Canadian Corps (World War II)
Encyclopedia
The unnumbered Canadian Corps was the first corps
-level military formation established by the Canadian Army during World War II
. A four-division Canadian Corps
had existed during the First World War. However, during World War II
Canada's military contribution was to increase to the scale of a five-division, two-corps army
.
The Canadian Corps became effective in the United Kingdom
on December 25, 1940. It began as
essentially a renaming of the existing Anglo-Canadian VII Corps.
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division
had already been sent across the Atlantic in December 1939 and early 1940, and had been attached to VII Corps to help defend southern England
against the threat of German invasion from occupied France
.
However, the number of Canadian troops in the United Kingdom had increased significantly with the
staged arrival, over the second half of 1940, of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
.
A Canadian Corps was deemed advisable to accommodate and clearly highlight the growing military contribution from Canada.
British staff officers in the new Canadian Corps were replaced gradually with Canadians as trained
replacements became available. Similarly, British units in the Corps were gradually replaced with
Canadian units.
The Canadian Corps was redesignated I Canadian Corps
on April 6, 1942, when the growing size of Canada's overseas expeditionary force in the United Kingdom required the formation of the First Canadian Army
.
The Canadian Corps was commanded initially by Lieutenant-General Andrew McNaughton
(December 1940 to December 1941), who had previously commanded VII Corps. From November-December 1941 Major General
George Pearkes
was asked to assume command of the Canadian Corps, taking the place of Andrew McNaughton who was on an extended leave. Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar
assumed command from December 23, 1941 to April 6, 1942.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
-level military formation established by the Canadian Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A four-division Canadian Corps
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...
had existed during the First World War. However, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Canada's military contribution was to increase to the scale of a five-division, two-corps army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
.
The Canadian Corps became effective in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on December 25, 1940. It began as
essentially a renaming of the existing Anglo-Canadian VII Corps.
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....
had already been sent across the Atlantic in December 1939 and early 1940, and had been attached to VII Corps to help defend southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
against the threat of German invasion from occupied France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
However, the number of Canadian troops in the United Kingdom had increased significantly with the
staged arrival, over the second half of 1940, of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd 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...
.
A Canadian Corps was deemed advisable to accommodate and clearly highlight the growing military contribution from Canada.
British staff officers in the new Canadian Corps were replaced gradually with Canadians as trained
replacements became available. Similarly, British units in the Corps were gradually replaced with
Canadian units.
The Canadian Corps was redesignated 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...
on April 6, 1942, when the growing size of Canada's overseas expeditionary force in the United Kingdom required the formation of 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...
.
The Canadian Corps was commanded initially by Lieutenant-General Andrew McNaughton
Andrew McNaughton
General Andrew George Latta McNaughton, CH, CB, CMG, DSO, CD, PC was a Canadian army officer, politician and diplomat.- Early life :...
(December 1940 to December 1941), who had previously commanded VII Corps. From November-December 1941 Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
George Pearkes
George Pearkes
Major General George Randolph Pearkes, VC, PC, CC, CB, DSO, MC, CD was a Canadian politician; soldier; recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Imperial forces; and the 20th Lieutenant Governor of British...
was asked to assume command of the Canadian Corps, taking the place of Andrew McNaughton who was on an extended leave. Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar
Harry Crerar
Henry Duncan Graham "Harry" Crerar CH, CB, DSO, KStJ, CD, PC was a Canadian general and the country's "leading field commander" in World War II.-Early years:...
assumed command from December 23, 1941 to April 6, 1942.