Organization

Canadian Army

Domestic Military Organization

Headquarters

Militia HQ

Canadian Forces HQ

National Defence HQ (NDHQ)

Political Institutions

Dept. of Militia & Defence

►►Minister of Militia & Defence

►►Militia Council

Department of National Defence

►►Minister of National Defence

►►Chiefs of Staff Committee

Reorganizations

1902-1904 Dundonald Reforms
1920 Otter Committee
1936 Reorganization
1954 Kennedy Board
1957 Anderson Report
1964 Suttie Commission
1968 Unification
1995 Special Commission

Organizational Corps/Branches

1900-1968 Organizational Corps
1968-2000 Branches

Field Forces

1914-1919  

Canadian Expeditionary Force
CEF Regional Affiliations

Territorial Reinforcement Regts.

1919

Canadian Exped Force Siberia

1939-1940 (1945) 

Canadian Active Service Force

1945

Canadian Army Pacific Force

1950-1953

Canadian Army Special Force

Field Force Formations

1914-1918  
Canadian Corps

 

 

 

1st Div  | 2nd Div | 3rd Div  | 4th Div


5th Div
1939-1945

1st Canadian Army

1st Canadian Corps

2nd Canadian Corps

Atlantic Command

Pacific Command
1st Infantry Division
2nd Infantry Division

3rd Infantry Division

4th (Armoured) Division
5th (Armoured) Division
6th Division 

7th Division 

8th Division 
1st Armoured Brigade
2nd Armoured Brigade
3rd Armoured Brigade
3rd Tank Brigade

 1950-1953
1 Com Div | 25 Inf Bde

Foreign Headquarters

Allied Forces HQ (AFHQ)

►►15th Army Group

►►►8th Army

SHAEF

►►21st Army Group

►►►2nd British Army
►►►►Beach Groups

Special Forces

1st Canadian Para Battalion

First Special Service Force

Pacific Coast Militia Rangers

Canadian Rangers

Special Air Service (SAS) Coy

The Canadian Airborne Regt

Organizational Formations

Reserve Bdes - 1941-1945

13 Cdn Infantry Training Bde

14 Cdn Infantry Training Bde

27th Canadian Brigade

1 CMBG

2 CMBG

3 CMBG

4 CMBG

5 CMBG

1st Cdn Division (1954-1958)

1st Cdn Division (1988-2000)

Special Service Force

Auxiliary Services
Alliances

1914-1918 Triple Alliance
1939-1945 Allies
1949-1999 NATO

Veteran's Organizations

Defence Associations

Canadian Cavalry Association
Canadian Infantry Association
Intelligence Branch Association

National Defence Emp Assoc
RCAC (Cavalry)
RCA Association
RCOC Association
Union of Nat Def Employees

Veteran's Associations

ANAVETS
Royal Canadian Legion

Supplementary Order of Battle

Unit Listings by year

1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904
1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909
1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914
1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919
1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924
1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929
1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934
1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939
1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944
1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949
1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954
1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959
1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964
1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979
1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984
1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994
1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999

Unit Listings by Corps/Branch

Armoured Units 1940-1945

Cdn Dental Corps 1939-1945
Cdn Intelligence Corps 1942-45

Cdn Provost Corps 1940-1945

Infantry Battalions 1939-1945

RCOC 1939-1945

 

Domestic Military Organization 1900-1999

The Canadian military was organized into Military Districts at the start of the 20th Century. A newspaper article in 1926 described the district as:

...the peacetime organization of a division, having approximately the same number of units utilized in war-time, some quite active but others merely on paper. Military districts have been in existence in Canada for many years and the headquarters are usually located in places where regular troops were garrisoned many years ago..

...the local district(s) boasts of practically every branch of the land forces...cavalry, artillery, infantry, corps of signals, corps of guides, machine guns, army service, army medical corps, ordnance corps, veterinary corps and detachments of the army pay and postal corps...

The headquarters' organization consists of an officer in charge who is known as the District Officer Commanding...

Attached to the general staff of each district headquarters are two officers who have highly important duties - the district military intelligence officer and the district signalling officer. The administrative staff consists of two officers whose titles are "Assistant Adjutant and Quarter-Master General" and "Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General." The services and departments are under the supervision of such officers as the district engineer officer, supply and transport officer, ordnance officer, paymaster, veterinary officer and district cadet officer.1

Military Districts as of 1 January 1900

Beginning in 1868, Canada was divided into Military Districts, each responsible for training and administration of militia units within.   The Districts were further divided into Brigade Divisions.

The 1895 Militia List breaks down the Military Districts as follows:

No. 1 - Headquarters: London, Ontario

1st Brigade Division Counties of Bothwell, Elgin, Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford, and the City of London.
2nd Brigade Division Counties of Bruce, Huron, Perth, Waterloo, and Wellington.

No. 2 - Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario

3rd Brigade Division

Counties of Brant, Haldimand, Lincoln, Monck, Niagara, Norfolk, Welland, Wentworth and the City of Hamilton.

4th Brigade Division

Counties of Cardwell, Grey, Algoma (east of Nepigon), Ontario, Peel, Simcoe, Halton and York

5th Brigade Division

City of Toronto.

No. 3 - Headquarters: Kingston, Ontario

6th Brigade Division Counties of Durham, Northumberland, Peterborough and Victoria.
7th Brigade Division Counties of Addington, Frontenac, Hastings, Lennox, Prince Edward and the City of Kingston.

No. 4 - Headquarters: Ottawa, Ontario

8th Brigade Division

Counties of Carleton, Dundas, Glengarry, Grenville, Lanark, Leeds, Ottawa, Pontiac, Prescott, Renfrew, Russell, Stormont, the Town of Brockville, and the City of Ottawa.

No. 5 - Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

1st Brigade Division of Quebec

Counties of Jacques Cartier, Hochelaga, Laval, Vaudreuil, Soulanges, Napierville, Beauharnois, Chateauguay, Hunting, Laprairie and the City of Montreal.

2nd Brigade Division of Quebec

Counties of Argenteuil, Terrebonne, Two Mountains, Montcalm, L'Assomption, Joliette, Berthier, Maskinonge, St. Maurice and Three Rivers.

No. 6 - Headquarters: St. Johns, Quebec

3rd Brigade Division of Quebec

Counties of St. Johns, Iberville, Missisquoi, Brome, Shefford, Rouville, Chambly, Vercheres, St. Hyacinthe, Bagot, Drummond, Richelieu and Yamaska.

4th Brigade Division of Quebec

Counties of Nicolet, Arthabaska, Wolfe, Richmond, Sherbrooke, Stanstead and Compton.

No. 7 - Headquarters: Quebec City, Quebec

5th Brigade Division of Quebec

Counties of Beauce, Bellechase, Bonaventure, Dorchester, Gaspe, Kamouraska, Levis, L'Islet, Lothiniere, Montmagny, Megantic, Rimouski and Temiscouta.

6th Brigade Division of Quebec

Counties of Champlain, Charlevoix, Chicoutimi, Montmorency, Quebec, Portneuf, Saguenay and Quebec City.

No. 8 - Headquarters: Fredericton, New Brunswick

1st Brigade Division of N.B.

Counties of Carleton, Charlotte, Sunbury, Victoria and York.

2nd Brigade Division of N.B.

Counties of Albert, King's, Queen's and St. John.

3rd Brigade Division of N.B.

Counties of Gloucester, Kent, Northumberland, Restigouche and Westmoreland.

No. 9 - Headquarters: Halifax, Nova Scotia

1st Brigade Division of N.S.

Counties of Antigonish, Colchester, Cumberland, Guysborough, Hants, Halifax, Pictou and Halifax City.

2nd Brigade Division of N.S.

Counties of Annapolis, Digby, King's, Lunenburg, Queen's, Shelburne and Yarmouth.

3rd Brigade Division of N.S.

Counties of Cape Breton, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria.

No. 10 - Headquarters: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Not yet formed into Brigade Divisions

Comprising Algoma west of Nepigon, the Provinc of Manitoba, the North-west Territories and the District of Keewatin.

No. 11 - Headquarters: Victoria, British Columbia
Not yet formed into Brigade Divisions

Comprising the Province of British Columbia.

No. 12 - Headquarters: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
No. 1 King's County (Reigmental Division)

Comprising the Province of Prince Edward Island viz King's County.

No. 2 Prince County (Regimental Division)

Comprising the Province of Prince Edward Island viz Prince County.

No. 3 Queen's County (Regimental Division)

Comprising the Province of Prince Edward Island viz Queen's County.

MD 10 - originally just a portion of Manitoba, created in 1871, expanded in 1907 to include all of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the District of Keewatin and parts of north-west Ontario.  

MD 13 - created out of MD 10 in 1907, included Alberta and the Territory of MacKenzie.


Military Districts as of 1 January 1915

No. 1 - Headquarters: London, Ontario Counties of Essex, Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Waterloo, Perth, Huron, and Bruce in the Province of Ontario.
No. 2 - Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario Counties of Lincoln, Welland, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant,Wentworth, Halton, Peel, York, Ontario, Grey, Dufferin, Simcoe; the districts of Muskoka, Perry Sound, Algoma and Nipissing, north of the Mattawa and French Rivers (including the townships of Ferris and Bonfield.)
No. 3 - Headquarters: Kingston, Ontario Counties of Durham, Northumberland, Victoria, Peterborough, Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Halliburton, Carleton, Dundas, Glengarry, Renfrew, Russell, Stormont, Grenville, Lanark, Wright, Labelle, Pontiac, Leeds, Prescott, the district of Nipissing south of Mattawa River (exclusive of townships of Ferris and Bonfield).

No. 4 - Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

Counties of Jacques Cartier, Hochelaga, Laval, Soulanges, Napierville, Beauharnois, Chateauguay, Huntington, Laprairie, Argenteuil, Terrebonne, Two Mountains, Montcalm, L'Assomption, Joliette, Berthier, Maskinonge, St. Maurice, Three Rivers, St. Johns, Iberville, Missisquoi, Brome, Shefford, Rouville, Chambly, Vercheres, St. Hyacinthe, Bagot, Drummond, Richelieu, Yamaska, Nicolet, Arthabaska, Sherbrooke and Stanstead.

No. 5 - Headquarters: Quebec City, Quebec

Counties of Wolfe, Richmond,  Compton, Beauce, Bellechase, Bonaventure, Dorchester, Gaspe, Kamouraska, Levis, L'Islet, Champlain, Charlevoix, Chicoutimi, Montmorency, Quebec, Portneuf, Saguenay, Lotbiniere, Montmagny, Matane, Megantic, Rimouski and Temiscouta.

No. 6 - Headquarters: Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

No. 10 - Headquarters: Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Provinces of Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, the territory of Keewatin and the Districts of Thundery Bay and Rainey River.

No. 11 - Headquarters: Victoria, British Columbia

The Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

No. 13 - Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta

The Province of Alberta and the Territory of Mackenzie

MD 12 - From 1875 until 1911 included just Prince Edward Island.  Then in 1916, Saskatchewan was designated MD 12.


Military Districts as of 1 July 1917

No. 1 - Headquarters: London, Ontario Counties of Essex, Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Waterloo, Perth, Huron, and Bruce in the Province of Ontario.
No. 2 - Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario Counties of Lincoln, Welland, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant,Wentworth, Halton, Peel, York, Ontario, Grey, Dufferin, Simcoe; the districts of Muskoka, Perry Sound, Algoma and Nipissing, north of the Mattawa and French Rivers (including the townships of Ferris and Bonfield.)
No. 3 - Headquarters: Kingston, Ontario Counties of Durham, Northumberland, Victoria, Peterborough, Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Halliburton, Carleton, Dundas, Glengarry, Renfrew, Russell, Stormont, Grenville, Lanark, Wright, Labelle, Pontiac, Leeds, Prescott, the district of Nipissing south of Mattawa River (exclusive of townships of Ferris and Bonfield).

No. 4 - Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

Counties of Jacques Cartier, Hochelaga, Laval, Soulanges, Napierville, Beauharnois, Chateauguay, Huntington, Laprairie, Argenteuil, Terrebonne, Two Mountains, Montcalm, L'Assomption, Joliette, Berthier, Maskinonge, St. Maurice, Three Rivers, St. Johns, Iberville, Missisquoi, Brome, Shefford, Rouville, Chambly, Vercheres, St. Hyacinthe, Bagot, Drummond, Richelieu, Yamaska, Nicolet, Arthabaska, Sherbrooke and Stanstead.

No. 5 - Headquarters: Quebec City, Quebec

Counties of Wolfe, Richmond,  Compton, Beauce, Bellechase, Bonaventure, Dorchester, Gaspe, Kamouraska, Levis, L'Islet, Champlain, Charlevoix, Chicoutimi, Montmorency, Quebec, Portneuf, Saguenay, Lotbiniere, Montmagny, Matane, Megantic, Rimouski and Temiscouta.

No. 6 - Headquarters: Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

No. 10 - Headquarters: Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Provinces of Manitoba, and, in the Province of Ontario, the Districts of Kenora, Rainey River and Thunder Bay.

No. 11 - Headquarters: Victoria, British Columbia

The Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

No. 12 - Headquarters: Regina, Saskatchewan

The Province of Saskatchewan.

No. 13 - Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta

The Province of Alberta and the Territory of Mackenzie


Military Districts as of 1 September 1939

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By 1939 there were 11 Military Districts, further divided into Brigades.

No. 1 - Headquarters: London, Ontario Counties of Bruce, Elgin, Essex, Huron, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington in Ontario
No. 2 - Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario Counties of Brant, Dufferin, Grey, Halimand, Halton. Lincoln, Norfolk, Ontario, Peel, Simcoe, Welland, Wentworth and York, and the Districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Timiskaming and that portion of Nipissing lying north of the Mattawa and French Rivers (including the Townships of Ferris and Banfield) of Ontario
No. 3 - Headquarters: Kingston, Ontario Counties of Carleton, Frontenac, Haliburton, Hastings, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland and Durham, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Victoria and that portion of the district of Nipissing lyiug south of the Mattawa River (exclusive of the Townships of Ferris and Banfield and inclusive of the town of Mattawa) and in the Province of Quebec, the counties of Gatineau, Pontiac and Temiscaminque.

No. 4 - Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

Counties of Abitibi, Argenteuil, Arthabaska, Bagot, Beauharnois, Berthier, Brome, Chambly, Champlain, Chateaquay, Deux-Montagnes, Drummond, Hochelegu, Huntingdon, Iberville, Jacques-Cartier, Joliette, Labelle, Laprairie, L'Assomption, Lavel, Maskinonge, Missisquoi, Montcalm, Napierville, Nicolet, Papineau, Richelieu, Rouville, Shefford, Sherbrooke, Soulanges,Stanstead, St. Hyacinthe, St. Jean, St. Maurice, Terrebonne, Vandreuil, Vercheres and Yamaska and that portion of the province of Quebec to the north of the County of Abitibi and to the west of the 74th meridian.

No. 5 - Headquarters: Quebec City, Quebec

Beauce, Bellechasse, Bonaventure, Carlevoix Est, Carlevoix 0vest, Chicoutimi, Compton, Dorchester, Frontenac, Gaspe Est, Gaspe 0uest, Isles-de-la-Madeleine, Kamouraska, Lac St. Jean Est and Ouest, Levis L'Islet, Lotbiniere, Matane, Matapedic, Megantic, Montmagny, Montmorency Nos. 1 and 2, Portneuf, Quebec, Richmond, Rimouski, Riviere du Loup, Saquenay, Temiscouata, and Wolf and that portion of Quebec lying to the north of these counties and to the east of the 74th meridian.

No. 6 - Headquarters: Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

No. 7 - Headquarters St. John, New Brunswick

The Province of New Brunswick

No. 10 - Headquarters: Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Province of Manitoba and the District of Keewatin, in the Province of Ontario, the Districts of Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay

No. 11 - Headquarters: Victoria, British Columbia

The Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

No. 12 - Headquarters: Regina Saskatchewan

The Province of Saskatchewan.

No. 13 - Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta

The Province of Alberta and the Territory of Mackenzie

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The Districts and Brigades were as follows (list as of 3 September 1939):  The brigades were all disbanded or renamed in 1946.   (Organization of the brigades as well as a breakdown of units is given on a seperate page of this site).

Military District Units
M.D. 1

1st Infantry Brigade: HQ London
2nd Infantry Brigade: HQ Kitchner
7th Field Brigade, RCA: London
11th Field Brigade RCA: Guelph
21st Field Brigade, RCA: Listowel

M.D. 2

1st Cavalry Brigade: HQ Toronto
4th Infantry Brigade: HQ Hamilton
5th Infantry Brigade: HQ Barrie
6th Infantry Brigade: HQ Toronto
7th (Toronto) Regiment, RCA: Toronto

M.D. 3

8th Infantry Brigade: HQ Ottawa
9th lnfantry Brigade: HQ Kingston
1st Field Brigade, RCA: Ottawa
4th Field Brigade, RCA: Cobourg
9th Field Brigade RCA: Kingston

M.D. 4

3rd Cavalry Brigade: HQ Montreal
10th Infantry Brigade: HQ Sherbrooke
11th Infantry Brigade: HQ Montreal
12th Infantry Brigade: HQ Montreal
2nd (Montreal) Regiment, RCA: Montreal
        2nd Field Brigade RCA: Montreal
        2nd Medium Brigade, RCA: Montreal
6th Field Brigade RCA: Sherbrooke
27th Field Brigade, RCA: Coaticook

M.D. 5

13th Infantry Brigade: HQ Quebec
15th Infantry Brigade: HQ Quebec
13th Field Brigade, RCA: Quebec
6th (Quebec and Levis) Medium Brigade, RCA: Levis

M.D. 6

17th Infantry Brigade HQ Halifax
18th Infantry Brigade: HQ Halifax
14th Field Brigade, RCA: Yarmouth
1st (Prince Edward Island) Medium Brigade, RCA: Charlottetown, PEI
1st (Halifax) Coast Brigade, RCA: Halifax
16th Coast Brigade, RCA: Sydney

M.D. 7

16th lnfantry Brigade: HQ Saint John
12th Field Brigade RCA: Frederickton
23rd Field Brigade, RCA: Moncton
3rd (New Brunswick) Coast Brigade (The Loyal Company of

                               Artillery), RCA: Saint John

M.D. 10

4th Cavalry Brigade: HQ Winnipeg
7th Infantry Brigade: HQ Winnipeg
5th Field Brigade RCA: Winnipeg
26th Field Brigade, RCA: Brandon
7th Medium Brigade, RCA: Winnipeg
HQ District Engineers 10: Winnipeg

M.D. 11

14th Infantry Brigade: HQ Vancouver
23rd Infantry Brigade: HQ
24th (Kootenay) Field Brigade, RCA: Cranbrook
5th (British Columbia) Coast Brigade, RCA Victoria
15th (Vancouver) Coast Brigade, RCA: Vancouver
1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA: Vancouver

M.D. 12

7th Cavalry Brigade: HQ Regina
19th Infantry Brigade: HQ Regina
10th Field Brigade, RCE: Regina
17th Field Brigade, RCA: Saskatoon
22nd (Assiniboia) Field Brigade, RCA: Moosomin

M.D. 13

2nd Cavalry Brigade: HQ Chauvin
3rd Infantry Brigade HQ: Calgary

18th Field Brigade, RCA: Lethbridge
19th Field Brigade, RCA: Calgary
20th Field Brigade, RCA: Edmonton

Reserve Brigades (Infantry and Cavalry)
1st  (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 1

HQ London

2nd (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 1

HQ Kitchner

3rd (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 13

HQ Calgary

4th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 2

HQ Hamilton

5th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 2

HQ Barrie

6th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 2

HQ Toronto

7th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 10

HQ Winnipeg

8th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 3

HQ Ottawa

9th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 3

HQ Kingston

10th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 4

HQ Sherbrooke

11th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 4

HQ Montreal

12th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 4

HQ Montreal

13th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 5

HQ Quebec

14th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 11

HQ Vancouver

15th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 5

HQ Quebec

16th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 7

HQ Saint John

17th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 6

HQ Halifax

18th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 6

HQ Halifax

19th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 12

HQ Regina

23rd (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 11

HQ

1st (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 2

HQ Toronto

2nd (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 13

HQ Chauvin

3rd (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 4

HQ Montreal

4th (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 10

HQ Winnipeg

7th (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 12

HQ Regina

Wartime Reserve Brigades 1942-1946

In 1942 the Reserve Brigades were restructured and renumbered; 11 new Brigade Groups were created, with two more added in 1943.     Full details are provided on a seperate page of this site  The 13 Brigades (one per Militia District) were numbered from 31 to 42 (inclusive).

MD

Brigade Group

1 31st (Reserve) Brigade Group
2 32nd (Reserve) Brigade Group
3 33rd (Reserve) Brigade Group
4 34th (Reserve) Brigade Group
5 35th (Reserve) Brigade Group
6 36th (Reserve) Brigade Group
6 42nd (Reserve) Brigade Group
7 37th (Reserve) Brigade Group
10 38th (Reserve) Brigade Group
11 39th (Reserve) Brigade Group
12 40th (Reserve) Brigade Group
13 41st (Reserve) Brigade Group

Military Commands and new Brigade organization - 1946

General Order Number 21/1946, dated 28th January 1946, effective 23rd January, 1946  authorized five Commands

NOTE: General Order 21 of 1946 was amended by General Order 74 of 1946 (dated 28th March, 1946), the amendment being that "(less portion included in Military District No. 3)" was Deleted from the General Description opposite Quebec Command, with effect 15th February, 1946.

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Command Military Districts General Description
Western Command

11, 13
NW Territories
Yukon Territories

British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest Territories and Yukon
Prairie Command 10, 12 Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Western Ontario
Central Command 1, 2, 3 Ontario (less districts of Thunder Bay, Rainy River and Kenora)
Quebec Command 4, 5 Quebec (less portion included in Military District No. 3)
Eastern Command 6, 7 Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

G.O. 56/46 (dated 9th March, 1946, effective 23rd January, 1946) renamed Headquarters, Pacific Command to become Headquarters, Military District No. 11.

G.O. 203/46 (dated 28th August, 1946, effective 13th August, 1946) - the following Active Units of the Canadian Army were authorized and placed on Active Service:

Headquarters, Western Command
Headquarters, Prairie Command
Headquarters, Central Command
Headquarters, Quebec Command
Headquarters, Eastern Command

In other words, these commands now existed for the Regular Army as well as the Reserves.

The following Reserve Unit disbandments were published in Part "A" General Orders 1946 (G.O. 113/46, dated 13th May, 1946, effective 31st March, 1946):

Headquarters, 18th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade (M.D. No. 6)
Headquarters, 4th (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade (M.D. No. 10)
Headquarters, 7th (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade (M.D. No. 12)
Headquarters, 2nd (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade (M.D. No. 13)

General Orders 114/46, 115/46 and 116/46 dated 13 May 1946 (effective 1 Apr 1946) authorized the creation, redesignation and conversions of the infantry brigades, as shown in the following chart:

New Designation Old Designation MD
1st Corps nil M.D. No. 2
2nd Corps nil M.D. No. 4
1st Infantry Division nil M.D. No. 1
2nd Infantry Division nil M.D. No.2
3rd Infantry Division nil M.D. No. 4
4th Infantry Division nil M.D. No. 5
5th Infantry Division nil M.D. No. 6
6th Infantry Division nil M.D. No. 10
3rd Infantry Brigade 4th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 2
4th Infantry Brigade 6th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 2
6th Infantry Brigade 9th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 3
7th Infantry Brigade 8th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 3
8th Infantry Brigade 11th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 4
9th Infantry Brigade 12th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 4
11th Infantry Brigade 13th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 5
12th Infantry Brigade 15th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 5
13th Infantry Brigade 17th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 6
14th Infantry Brigade 16th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 7
15th Infantry Brigade 14th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 11
16th Infantry Brigade 7th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 10
17th Infantry Brigade 19th (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 12
18th Infantry Brigade 3rd (Reserve) Infantry Brigade M.D. No. 13
19th Armoured Brigade, R.C.A.C. 1st (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 2
20th Armoured Brigade, R.C.A.C. 3rd (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade M.D. No. 4
21st Armoured Brigade, R.C.A.C. nil M.D. 7
22nd Armoured Brigade, R.C.A.C. nil M.D. 11

Canadian Army Order 76-2, Issue No. 1/1947 (dated 13th January, 1947, effective 1st January, 1947) redesignated the following Military Districts:

MD Renamed Jan 1947 as:
Headquarters, Military District No. 11 Headquarters, British Columbia Area
Headquarters, Military District No. 12 Headquarters, Saskatchewan Area
Headquarters, Military District No. 1 Headquarters, Western Ontario Area
Headquarters, Military District No. 3 Headquarters, Eastern Ontario Area
Headquarters, Military District No. 5 Headquarters, Eastern Quebec Area
Headquarters, Military District No. 7 Headquarters, New Brunswick Area

Commands, Areas and Militia Groups 1954 - 1964

In September 1954, the Canadian Army (Reserve Force) was renamed Canadian Army (Militia).

The Kennedy Board of Officers, commissioned in 1953 and headed by Major-General H. Kennedy, CBE, MC, had recommended a major restructure of the reserve forces in Canada. The thirty-five Divisional, brigade and brigade group headquarters then in existence were replaced with 25 Militia Group Headquarters (abbreviated Mil Gp HQ), each with a Brigadier in command. The number of Militia Groups later expanded to 27.2

The number of infantry units under this reorganization was decreased in favour of more armoured units.

Number 18 Militia Group, with headquarters in London, Ontario, originally included all of western Ontario from Windsor to Guelph, with 23 major units and additional minor units. Colonel W.W. Bradley of The Windsor Regiment, upon taking command of the Group, recommended that it be subdivided into three. His suggestion was partially adopted when the Group was split into two halves on 5 March 1962. No. 26 Militia Group was headquartered in Windsor, Ontario at the Kildare Road Armoury, and included The Windsor Regiment (RCAC), The Elgin Regiment (RCAC), 7th Field Regiment (RCA), 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Essex and Kent Scottish, and 39 Technical Squadron RCEME.3

Originally, command of units in the Interior of BC was placed under 24 Militia Group Headquarters in Vancouver; by the fall of 1961 a "sub headquarters" was deemed necessary and "No 27 Militia Group Headquarters" was formed a year and a half later in Vernon, effective February 8, 1963.

During the 1950s-1960 the Commands were divided into Areas.  Commands were commanded by Major-Generals and Areas by Brigadiers or Colonels. Prairie was absorbed by Western Command in 1959.

Command

Area

Militia Group

Location

Eastern Command

Newfoundland Area

Number 1 Militia Group

St. John's, NF

Prince Edward Island Area

Number 2 Militia Group Charlottetown, PE

Nova Scotia Area

Number 3 Militia Group Sydney, NS

Number 4 Militia Group

Halifax, NS?

New Brunswick Area

Number 5 Militia Group

Moncton, NB

Number 6 Militia Group

St. John, NB

Quebec Command

Eastern Quebec Area Number 7 Militia Group Quebec?
  Number 8 Militia Group Quebec?

Western Quebec Area

Number 9 Militia Group

Montreal/Sherbrooke PQ?

  Number 10 Militia Group Montreal

 

Number 11 Militia Group?  

Central Command

Eastern Ontario Area

Number 12 Militia Group

Ottawa, ON

Central Ontario Area

Number 13 Militia Group?

Peterborough, ON?

Northern Ontario Area

Number 14 Militia Group

Toronto

Western Ontario Area

Number 15 Militia Group?

Toronto?

Number 16 Militia Group  
Number 17 Militia Group Dundas, ON
Number 18 Militia Group London, ON
Number 26 Militia Group (Mar 1962) Windsor, ON

Prairie Command

Manitoba Area

Number 19 Militia Group

Winnipeg, MB

Saskatchewan Area

Number 20 Militia Group

Regina, SK?

Number 21 Militia Group

Saskatoon, SK?

Western Command

Alberta Area

Number 22 Militia Group

Calgary, AB

 

Number 23 Militia Group

Wainwright, AB?

 

Number 24 Militia Group

Vancouver, BC

British Columbia Area

Number 25 Militia Group

Vancouver, BC

  Number 27 Militia Group (Feb 1963) Vernon, BC

Sample Biographical sketch/Administrative History

12 Militia Group fell under the Eastern Ontario Area, part of Central Command. With the reorganization of the Canadian Militia in September 1954, M. B. Gordon was given command of 12th Militia Group, which he held until he was replaced by E. D. Baldock in May 1955. Baldock was in turn succeeded George G. Aldous, on 1 Feb 1960.

In May of 1964, the 12th Militia Group consisted of 14 units - 11 of which were stationed in Ottawa - and the others being the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, with headquarters at Pembroke, and detached companies in Renfrew, Perth and Carleton Place; the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, with headquarters in Cornwall and a detached company at Alexandria; and the 9th Medical company, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, also at Cornwall. The units in Ottawa were the following: IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards; 30th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA); 3rd Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE); 3rd Signals Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals (RCCS); The Governor-General's Foot Guards; Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa; 130 Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC); 10th Medical Company, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC); 54th Dental Unit, Royal Canadian Dental Corps (RCDC); 3rd Ordnance Company, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC); and 113 Manning Depot.


From The Daily News (St. John's, Newfoundland), March 13, 1956


Militia Areas and Districts 1968 - 1991

Following the report of the Suttie Commission regarding the downsizing of the Reserves, Minister of Defence The Honourable Paul Hellyer announced significant changes to the Canadian Militia, based on a new requirement for only 19,500 Militiamen. A commission chaired by Brigadier E.R. Suttie had recommended that the 27 Militia Group headquarters be reduced in number to 15; Minister Hellyer rejected that advice in favour of creating Militia Districts in place of Group Headquarters. Each of the new Militia Districts was to be commanded by a colonel rather than a Brigadier. For example, 26 Militia Group HQ became Windsor Militia District HQ in 1968, which reported to Central Militia Area in Toronto, now commanded by a Brigadier-General.4

The entire Militia was reorganized in 1968/1969 into 5 Areas, comprising 21 Militia Districts.

Area Districts
Atlantic Militia Area Eastern New Brunswick Militia District
Western New Brunswick Militia District
Western Nova Scotia Militia District

Cape Breton Militia District
Prince Edward Island Militia District
Newfoundland Militia District
secteur de l'Est Militia District Number 1
Militia District Number 2
Militia District Number 3
Central Militia Area Ottawa Militia District (OMD)
Toronto Militia District (TMD)
London Militia District (LMD)
Northern Ontario Militia District (NOMD)
Windsor Militia District (WMD)
Hamilton Militia District (HMD)
Prairie Militia Area Northern Alberta Militia District (NAMD)
Southern Alberta Militia District (SAMD)
Saskatchewan Militia District (SMD)
Thunder Bay Militia District
Manitoba(-Lakehead) Militia District
Pacific Militia Area Vancouver Militia District
Victoria Militia District

Total Force

In the late 1980s, the Canadian Forces began integrating its Regular Force and Reserve Force into a "Total Force" concept. As an example, in December 1989, the Windsor Militia District was absorbed into the London District Headquarters. Some districts were merged, such as Southern Alberta Militia District and Northern Alberta Militia District, which became simply Alberta District. The history of The Windsor Regiment notes:

The Windsor Militia District lasted until December 1989, when, as a result of the Total Force reorganization (i.e. the integration of reserves with regulars), it was absorbed into London District HQ. The Regiment thus reverted to the same command relationship that had existed on 15 December 1936. The elimination of the Windsor HQ severely limited the career prospects of Windsor area militia officers. Once an officer had achieved unit command, the opportunity for further progression and development stopped and he or she was usually retired. As a result a growing pool of expertise and experience went untapped.5

Land Force Areas 1991-1997

On 1 September 1991, Canada was again reorganized into four separate Land Force Areas; these administrative areas were still in effect at the end of the 20th Century.  These four area commands were overseen by the Land Staff (located at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa).   The areas were subdivided into Regular Force Brigade Groups and Militia Districts.  The 14 Militia Districts were a reorganization of earlier districts.  However, these same Land Force headquarters also commanded Regular forces in their geographical areas as well.

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Land Force Atlantic Area (LFAA) was responsible for all Army operations and administration in the provinces east of Quebec (ie the Maritimes.) LFQA was headquartered in Halifax.

New Brunswick - Prince Edward Island District Moncton, NB
Nova Scotia District Halifax, NS
Newfoundland District St. John's, NF
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The Land Force Quebec Area (LFQA) or Secteur du Quebec de la Force Terrestre (SQFT) was responsible for all Army operations and administration in the region within the province of Quebec. LFQA was headquartered in Montreal.

Quebec District Number 1 Montreal, PQ
Quebec District Number 2 Sherbrooke, PQ
Quebec District Number 3 Quebec, PQ
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The Land Force Central Area (LCCA) was responsible for all Army operations and administration  within the province of Ontario, from the Quebec border to the northern Lakehead region. LCCA was headquartered in Toronto. 

Northern Ontario District Sault Ste Marie, Ont
London District London, Ont
Toronto District Toronto, Ont
Ottawa District Ottawa, Ont
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The Land Force Western Area (LFWA) was responsible for all Army operations and administration in western Canada from the northern lakehead region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean.  LFWA was headquartered in Edmonton.

British Columbia District Vancouver, BC
Alberta District Calgary, AB
Saskatchewan District Regina, SK
Manitoba-Lakehead District Winnipeg, MB

Militia Brigade Groups 1997

In 1997, the 14 Militia Districts were reorganized into 10 Brigade Groups, using as inspiration the numbered reserve brigades that had served in Canada in the Second World War.

LFAA 36 Canadian Brigade Group (PEI - Nova Scotia)  
37 Canadian Brigade Group (New Brunswick)  
LFQA 34 Canadian Brigade Group    
35 Canadian Brigade Group    
LFCA 31 Canadian Brigade Group  (Ontario) HQ - London
32 Canadian Brigade Group     (Ontario) HQ - Toronto
33 Canadian Brigade Group (Ontario) HQ - Ottawa
LFWA 38 Canadian Brigade Group (Saskatchewan-Manitoba)    
39 Canadian Brigade Group (British Columbia)  
41 Canadian Brigade Group (Alberta) HQ - Calgary

NOTES

Thanks to Doug Townend and Mark Tonner for their help with this page. Thanks also to Major (ret.) Leonard Curchin, Regimental historian, 31 CER (The Elgins), for additional research.

  1. "M.D. No.. 1 Not Unseen Force or Mysterious Pass-Word to Society" The Windsor Star 22 May 1926, The Border Cities Star supplement, p.5

  2. Michael McNorgan, Michael Black Beret: A History of The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) 1936 - 2006 (Douglas A. Lock, Windsor Regiment Association, 2006) ISBN 0978119509 p.60

  3. Ibid

  4. Ibid, p.78

  5. Ibid


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