Reserve Brigades - Second World War

After the departure of the Canadian Active Service Force for the UK, the reserve force in Canada was reorganized, and eventually formed into Reserve Brigades. These reserve units consisted of part-time soldiers, who drilled on evenings and weekends. They were activated by the following General Orders (G.O.)

Formation and Disbandment

Brigade

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

Formed 1 Apr 1942

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Formed 1 May 1943

x

x

HQ disbanded GO 501/1944 (11 Nov 1944)

x

x

HQ Disbanded G.O. 46/1946 (23 Feb 1946)

x

HQ Disbanded G.O. 86/1946 (2 Apr 1946)

x

x

x

HQ Disbanded G.O. 128/1946 (23 May 1946)

x

x

HQ Disbanded G.O. 145/1946 (8 Jun 1946)

x

x

HQ Disbanded G.O. 177/1946 (31 Jul 1946)

x

HQ Disbanded G.O. 178/1946 (31 Jul 1946)

x

The composition of the Brigades, as well as the dates of their dissolution, are shown below; the groups themselves were dissolved separately from their headquarters by General Order 237/1946 dated 28 September 1946 (with the exception of the 37th and 40th Brigade Groups, who disbanded under General Order 500/1944 dated 11 November 1944), with the following effective dates:

MD Brigade Group Effective Date of Disbandment 1 31st (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 28th Nov 1945 2 32nd (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 30th Jan 1946 3 33rd (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 30th Apr 1946 4 34th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 29th Nov 1945 5 35th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 15th May 1946 6 36th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 15th Feb 1946 6 42nd (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 15th Feb 1946 7 37th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 14th Sep 1944 10 38th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 31st Jan 1946 11 39th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 31st Mar 1946 12 40th (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 15th Sep 1944 13 41st (Reserve) Brigade Group Effective Date: 30th Jan 1946

Brigade Group Composition

31st (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 1

• Headquarters: London, ON

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 28 Nov 1945

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 1st (Reserve) Battalion, The Middlesex and Huron Regiment

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) MG

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Essex Scottish Regiment

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Scots Fusiliers of Canada

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment (Tank))

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 31st (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 7th/11th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 1st (Reserve) Divisional, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • 24th (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J sections, No.1 (Reserve) District Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group,

  • No.2 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.1 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.2 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.3 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.4 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

32nd (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 2

• Headquarters: Toronto, ON

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 30 Jan 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Canada

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Toronto Scottish Regiment (MG)

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 11th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (Ontario Regiment)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 32nd (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 2nd (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 2nd (Reserve) Divisional, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.2 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E Section, A (Reserve) Corps Signals, RCCS

  • J Section, 2nd (Reserve) Divisional Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.1 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.5 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.6 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.7 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.8 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment, (RCOC) RCEME

33rd (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 3

• Headquarters: Ottawa, ON( Kingston, ON after 1 Oct 1943)

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 30 Apr 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (MG)

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Hull

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 4th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards)

  • 21st (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (Govenor General's Foot Guards)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 33rd (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 3rd (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 1st (Reserve) Divisional RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.23 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J Sections, 2nd (Reserve) Divisional Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group No.3 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.9 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.10 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.11 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.12 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

34th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 4

• Headquarters: Montreal, PQ

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 29 Nov 1945

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment of Canada)

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Maisonneuve

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 7th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars)

  • 32nd (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (The Royal Montreal Regiment)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 34th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 16th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 3rd (Reserve) Divisional RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.6 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E Section, B (Reserve) Corps Signals, RCCS

  • J Section, 4th (Reserve) Divisional Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group No.4 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.13 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.14 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.15 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.16 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

35th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 5

• Headquarters: Québec, PQ

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 15 May 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Rifles of Canada

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Les Fusiliers de St.Laurent

  • Composite Infantry Battalion:

    • HQ, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Les Voltigeurs de Québec

    • B Company, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Lévis

    • C and D Companies, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Montmagny

  • Composite Machine Gun Battalion:

    • HQ, A and B Companies, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de Québec

    • C and D Companies, 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Le Régiment de la Chaudière

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 16th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (7th/11th Hussars)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 35th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 15th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 7th (Reserve) Divisional RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.19 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J Sections, 4th (Reserve) District Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group No.6 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.17 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.18 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.19 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.20 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

36th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 6

• Headquarters: Halifax, NS

• Formed: 1 May 1943

• Headquarters Disbanded: 15 Feb 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The West Nova Scotia Regiment

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Princess Louise's Fusiliers (MG)

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Halifax Rifles

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 36th (Reserve) Brigade Group Reconnaissance Squadron

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 14th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 20th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • 36th (Reserve) Brigade Group Company, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.22 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E Section, Divisional Signals (from No.6 (Reserve) Fortress Signal Company), RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.8 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.21 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.22 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.23 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.24 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

37th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 7

• Headquarters: Saint John, NB

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 14 Sep 1944

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Carelton and York Regiment

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The North Shore Regiment

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The New Brunswick Rangers

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (MG)

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 5th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 37th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 1st (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, RCASC (formed from elements of 1st (Reserve) and 2nd (Reserve) Army Tank Brigade Company, RCASC)

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.14 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J sections, Divisional Signals, RCCS (formed from elements of No.4 (Reserve) Fortress Signal Company, RCCS)

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.7 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.25 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.26 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.27 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.28 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

38th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 10

• Headquarters: Winnipeg, MB

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 31 Jan 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Winnipeg Light Infantry

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 18th (Reserve) Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 38th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 12th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 5th (Reserve) Armoured Division, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.3 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J sections, No.10 (Reserve) Divisional Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.5 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.29 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.30 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.31 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.32 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

39th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 11

• Headquarters: Vancouver, BC

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 31 Mar 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (Vancouver Regiment)

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (MG)

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (Essex Regiment (Tank))

  • 9th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Dragoons)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 39th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 6th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 6th (Reserve) Divisional Signals, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.13 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J sections, No.9 (Reserve) Fortress Signal Company, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.11 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.33 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.34 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.35 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.36 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

40th (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 12

• Headquarters: Saskatoon, SK (Prior to 1 Nov 1942, located in Regina, SK)

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 15 Sep 1944

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.)

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Prince Albert Volunteers

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The South Saskatchewan Regiment

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 8th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 40th (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 14th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 2nd (Reserve) Armoured Corps Troops, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.10 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J sections, No.9 (Reserve) Fortress Signal Company, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.11 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.33 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.34 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.35 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.36 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

41st (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 13

• Headquarters: Calgary, AB (Prior to 1 Apr 1943, located in Edmonton, AB)

• Formed: 1 Apr 1942

• Headquarters Disbanded: 30 Jan 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Regiment

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 14th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (Calgary Regiment)

  • 29th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Regiment (South Alberta Regiment)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 41st (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 13th (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • Brigade Group Company, 4th (Reserve) Armoured Divisional Signals, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.8 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • E and J sections, No.13 (Reserve) District Signals, RCCS

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.10 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.41 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.42 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.43 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.44 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

42nd (Reserve) Brigade Group

• Location: Military District No. 6

• Headquarters: Westville, NS

• Formed: 1 May 1943

• Headquarters Disbanded: 15 Feb 1946

• Canadian Infantry Corps

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Pictou Highlanders

  • 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Cape Breton Highlanders

• Canadian Armoured Corps

  • 17th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment Regiment (Prince Edward Island Light Horse)

• Royal Canadian Artillery

  • 42nd (Reserve) Field Regiment, RCA

• Royal Canadian Engineers

  • 21st (Reserve) Field Company, RCE

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

  • 42nd (Reserve) Brigade Group Company, RCASC

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

  • No.29 (Reserve) Field Ambulance, RCAMC

• Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

  • F section, Divisional Signals, RCCS (formed from elements of No.5 (Reserve) Fortress Signal Company, RCCS)

• Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps / Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • No.2 Group, No.12 (Reserve) Divisional Workshop, (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.45 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type A), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.46 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

  • No.47 (Reserve) Light Aid Detachment (Type B), (RCOC) RCEME

• Veteran's Guard of Canada

  • 62nd (Infantry) Reserve Company, VG of C

Notes

• Thanks to Mark Tonner for the research he provided for this page.