3rd Canadian Division
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps
during the First World War.
The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders
until Armistice Day
. While with 3rd Division at Ypres
, Mercer would become the highest-ranking Canadian officer killed in action in World War I. Brigadier
V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Brigade, became the highest-ranking Canadian officer captured in World War I, also at Ypres
. Mercer was replaced by Louis Lipsett
, who commanded the division until September 1918 shortly before he too was killed in action.
8th Canadian Brigade:
9th Canadian Brigade: (Joined the Division in January 1916)
Pioneers:
1917:
1918:
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
during the First World War.
The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
until Armistice Day
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
. While with 3rd Division at Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, Mercer would become the highest-ranking Canadian officer killed in action in World War I. Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Brigade, became the highest-ranking Canadian officer captured in World War I, also at Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
. Mercer was replaced by Louis Lipsett
Louis Lipsett
Major General Louis James Lipsett CB, CMG , was a senior officer in the British Army and Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He commanded the 3rd Canadian Division during some of the bitterest battles of the war, taking over in 1915 after his predecessor was killed...
, who commanded the division until September 1918 shortly before he too was killed in action.
Infantry units
7th Canadian Brigade:- The Royal Canadian RegimentThe Royal Canadian RegimentThe Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
. December 1915 - November 11, 1918; - Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
. December 24, 1915 - November 11, 1918; - 42nd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. December 1915 - November 11, 1918;
- 49th (Edmonton) Battalion Canadian Infantry. December 1915 - November 11, 1918.
8th Canadian Brigade:
- 1st Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles. December 1915 - November 11, 1918;
- 2nd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles. December 1915 - November 11, 1918;
- 4th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles. December 1915 - November 11, 1918;
- 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles5th Battalion Canadian Mounted RiflesThe 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles were a mounted infantry unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The unit was raised from volunteers of the 7th and XIth Hussars from the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Formed in 1915, they were transported to England later that year...
. December 1915 - November 11, 1918.
9th Canadian Brigade: (Joined the Division in January 1916)
- 43rd (Cameron Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 - November 11, 1918;
- 52nd (North Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 - November 11, 1918;
- 58th (Central Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 - November 11, 1918;
- 60th (Victoria Rifles) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 - April 30, 1917. (Disbanded)
- 116th (Ontario County Infantry) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1917 - November 11, 1918.
Pioneers:
- 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. January 8, 1916 - May 1917 (Disbanded);
- 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. March 1917 - June 1918. To the 3rd Canadian Engineer Brigade.
Battles and engagements on the Western Front
1916:- Battle of Mount Sorrel - June 2–13
- Battle of Flers - Courcelette - September 15–22
- Battle of MorvalBattle of MorvalThe Battle of Morval, which began on 25 September 1916, was an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German-held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs during the Battle of the Somme. These villages were originally objectives of the major British offensive of 15 September, the Battle of...
- September 25 - Battle of Thiepval - September 26–28
- Battle of Le TransloyBattle of Le TransloyThe Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the 1916 Battle of the Somme.-Prelude:With the successful conclusion of the preceding Battle of Morval at the end of September, the Fourth Army of Lieutenant General Henry Rawlinson had finally captured the...
- October 1–18 - Battle of the Ancre HeightsBattle of the Ancre HeightsThe Battle of the Ancre Heights was a prolonged battle of attrition in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Lieutenant General Hubert Gough's Reserve Army had finally managed to break out of the positions it had occupied since the start of the Somme fighting and Gough intended to maintain...
- October 1–11
1917:
- Battle of Vimy RidgeBattle of Vimy RidgeThe Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
- April 9–14 - Attack on La Coulotte - April 23
- Third Battle of the Scarpe - May 3–4
- Affairs South of the Souchez River - June 3–25
- Capture of Avion - June 26–29
- Battle of Hill 70Battle of Hill 70The Battle of Hill 70 was a localized battle of World War I between the Canadian Corps and five divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France between 15 August 1917 and 25 August 1917.The primary...
- August 15–25 - Second Battle of Passchendaele October 26 – November 10
1918:
- Battle of Amiens – August 8–11
- Actions round Damery – August 15–17
- Battle of the ScarpeBattle of the ScarpeThe Battle of the Scarpe refers to a number of battles fought on the Western Front during World War I in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France:...
- August 26–30 (including the capture of Monchy-le-PreuxMonchy-le-PreuxMonchy-le-Preux is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Monchy-le-Preux is situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D33 and the D339 roads...
) - Battle of the Canal du NordBattle of the Canal du NordThe Battle of Canal du Nord was part of a general Allied offensive against German positions on the Western Front during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I. The battle took place in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, along an incomplete portion of the Canal du Nord and on the outskirts...
– September 27 – October 1 (including the capture of Bourlon Wood) - Battle of CambraiBattle of Cambrai (1918)The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
- October 8–9 (including the Capture of CambraiCambraiCambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
) - Battle of Valenciennes - November 1–2
- Capture of Mons - November 11
Further reading
- Fowler, Robert (1995) Valour in the victory campaign : the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division gallantry decorations, General Store Pub. House ISBN 1896182151
- Saunders, Tim (2004), Juno Beach: 3rd Canadian & 79th armoured divisions, McGill-Queen's University Press ISBN 0773527923