The Canadian Army Pacific Force was raised in 1945 as a field force intended to participate in the last phase of The War Against Japan, an anticipated Allied invasion of the Japanese home islands in the last phase of the Second World War. The CAPF was based on an infantry division structure, however, to increase operability with the Americans, certain units bore US organizational structures and names. As well, Canadian units went into training with US weapons to ease logistical concerns.

Major General Bert Hoffmeister was named to command the division, and the three Infantry Regiments (the equivalent of a Canadian brigade) had battalions bearing the name of those infantry battalions that had fought with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in Europe.

When the atomic bombings brought the war to a swift close in Aug and Sep 1945, the CAPF was disbanded.

Order of Battle

Composition of the Canadian Army Pacific Force as at 11 July 1945¹

6th Canadian Infantry Division
- Headquarters Units
  - Headquarters, 6th Canadian Infantry Division
Headquarters, Special Troops, 6th Canadian Infantry Division
Headquarters Company, 6th Canadian Infantry Division
6th Canadian Order of Battle Team
No. 6 Canadian Photo Interpreter Team
- Canadian Armoured Corps
  - 6th Canadian Infantry Division Reconnaissance Troop (The Royal Montreal Regiment), C.A.C.
- Royal Canadian Artillery
  - Headquarters, 6th Canadian Division Artillery
    - Headquarters Battery, 6th Canadian Division Artillery
  - 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
    - Headquarters, 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Headquarters Battery, 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
A Battery, 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
B Battery, 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
C Battery, 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Headquarters Battery, 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
A Battery, 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
B Battery, 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
C Battery, 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Headquarters Battery, 3rd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
A Battery, 3rd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
B Battery, 3rd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
C Battery, 3rd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Headquarters Battery, 4th Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
A Battery, 4th Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
B Battery, 4th Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
C Battery, 4th Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Anti-Tank Company, R.C.A., 2nd Canadian Infantry Regiment
Anti-Tank Company, R.C.A., 3rd Canadian Infantry Regiment
- Royal Canadian Engineers
  - 6th Canadian Engineer Combat Battalion, R.C.E.
    - Headquarters and Service Company, 6th Canadian Engineer Combat Battalion, R.C.E.
A Company, 6th Canadian Engineer Combat Battalion, R.C.E.
B Company, 6th Canadian Engineer Combat Battalion, R.C.E.
C Company, 6th Canadian Engineer Combat Battalion, R.C.E.
- Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
  - 6th Canadian Signal Company, R.C. Sigs
- Canadian Infantry Corps
  - Headquarters, 1st Canadian Infantry Regiment
    - Headquarters Company, 1st Canadian Infantry Regiment
1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Royal Canadian Regiment)
2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment)
3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada)
Cannon Company, 1st Canadian Infantry Regiment (The Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG))
1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada)
3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Loyal Edmonton Regiment)
Cannon Company, 3rd Canadian Infantry Regiment (The Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG))
1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (Royal 22e Regiment)
2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Carleton and York Regiment)
3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The West Nova Scotia Regiment)
Cannon Company, 3rd Canadian Infantry Regiment (The Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG))
- Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
  - 6th Canadian Quartermaster Company, R.C.A.S.C.
Service Battery, R.C.A.S.C., 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Service Battery, R.C.A.S.C., 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Service Battery, R.C.A.S.C., 3rd Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Service Battery, R.C.A.S.C., 4th Canadian Field Artillery Battalion, R.C.A.
Service Company, R.C.A.S.C., 1st Canadian Infantry Regiment
Service Company, R.C.A.S.C., 2nd Canadian Infantry Regiment
Service Company, R.C.A.S.C., 3rd Canadian Infantry Regiment
- Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
  - 6th Canadian Medical Battalion, R.C.A.M.C. (Including 1x Chaplain)
    - Headquarters, 6th Canadian Medical Battalion, R.C.A.M.C.
A Company, 6th Canadian Medical Battalion, R.C.A.M.C.
B Company, 6th Canadian Medical Battalion, R.C.A.M.C.
C Company, 6th Canadian Medical Battalion, R.C.A.M.C.
D Company, 6th Canadian Medical Battalion, R.C.A.M.C.
Medical Detachment, R.C.A.M.C., 6th Canadian Division Artillery (Including 2x Chaplain)
Medical Detachment, R.C.A.M.C., 6th Canadian Engineer Combat Battalion
Medical Detachment, R.C.A.M.C., 1st Canadian Infantry Regiment (Including 3x Chaplain)
Medical Detachment, R.C.A.M.C., 2nd Canadian Infantry Regiment (Including 3x Chaplain)
Medical Detachment, R.C.A.M.C., 3rd Canadian Infantry Regiment (Including 3x Chaplain)
- Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
  - 6th Canadian Ordnance Light Maintenance Company, R.C.E.M.E.
- Canadian Provost Corps
  - 6th Canadian Military Police Platoon, C. Pro. C.
- Miscellaneous
  - No. 34 Canadian Military Band
No. 35 Canadian Military Band
Corps & Army Troops
- Headquarters Units
  - Canadian Liaison Increment Corps
Canadian Liaison Increment U.S. Second Army
Canadian Liaison Increment Army (A.R.C.O.)
Canadian Armoured Corps
22nd Canadian Tank Battalion (The Canadian Grenadier Guards), C.A.C.
- Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
  - Service Company, R.C.A.S.C., 22nd Canadian Tank Battalion
- Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
  - Medical Detachment, R.C.A.M.C., 22nd Canadian Tank Battalion
No. 28 Canadian Evacuation Hospital, R.C.A.M.C.
- Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps
  - No. 1 Canadian Laundry Unit, R.C.O.C.
- Miscellaneous
  - No. 6 Canadian Graves Registration Platoon
No. 1 Canadian Special Service Platoon
No. 2 Canadian Special Service Platoon
Base Units
- Headquarters Units
  - 2nd Echelon Canadian Army Pacific Force
Canadian Liaison Increment - U.S.A. Q.M. Depots
- Royal Canadian Engineers
  - 1st Canadian Engineer Service Platoon (Utilities), R.C.E.
- Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
  - No. 1 Canadian Signal Detachment, R.C. Sigs
- Canadian Postal Corps
  - No. 1 Canadian Postal Unit (Serial J), C.P.C.
- Canadian Provost Corps
  - No. 1 Canadian Police Section, C. Pro. C.
- Miscellaneous
  - No. 1 Canadian Machine Records Unit (Type X)
No. 6 Canadian Public Relations Group
No. 1 Canadian Concert Party
No. 2 Canadian Concert Party
No. 1 Canadian Replacement Depot
No. 1 Canadian Replacement Battalion
No. 2 Canadian Replacement Battalion
No. 3 Canadian Replacement Battalion
No. 4 Canadian Replacement Battalion
No. 5 Canadian Replacement Battalion
No. 1 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 2 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 3 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 4 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 5 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 6 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 7 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 8 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 9 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 10 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 11 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 12 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 13 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 14 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 15 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 16 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 17 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 18 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 19 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 20 Canadian Replacement Company
No. 3 Canadian Special Service Platoon
No. 4 Canadian Special Service Platoon

Uniform Insignia

The CAPF used a hexagonal formation patch, using the colours of the five Canadian division patches as well as the colour black. The CAPF patch was also used in conjunction with other formation patches. This would have designated a soldier serving with another formation who had volunteered to serve with the Canadian Army Pacific Force. At right, examples courtesy Bill Alexander, showing the plain patch in two sizes, and used in conjunction with the formation patch for Atlantic Command.

Notes

Order of Battle courtesy of Mark W. Tonner.