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1st Canadian Corps
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1st Canadian
Corps
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Authorized:
1 September 1939 (G.O. 135/39)
Disbanded: 17 July 1945 (G.O. 388/45) |
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1st Canadian Corps
(also seen rendered as I Canadian Corps) was a corps sized
formation created in 1939, though in England, it was named simply
the Canadian Corps until such time as 2nd Canadian Corps was formed.
When the Canadian Active Service Force was mobilized in September
1939, two infantry divisions were raised, and the "Headquarters, 1st
Corps CASF" mobilized as Serial 1, under General Order 135/39 on 1
September 1939.
A corps headquarters was not made necessary, however, until December
1940. While the 1st Canadian Infantry Division had proceeded to the
UK in December 1939, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division did not
likewise proceed overseas until August 1940.
7th
(British) Corps
General A.G.L. McNaughton, the senior Canadian in the UK, commanded the
British 7th Corps from 21 July 1940 to 25 December 1940, with a staff
that was a mix of Canadian and British officers.
Two British Brigadiers were on staff;
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Brigadier M.C. DEMPSEY, DSO, MC, as
Brigadier, General Staff (sometimes called "B.G.S., Ops")
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Brigadier C.A.P. MURISON, CBE, MC, as
Deputy Adutant & Quartermaster General
Three Canadian brigadiers
were on staff;
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Brigadier G.R. TURNER, MC, DCM, as
Brigadier, General Staff (Canadian)
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Brigadier J.C. STEWART, DSO, as Corps
Commander, Royal Artillery (CCRA)
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Brigadier CSL HERTZBERG, MC, VD, as
Chief Engineer
Certain junior British
staff officers were also appointed to HQ 7th Corps.
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps in
England was formed officially on 25 December 1940, and designated simply
"Canadian Corps" to distinguish it from other British corps. Canadian
troops in England prior to 25 December 1940, including the 1st and 2nd
Divisions, had come under command of VII Corps, which was disbanded
after the Canadian Corps was formed.
When the Canadian Corps
was formed on 25 Dec 40 it took over the Staff of 7th Corps, and a
gradual replacement of the British elements of the staff by Canadian
officers was completed by July 1941. The system of two BGS appointments
was abolished, and Brigadier Dempsey left H.Q. Cdn Corps officially
after the first week of June 1941. Canadian Brigadier E.L.M. Burns OBE,
MC, was made BGS of the Canadian Corps while his British counterpart
Dempsey was promoted to command the British 46th Division.
The personalities of the
British officers of VII Corps were described in a CMHQ Report dated 7
Jul 1941:
On 4 Jul 41, for
example, Lt.-Col. W.L. LAURIE, O.C. 1 Cdn Corps Signals, remarked to
me that not only was Brig. Dempsey exceptionally competent, but he
was also possessed of a patient good temper which made him agreeable
to work for, through it did not prevent his getting things done. As
for Brig. Murison, he has perhaps been less universally popular,
owing to a certain acidity of speech and a tendency to "rub people
the wrong way"; but he too is considered a most competent officer.
In conversation he gives an impression of decided intellectual
force. It would seem that the British authorities (following
honourable precedents of the last war) assigned very able officers
to serve with the Canadians on the present occasion.
It is
interesting to note in passing that, whereas in the last war the
senior staff officers of Canadian formations were in general, to the
very end of the war, provided from the British Army, they are now
being provided from among the trained staff officers of the Canadian
Permanent Force. The mixed staff of 7 Corps was a special expedient
adopted temporarily, and it appears rather improbable that similar
circumstances will recur.
The report added that
with the exception of a British GSO III on staff with I Canadian Corps
on 9 June 1941, the replacement of British officers with Canadian was
complete.
One notable difference
from a British corps headquarters was that the functions formerly
performed by the Canadian BGS at Corps HQ were taken up by a "Canadian
Liaison" section (headed by Major N.E. Rodger, RCE). Again, from the
NDHQ report of Jul 41:
These functions
(broadly speaking) are those which result from the fact that the
Canadian Corps, though operating in the field under British command,
is administered by National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, through
Canadian Military Headquarters, London. The present situation
differs from the former one in that Major Rodger is responsible to
the various heads of branches at Corps H.Q., whereas Brigadier
Turner was responsible to General McNaughton.
Duties
The Headquarters
of the Canadian Corps, as senior formation HQ in the UK, was
responsible for training each unit as it arrived. The Artillery
Headquarters was tasked with training infantry and
reconnaissance personnel in anti-tank weapons, establishing an
artillery range, and supervised the tradesmen requirements of
all Canadian artillery units in the UK, as advised by Canadian
Military Headquarters (CMHQ).
In November 1941,
the Canadian Corps moved to Haywards Heath, Sussex, to join the
South Eastern Army, tasked with defending Sussex against German
invasion.
By spring of
1942, considerable artillery assets had arrived in the UK, many
being assigned as Corps Troops. Units included the divisional
artilleries of the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions, four coast
artillery regiments at New Haven, the 1st and 5th Medium
Regiments, 8th and 11th Canadian Army Field Regiments, 56 Heavy
Regiment, Royal Artillery (including under command X and Y Super
Heavy Batteries), 1st Canadian Survey Regiment, No. 1
Calibration Troop RCA and 1 Canadian Counter Bombardment Officer
Staff. |
GOC 1st Canadian Corps Lieutenant
General H.D.G. Crerar, with his Brigadier General Staff (and
future commander of 2nd Canadian Corps) Brigadier G.G. Simonds. |
1st Canadian Corps
As the Canadian forces in
England continued to grow, a First Canadian Army was created in 1942 to
oversee the growing list of formations, which came to include 5
divisions and 2 independent armoured brigades. When a 2nd Canadian Corps
was created in early 1943, the Canadian Corps was redesignated 1st
Canadian Corps.
At this time,
Headquarters 1st Corps Artillery (Serial 1) was disbanded under General
Order 336/43 effective 14 January 1943.
Departure from 1st
Canadian Army
The 1st Canadian Division
and 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade left the U.K. for Sicily in the
summer of 1943, and on 29 October of the same year, in a controversial
move, 1st Canadian Corps sailed from Greenock, Scotland, arriving in
Augusta, Sicily on 9 Nov 1943. After settling in at Taormina, the Corps
headquarters crossed the straits of Messina by landing craft, then moved
by rail to Altamura, Italy. The 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade (later
renamed 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade) would find itself under command
of the 13th British Corps for most of the Italian Campaign.
General E.L.M. Burns, one
of the subsequent 1st Canadian Corps Commanders, wrote after the war
that the employment of this corps headquarters in Italy was unnecessary
and a drain on manpower, and that it also exacerbated the problem of
finding experienced senior commanders.
Into Battle
On 28 January 1944, 1st
Canadian Corps Headquarters (now as part of the British Eighth Army)
moved north to Rocca San Giovanni in the Ortona sector and relieved 5th
British Corps in its defensive mission, with 1st Canadian Division and
8th Indian Division under command. When the 5th Canadian (Armoured)
Division arrived in late February 1944, the 8th Indian Division moved to
the British 13th Corps.
In March and April 1944,
the corps moved to the Foggia Plain, and rested and trained for the Liri
Valley battle.
After action in the Liri
Valley in May and June 1944, the corps went into reserve, and a second
infantry brigade was created within the 5th Armoured Division. The corps
returned to the Adriatic sector in August 1944 and saw action at the
Gothic Line, and the Rimini Line during August and September, with the
corps finally going into reserve at the end of October. Action followed
again in December, with the corps assuming a defensive posture on 30
December. Small attacks were continued into January, however, to provide
a satisfactory winter defensive line. After the first week of January, a
27 mile front was settled into. On 10 February 1945, the corps received
instructions to move into Army Group reserve, and 1st Division passed
into the control of V British Corps, being relieved by 27 February 1945.
Northwest Europe
The Corps was now ordered
to rejoin the First Canadian Army in NW Europe, and the headquarters
moved from Ravenna to Naples by road on 13 February, sailing for
Marseilles, France on 22 February and disembarking on the 24th. The
headquarters then travelled by convoy to Renaix, Belgium, and came under
command of First Canadian Army once again, itself becoming operational
on 15 March 1945. 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade came under corps command
once more. 5th Canadian Armoured Division came under command in
February, and when 1st Canadian Division arrived in March, came under
2nd Canadian Corps for its first operation before coming back under
command of 1st Corps on 13 April 1945.
Major operations of 1st
Canadian Corps in the last month of the war included the liberation of
Arnhem and the crossing of the Ijssel.
The corps headquarters
moved to Hilversum, Netherlands after VE-Day, helping control the
repatriation of German forces from their area of responsibility, and was
officially disbanded by General Order 388/45 effective 17 July 1945.
Corps Troops
Various units were
assigned as corps troops at various times; these included:
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Headquarters I Canadian Corps
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1st Armoured Car Regiment (Royal
Canadian Dragoons)
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The Lorne Scots (1st Corps Defence)
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I Canadian Corps Signals (Royal Canadian
Corps of Signals)
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7th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian
Artillery
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1st Survey Regiment, Royal Canadian
Artillery
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1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal
Canadian Artillery
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Headquarters, I Canadian Corps Troops,
Royal Canadian Engineers
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9th Field Company, Royal Canadian
Engineers
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12th Field Company, Royal Canadian
Engineers
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13th Field Company, Royal Canadian
Engineers
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14th Field Company, Royal Canadian
Engineers
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Headquarters, I Canadian Corps Troops,
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
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31st Corps Troops Composite Company,
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
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32nd Corps Troops Composite Company,
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
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Headquarters, I Corps Transport Column,
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
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1 Mobile Ambulance Convoy, Royal
Canadian Army Service Corps
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1 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
Platoon, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
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7 Anti-Tank Regiment Platoon, Royal
Canadian Army Service Corps
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Headquarters, I Corps Ordnance Field
Park, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps
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3 Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit, Royal
Canadian Ordnance Corps
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Headquarters, Royal Canadian Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers I Canadian Corps Troops
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8 Field Dressing Station, Royal Canadian
Army Medical Corps
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5 Field Hygiene Section, Royal Canadian
Army Medical Corps
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4 Casualty Clearing Station, Royal
Canadian Army Medical Corps
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5 Casualty Clearing Station, Royal
Canadian Army Medical Corps
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9 Field Cash Office, Royal Canadian Army
Pay Corps
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3 Provost Company, Canadian Provost
Corps
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1st Canadian Corps Postal Unit, Canadian
Postal Corps
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11 Field Security Section, Canadian
Intelligence Corps
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I Corps Reinforcement Camp
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Major K.
Henninger (centre), a German Army signals officer, speaks on a
telephone linkup between Canadian and German forces at
Wageningen, Netherlands, on 5 May 1945. Sergeant J. Stacy of 1st
Canadian Corps Signals is at left foreground. The corporal at
right shows clearly the white-over-blue signals armlet and the
1st Canadian Corps formation patch, with initials of the Royal
Canadian Corps of Signals superimposed. LAC photo. |
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Lieutenant-General E.L.M. Burns, General Officer Commanding 1st
Canadian Corps, consults his map en route to Rimini, Italy, on
23 September 1944. Nicknamed "Smiling Sunray" for his cold
demeanour, the general has managed what passes for a smile for
the camera. His 1st Canadian Corps formation patch is sewn to a
kahki armlet, a common method of displaying insignia on khaki
drill clothing in the Mediterranean. He has also affected the
darkened web belt and black beret of the Canadian Armoured
Corps. LAC photo. |
Senior Personnel
General Officer Commanding
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Name
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Dates in Command
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Bio and Destination on Leaving
Appointment |
| Lieutenant General A.G.L.
McNaughton, CB, CMG, DSO |
19 Jul 1940 - 5
Apr 1942 |
To command 1st
Canadian Army. Actually relinquished command on 14 Nov 41 due to
illness and return to Canada. |
| Lieutenant General H.D.G. Crerar,
CB, DSO |
6 Apr 1942 - 19
Mar 1944 |
To command 1st
Canadian Army (temporarily took command 23 Dec 1941) |
| Lieutenant General E.L.M. Burns,
DSO, OBE, MC |
20 Mar 1944 - 5
Nov 1944 |
Lieutenant General Edson Louis Millard "Tommy" Burns
was a veteran of the Great War who had served in signals units,
being decorated for bravery under fire. In 1939 he assumed the
first of a string of senior staff positions, but was reduced
from Brigadier to Colonel in 1941 when a letter to a married
woman in Montreal - with whom he was having an affair - was
found to contain many frank opinions of senior war leadership in
Britain. He assumed an administrative post with the new Canadian
Armoured Corps, commanded a brigade in the 4th Division (which
he helped create), and eventually was given command of the 2nd
Canadian Division. He would leave the division for a brief
period commanding the Fifth Armoured Division after which we was
promoted to command I Canadian Corps.
Under his
command, I Canadian Corps experienced some of its greatest
victories, including the breaching of the Hitler Line. Burns'
personality left him not well liked, and was nicknamed "Smiling
Sunray" behind his back, a reference to the radio code word for
a commander, prefixed by an ironic description of the unsmiling
Burns. |
| Lieutenant General C. Foulkes,
CB, CBE, DSO |
10 Nov 1944 - 17
Jul 1945 |
Lieutenant General Charles Foulkes was
a prewar Permanent Force officer, who became Brigadier, General
Staff of First Canadian Army, and assumed command of the 2nd
Canadian Infantry Division in Jan 1944. He left the division to
take over I Canadian Corps from E.L.M. Burns, who - despite his
tactical successes in the field - was considered not to have the
personality required of a corps commander. |
Chief of Staff
Brigadier Guy Granville
Simonds (Aug 1941 - 1942)
Commander Corps Royal
Artillery
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Brigadier J.C. Stewart, DSO
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Brigadier J.H. Roberts
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Brigadier H.O.N. Brownfield, MC
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Brigadier E.C. Plow
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Brigadier H.A. Sparling, DSO
General Staff Officer II,
Royal Artillery
Uniform Insignia
At the start of the Second World War, it was felt that colourful
unit and formation insignia would be too easily seen, and a very austere
set of insignia was designed for the new Battle Dress uniform,
consisting solely of rank badges and drab worsted Slip-on Shoulder
Titles. In 1941, however, the trend was reversed, and a new system of
Formation Patches, based on the battle patches of the First World War,
was introduced. However, the use of lettered unit titles (at first won
as Slip-on Shoulder Titles and later, as more colourful designs worn
directly above the divisional patches) was also introduced - a privilege
previously extended only to the Brigade of Guards in England, and in the
Canadian Army to just four units: Governor General's Foot Guards,
Canadian Grenadier Guards, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
and the Canadian Provost Corps.
The new formation patches were made from three materials mainly; felt
and wool being most common, and canvas patches were adopted in the late
war period as an economy measure.
Members of various corps serving in support units originally wore
formation patches with letters added directly to the patch (or in some
cases a plain coloured shape, such as the Royal Canadian Army Medical
Corps (RCAMC))
The hexagonal patch of the Canadian Army Pacific Force applied overtop
of the formation patch indicated a volunteer for the CAPF.
When 1st Canadian Corps was formed, it was not anticipated that a second
corps would be raised; Formation Patches for units of some arms and
services were thus rendered in the colours of their respective arm or
service (ie emerald green for the Canadian Dental Corps, blue for the
Royal Canadian Engineers, etc.) rather than in red. When II Canadian
Corps was raised, and a blue diamond approved as its formation patch,
some of the patches worn by I Canadian Corps units had to be changed
from arm of service colour to the red of I Canadian Corps.
Badge examples courtesy
of Dwayne Hordij. 2nd Canadian Corps patch at left, with
patch at right worn by Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps
personnel of the Canadian Corps before the creation of
2nd Canadian Corps necessitated differentiation between
the two corps by red and blue formation patches.
Canvas formation patch
with the unit insignia of The Royal Canadian Dragoons.
CSC Collection.
References
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Falconer, D.W. Battery Flashes of
W.W. II (D.W. Falconer, 1985) ISBN 0-9691865-0-9 p.319
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Stacey, C.P.
Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War:
Volume I: Six Years Of War (Queen's Printer, Ottawa, ON,
1956)
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Stacey, C.P.
Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War:
Volume III: The Victory Campaign (Queen's Printer, Ottawa,
ON, 1960)
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Tonner, Mark W. On Active Service
(Service Publications, Ottawa, ON) ISBN 1-894581-44-X
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