was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army....
) - 1st Canadian Light Field Ambulance (RCAMCRoyal Canadian Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Militia Medical Service was established in 1899. The Militia Medical Service was redesignated the Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1904. The Canadian Army Medical Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian...
) - 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade Workshop (RCEMEElectrical and Mechanical Engineering BranchThe Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces that provides army engineering maintenance support.-History:...
) - 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade Ordnance, PG PK (RCOCRoyal Canadian Ordnance CorpsThe Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps RCOC can trace its roots back to the Canadian Stores Department. Formed in 1871, the Canadian Stores Department was a civil department of the Canadian Government...
) - 1st Canadian Heavy Recovery (RCEME)
- 1st Canadian Army Tank Troops Workshop (RCEME)
- 1st Canadian Assault Troop (CACRoyal Canadian Armoured CorpsThe Royal Canadian Armoured Corps is the armoured branch of service of the Canadian Army, including regular force and reserve regiments.-History:...
)
Commanding officers
- Major General F. F. Worthington (5 March 1941- 28 January 1942)
- Brigadier General R.A Wyman (28 january 1942- 27 February 1944)
- Brigadier W. Murphy (27 February 1944 - )