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6th Canadian Division
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6th Canadian Division
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Authorized:
18 March 1942
Disbanded: 31 January 1945 |
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The 6th Canadian
Division refers to two organizations raised during the 20th Century.
The first formation so
designated was an active formation of the Canadian Army that served as a
home defence organization in the Second World War. The division raised
for the Canadian Army Pacific Force was also designated 6th Canadian
Division. This article will deal with the former.
Mobilization
The 13th Canadian
Infantry Brigade had initially mobilized under General Order 184/40
(effective 24 May 1940) as an independent formation, employed on the
Niagara Peninsula guarding facilities such as the Welland Canal, and in
May 1941 moved to Nanaimo, BC, on Vancouver Island, where it relieved
the 10th Infantry Brigade of the 4th Division of its duties of coastal
defence. The 14th and 15th Infantry Brigades mobilized under General
Order 63/42, taking effect 29 July 1941, with the 14th Brigade stationed
in eastern Canada on the Niagara Peninsula and the 15th Brigade at
Valcartier, Quebec.1
In July 1941 the Cabinet
War Committee authorized the formation of three brigade groups into a
6th Division for the purposes of home defence. By November 1941, while
planning for the upcoming year, the Chief of the General Staff,
Lieutenant General Crerar, did not feel any "factor in the existing situation warranting
the mobilization of an additional division", but noted in his
recommendations for the 1942 Army Programme that if conditions worsened,
he would recommend the completion of the 6th Division and mobilization
of the brigade groups of a 7th. By February 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor
and British possessions in the Far East,
Canadian entry into the war against Japan, and the disaster at Hong
Kong, it was felt that the situation warranted mobilization and on 16
March 1942, Lieutenant General Stuart, the new CGS, recommended formally
that the Minister of National Defence proceed.2
General Order 147/42,
taking effect from 18 March 1942, authorized the full range of
divisional units and services:3
| Serial |
Unit |
| 1800 |
Headquarters, 6th Division |
| 1800A |
6th Division Intelligence
Section |
| 1801 |
No. 6 Field Security Section |
| 1802 |
No. 6 Defence and Employment
Platoon |
| 824 |
31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance
Battalion, C.A.C. |
| 825 |
Headquarters, 6th Divisional
Artillery, R.C.A. |
| 813 |
9th Light Anti-Aircraft
Regiment, R.C.A. |
| 813A |
►Headquarters, 9th Light
Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.C.A. |
| 813B |
►►48th Light Anti-Aircraft
Battery, R.C.A. |
| 813C |
►►46th Light Anti-Aircraft
Battery, R.C.A. |
| 813D |
►►25th Light Anti-Aircraft
Battery, R.C.A. |
| 813E |
►►79th Light Anti-Aircraft
Battery, R.C.A. |
| 814 |
6th Anti-Tank Regiment, R.C.A. |
| 814A |
►Headquarters, 6th Anti-Tank
Regiment, R.C.A. |
| 814B |
►►33rd Anti-Tank Battery, R.C.A. |
| 814C |
►►74th Anti-Tank Battery, R.C.A. |
| 814D |
►►56th Anti-Tank Battery, R.C.A. |
| 814E |
►►103rd Anti-Tank Battery, R.C.A. |
| 815 |
Headquarters, 6th Divisional
Engineers, R.C.E. |
| 820 |
►21st Field Company, R.C.E. |
| 821 |
►22nd Field Company, R.C.E. |
| 819 |
►7th Field Park Company, R.C.E. |
| 826 |
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826A |
►Headquarters, 6th Divisional
Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826B |
►No. 1 Company, 6th Divisional
Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826S |
►►Headquarters, No. 1 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826C |
►►"A" Section, No. 1 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826D |
►►"B" Section, No. 1 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826R |
►►"C" Section, No. 1 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826E |
►►"D" Section, No. 1 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826F |
►►"M" Section, No. 1 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826G |
►No. 2 Company, 6th Divisional
Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826T |
►►Headquarters, No. 2 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826L |
►►"H" Section, No. 2 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826M |
►No. 3 Company, 6th Divisional
Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 826U |
►►Headquarters, No. 3 Company,
6th Divisional Signals, R.C.C.S. |
| 827 |
No. 13 Defence Platoon |
| 828 |
No. 14 Defence Platoon |
| 836 |
No. 15 Defence Platoon |
| 860 |
Commander 6th Divisional
R.C.A.S.C. |
| 869 |
No. 1 Field Hygiene Section,
R.C.A.M.C. |
| 856 |
6th Divisional Ordnance
Workshop, R.C.O.C. |
| 859 |
6th Divisional Ordnance Field
Park, R.C.O.C. |
| 1106 |
No. 96 Light Aid Detachment
(Type A), R.C.O.C. |
| 1107 |
No. 97 Light Aid Detachment
(Type B), R.C.O.C. |
| 1108 |
No. 98 Light Aid Detachment
(Type B), R.C.O.C. |
| 1109 |
No. 99 Light Aid Detachment
(Type B), R.C.O.C. |
| 1110 |
No. 100 Light Aid Detachment
(Type B), R.C.O.C. |
| 699A |
No. 28 Light Anti-Aircraft
Ordnance Workshop Sub-Section, R.C.O.C. |
| 699B |
No. 29 Light Anti-Aircraft
Ordnance Workshop Sub-Section, R.C.O.C. |
| 699C |
No. 30 Light Anti-Aircraft
Ordnance Workshop Sub-Section, R.C.O.C. |
| 699D |
No. 31 Light Anti-Aircraft
Ordnance Workshop Sub-Section, R.C.O.C. |
| 207G |
No. 9 Salvage Unit, R.C.O.C. |
| 857 |
No. 8 Mobile Bath Unit, R.C.O.C. |
| 235F |
No. 7 Mobile Laundry and Forward
Decontamination Unit, R.C.O.C. |
| 236T |
No. 19 General Labour Section,
R.C.O.C. |
| 236U |
No. 20 General Labour Section,
R.C.O.C. |
| 236V |
No. 21 General Labour Section,
R.C.O.C. |
| 822 |
No. 10 Provost Company, C. Pro.
C. |
| 823 |
6th Divisional Postal Unit,
C.P.C. |
Order of Battle - March
1942
-
13th Brigade
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2nd Battalion, The
Canadian Scottish
-
The Brockville
Rifles
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1st Battalion, The
Edmonton Fusiliers
-
No. 13 Defence
Platoon
Units of the supporting arms
included:
Plus units of the RCASC,
RCAMC, CPC, etc.
The Division consisted of
loose brigade groups, with division headquarters at Esquimalt, until
March 1942, when it was decided to organize along standard divisional
lines, with three infantry brigades, a machine gun battalion, an
armoured reconnaissance battalion, divisional engineer, ordnance,
provost, service, signals and medical units, and a full complement of
divisional artillery - three field regiments, an anti-tank regiment and
a light anti-aircraft regiment. This was achieved in July 1942. The 14th
and 15th Brigades went off to the 8th and 7th Divisions, respectively,
and the 18th and 19th Brigades joined the Division.
Order of Battle - July
1942
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13th Brigade
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2nd Battalion, The
Canadian Scottish
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The Brockville
Rifles
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1st Battalion, The
Edmonton Fusiliers
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No. 13 Defence
Platoon
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18th Brigade
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The Rocky Mountain
Rangers
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1st Battalion, The
Irish Fusiliers of Canada
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The Sault Ste. Marie
and Sudbury Regiment
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No. 18 Defence
Platoon
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19th Brigade
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3rd Battalion, The
Irish Fusiliers of Canada
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The Winnipeg Light
Infantry
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The Prince Albert
Volunteers
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No. 19 Defence
Platoon
Units of the supporting arms
included:
Plus units of the RCASC,
RCAMC, RCOC, CPC, etc.
The three home
defence divisions, the 6th, 7th and 8th, were never complete in all
arms and services. They did not need to be, for they were designed
to operate within the framework of a static organization already
existing. This meant that the services of the Commands and Military
Districts were available to assist them; it also meant that the
artillery of the fixed defences, and other permanent installations,
could support them in operations. Thus their establishments were
never as complete as those of field divisions. Nor were the
establishments ever quite full. On 17 April 1943, the 7th Division
was deficient 97 officers and 3738 other ranks; the 6th and 8th
Divisions were short approximately 1200 and 1100 all ranks
respectively.4
The 18th Infantry Brigade
was posted to Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, while the 19th Brigade was
stationed at Vernon in the interior of BC as Pacific Command reserve.
The 13th Brigade served at Nanaimo. No. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon
for the 6th Canadian Division was authorized in March 1942 along with
the other divisional units. The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton
Regiment) provided troops for this platoon; they provided Defence and
Employment Platoons throughout the division.
No. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon was recruited in various locations
in Ontario including Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Orangeville and
Port Credit. In mid-May 1942 training began at 20 CA(B)TC Brantford and
at Camp Niagara, Ontario. Trained personnel were posted to the new
brigade defence platoons as well, and in September one officer and 28
ORs moved to Work Point barracks in Victoria. There was a steady
turnover of personnel as recruits were posted in and trained soldiers
posted out.
In the first half of 1943, the division was stripped of much of its
artillery, losing 79th LAA battery to a coastal defence role, 48th LAA
battery moving to 8th Division (both in January) then the headquarters
of the 9th LAA Regiment disbanded in May. The 21st Field Regiment and
6th Anti-Tank Regiment both left the Division for overseas.
In May 1943, fully trained active personnel from the Lorne Scots defence
units were transferred to depot for proceeding overseas, and partially
trained men were sent to infantry Training Centres to complete training
prior to going overseas. Fifteen of the new recruits who arrived the
next month were National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) men, who had
been conscripted for service in Canada. By October 1943 the divisional
Defence and employment Platoon was in Prince George, BC.
In June 1943, the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group went to Kiska and
19th Infantry Brigade moved to the 8th Division, returning to the 6th
Division in July. The 16th and 20th Infantry Brigades joined the 6th
Division in July as well, giving the Division four brigades.
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13th
Canadian Brigade Group
GREENLIGHT Force |
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Headquarters 13th
Brigade Group
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The Canadian Fusiliers
(City of London) Regiment
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The Winnipeg Grenadiers
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The Rocky Mountain
Rangers
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Le Regiment du Hull
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"C" Company, The St.
John Fusiliers (M.G.)
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24th Field Regiment,
Royal Canadian Artillery
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46th Light Anti-Aircraft
Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
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In October 1943, the 7th
and 8th Divisions were disbanded, along with 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th and
21st Infantry Brigades, followed by the 17th Brigade in November 1943.
The 13th Brigade Group (serving at Kiska), 14th Brigade Group (from 8th
Division) and 15th Brigade Group (from 7th Division) survived the cut of
home defence units and constituted the 6th Division beginning in
November 1943. Headquarters of the Division moved from Esquimalt to
Prince George in October 1943 and the division reorganized to a brigade
group structure. Each of the three brigade groups now had four infantry
battalions, one defence platoon, one MG company, one three-battery field
regiment and one LAA battery.
Order of Battle November
1943
Units of the supporting arms
included:
The 13th Brigade Group
returned from Kiska in January 1944 having not made contact with the
enemy.
The headquarters of the 13th Brigade departed the Division in May 1944
and converted to Headquarters 13th Canadian Training Brigade in England
in November 1944. Its place in 6th Division was taken by a newly
mobilized Headquarters 16th Infantry Brigade in August 1944.
Headquarters of the 14th and 15th Brigades also moved overseas and were
disbanded in January 1945.
By late 1944, the need to free fit men for duty overseas was becoming
acute alongside a declining need for coastal defences. The disbandment
of the 6th Division was approved in hopes of drawing an infantry brigade
group and two infantry brigades from it. The government also decided to
send 16,000 NRMA men overseas. The decision sparked about a
demonstration by about 200-300 NRMA men in Prince George, although none
from the Division's Defence and Employment Platoon took part. For a few
days, there were demonstrations at several camps along the coast. The
divisional headquarters ceased to exist on 2 December, being formally
disbanded, along with its Defence and Employment Platoon, on 31 January
1945.
The 16th Infantry Brigade headquarters was disbanded in April 1945. The
old 13th Brigade headquarters, now HQ 13th Canadian Infantry Training
Brigade, became Headquarters "D" Group Canadian Reinforcement Units in
July 1945, redesignated HQ "D" Group Canadian Repatriation Units in August
1945, and finally disbanded in January 1946.
Order of Battle - November
1944
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Headquarters, 6th
Division
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Machine Gun Battalion -
The Canadian Fusiliers (MG)
-
14th Infantry Brigade
Group
Units of the supporting arms
included:
Commanders
The Division had only two
General Officers Commanding during its existence:
|
Name
|
Dates in Command
|
Bio and Destination on Leaving
Appointment |
| Major General E.A. Potts, CBE,
ED |
20 May 1942 - 11
Oct 1943 |
Had commanded a
Canadian infantry brigade overseas before commanding the 6th
Canadian Division in Canada. |
| Major General H.N.
Ganong, CBE |
16 Oct 1943 - 15
Dec 1944 |
Commanded in
infantry brigade overseas, before commanding the 8th
Canadian Division, which he did until it disbanded. He then transferred to
command 6th Canadian Division until that formation was also
disbanded. |
Uniform Insignia
At the start of the Second World War, it was
felt that colourful unit and Formation Patches 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.
The Home Divisions came to adopt distinguishing patches similar to those
worn overseas; each was composed of two colours. The 6th Division
combined the colours of the 1st and 2nd Divisions, with a red-over-blue
flash. The flash was to be worn with the wide end of the red triangle
facing the wearer's front.
Notes
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Falconer, D.W. Battery Flashes of
W.W. II (D.W. Falconer, 1985) ISBN 0-9691865-0-9 p.382
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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), pp.166-171
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Tonner, Mark W. On Active Service
(Service Publications, Ottawa, ON) ISBN 1-894581-44-X
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Stacey, Ibid, pp.183-184
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