4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade was a brigade
of the Canadian Army during the Second World War.
, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. However, further expansion of the Brigade was hindered by a temporary halt in recruitment and uncertainty about overseas deployment. Consequently, the brigade headquarters were not actually formed until May and June 1940.
The 2nd Division conducted Operation Jubilee, a large-scale raid on Dieppe
, France in August 1942 with the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
s, suffering extensive losses in the landing and the ensuing withdrawal.
Following reconstruction, the Brigade with 2nd Canadian Division moved to Normandy
in time to serve with the British 2nd Army. It then participated in the advance along the Channel
coast with the Canadian 1st Army including the liberation of Dieppe. The division saw heavy action in the Netherlands
in late 1944 and took part in the final offensives in 1945.
. The order of battle
for the 4th Infantry Brigade was as follows
Rev. John Weir Foote
, VC , CD (5 May 1904 – 2 May 1988 ), Regimental Chaplain to The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
for work with the wounded at the Dieppe Raid.
Frederick Albert Tilston
acting Major in The Essex Scottish Regiment
. During the Battle of the Rhineland, he volunteered to lead an infantry company in an attack on the Hochwald. After leading "C" Company in a 500 yard attack and wounded, he refused to be evacuated while he organized a defence against German counter-attacks.
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of the Canadian Army during the Second World War.
History
It was mobilized on 1 September 1939 part of 2nd Canadian Infantry Division2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. However, further expansion of the Brigade was hindered by a temporary halt in recruitment and uncertainty about overseas deployment. Consequently, the brigade headquarters were not actually formed until May and June 1940.
The 2nd Division conducted Operation Jubilee, a large-scale raid on Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
, France in August 1942 with the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
As part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division mobilization started on 1 September 1939, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. However, further expansion was hindered by a temporary halt in recruitment and uncertainty about overseas deployment...
s, suffering extensive losses in the landing and the ensuing withdrawal.
Following reconstruction, the Brigade with 2nd Canadian Division moved to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in time to serve with the British 2nd Army. It then participated in the advance along the Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
coast with the Canadian 1st Army including the liberation of Dieppe. The division saw heavy action in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in late 1944 and took part in the final offensives in 1945.
Organization
In 1939, The Second Division was organized along regional lines, like the 1st Canadian Infantry Division1st 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....
. The order of battle
Order of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
for the 4th Infantry Brigade was as follows
Fourth Canadian Infantry Brigade – Ontario
- The Royal Regiment of CanadaThe Royal Regiment of CanadaThe Royal Regiment of Canada is the largest army regiment in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve. It is an infantry unit based in Toronto, Ontario, part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
– Toronto, Ontario - The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry is a Primary Reserve unit of the Canadian Forces based at John W. Foote VC Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario....
– Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe... - The Essex Scottish RegimentThe Essex Scottish RegimentThe Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.Founded in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including: 1887 - 21st Battalion, Essex Fusiliers; 1900 - 21st Regiment, Essex Fusiliers; 1920 - The Essex Fusiliers, acquiring...
– Windsor, OntarioWindsor, OntarioWindsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor... - The Cameron Highlanders of OttawaThe Cameron Highlanders of OttawaThe Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.-History:The 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Ottawa was formed on April 3, 1856. At that time, the bulk of Canada's militia existed as small, independent companies scattered throughout the provinces...
(Machine Gun) – Ottawa, Ontario
Fourth Canadian Infantry Brigade 1944–45
- The Royal Regiment of Canada
- The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
- The Essex Scottish Regiment
- 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Awards
Two members of the Brigade won the Victoria Cross.Rev. John Weir Foote
John Weir Foote
John Weir Foote, VC , CD was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, VC , CD (5 May 1904 – 2 May 1988 ), Regimental Chaplain to The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry is a Primary Reserve unit of the Canadian Forces based at John W. Foote VC Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario....
for work with the wounded at the Dieppe Raid.
Frederick Albert Tilston
Frederick Albert Tilston
Frederick Albert Tilston, VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
acting Major in The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.Founded in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including: 1887 - 21st Battalion, Essex Fusiliers; 1900 - 21st Regiment, Essex Fusiliers; 1920 - The Essex Fusiliers, acquiring...
. During the Battle of the Rhineland, he volunteered to lead an infantry company in an attack on the Hochwald. After leading "C" Company in a 500 yard attack and wounded, he refused to be evacuated while he organized a defence against German counter-attacks.
See also
- Military history of Canada during the Second World WarMilitary history of Canada during the Second World WarThe Second World War officially began on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland. Britain and France declared war on the Nazi Third Reich on September 3, 1939...
- Military history of CanadaMilitary history of CanadaThe military history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. For thousands of years, the area that would become Canada was the site of sporadic intertribal wars...
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...