5th Canadian Division 1st Canadian Armoured Division 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division
5th Canadian Division formation patch
Active	February 1917–February 1918 1939–1945 2013–present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force Canadian Army
Type	Infantry Armoured
Size	Division
Nickname(s)	The Mighty Maroon Machine, Maroon 5
Engagements	Italian Campaign Operation Chesterfield North-West Europe
Website	www.canada.ca/en/army/corporate/5-canadian-division.html
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier-General J.D.S. Masson, OMM, MSM, CD
Division CWO	Chief Warrant Officer M. von Kalben, MMM, CD
Notable commanders	Garnet Hughes Ernest William Sansom Charles Ramsay Stirling Stein Guy Simonds E. L. M. Burns Bert Hoffmeister

The 5th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of most army units in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador; as well as some units in Kingston, Ontario. The division is recognized by the distinctive maroon patch worn on the sleeve of its soldiers.

It was first created as a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It was stood down during the war only to be reactivated through the renaming from '1st Canadian Armoured Division' to the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division during the Second World War. It was stood down following demobilization and was again reactivated in 2013 with the renaming of the former Land Force Area Atlantic.

First World War

The 5th Canadian Division of the Canadian Corps was formed during World War I under Major-General Garnet Burk Hughes. The 5th began assembling in Britain in February, 1917, but was broken up in February 1918 before it was fully formed. The Division adopted a coloured formation patch identical in design to that worn by the four combatant divisions of the Canadian Corps. Its men were used as reinforcements for the other four Canadian divisions, helping to maintain the over-strength Divisions of 22,000–25,000 with more than 100,000 men total. It was reactivated in 2013.^[1]

Second World War

Formation patch used to identify vehicles of the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division during the Second World War.

The 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division was a Canadian division during World War II. Following its redesignation from 1st Canadian Armoured Division, the bulk proceeded overseas in one main convoy, arriving in the United Kingdom at the end of November 1941.

The 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division spent two years of the war uneventfully in the United Kingdom, before finally transferring to the Mediterranean theatre in November 1943 to join the 1st Canadian Infantry Division as part of I Canadian Corps, under command of the British Eighth Army. The division moved without its tanks and vehicles, inheriting heavily used equipment as a legacy from the veteran British 7th Armoured Division ("The Desert Rats") who they relieved on the Italian Front. The majority of the vehicles were completely worn out, having first been issued in North Africa or were two-wheel drive–useless in Italy. It took several months for the division to be fully equipped with new vehicles, including M4 Shermans. Only the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade was committed prior to 31 January 1944.^[2]

The 5th Armoured took part in the Italian Campaign until the end of 1944, seeing notable action on the Hitler Line after the Allied breakthrough at Cassino in May 1944 and also during Operation Olive on the Gothic Line in August 1944. During the latter battle its single infantry brigade was augmented by a second, which was raised using reinforcements and units serving in other roles. Among them was the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards–1st Canadian Division's armoured reconnaissance regiment. As with other Allied armoured divisions in the Mediterranean, local resources were used to establish an additional infantry brigade, the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Based on the colour of its shoulder patch, the division became known as the "Mighty Maroon Machine".^[3]

A Sherman Firefly of the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division assists British troops of the 11th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, British 49th Infantry Division, to clear the Germans from Ede, the Netherlands, 17 April 1945.

In January 1945, the division, together with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, as part of Operation Goldflake, moved by truck, train, and naval transport to Belgium via Livorno and Marseille. After arriving on the Western Front, it disbanded the 12th Brigade, and re-equipped to join the First Canadian Army in time to participate in the final advance into Germany.

In April 1945, the Irish Regiment of Canada was assigned to Operation Cleanser in the Netherlands. They had to liberate the route from Arnhem to Harderwijk. This unexpectedly resulted in a fierce fight at the Battle of Otterlo.

Land Force Atlantic Area

Land Force Atlantic Area (LFAA) was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously the militia areas and the Regular Force Army units and formations in Atlantic Canada. At that point in time, the Militia Areas ceased to exist, and the subordinate Militia Districts were reorganised.^[5] Later that decade, the reserve force districts were again reorganized into two Canadian Brigade Groups. LFAA was the formation responsible for Canadian Army operations in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island and was headquartered at Canadian Forces Base Halifax.

5th Canadian Division Re-Activation

In 2013, LFAA was re-designated the 5th Canadian Division and inherited the wartime heritage of the formation. The division continues to be headquartered at CFB Halifax and commands most Canadian Army units in the Atlantic provinces.

Organization of 5th Canadian Division (2020)

5th Canadian Division organization in 2020

	5th Canadian Division Headquarters, at CFB Halifax
	6th Canadian Combat Support Brigade
		Headquarters, 6th Canadian Combat Support Brigade, at CFB Kingston[6]
		4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), Royal Canadian Artillery, at CFB Gagetown[7]
		4 Engineer Support Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, at CFB Gagetown[8]
		21 Electronic Warfare Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals, at CFB Kingston[9]
		Canadian Army Intelligence Regiment HQ, at Kingston
		Influence Activities Task Force, at Kingston
	36 Canadian Brigade Group
		Headquarters, 36 Canadian Brigade Group, at Royal Artillery Park, Halifax[10][11]
		The Halifax Rifles (RCAC), at Halifax Armoury, Halifax[12]
		The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC), at Queen Charlotte Armory, Charlottetown[13]
		The Princess Louise Fusiliers, at Halifax Armoury, Halifax[12]
		The West Nova Scotia Regiment, at 5 CDSB Detachment Aldershot, Kentville
		The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North), at Truro Armoury, Truro[14]
		The Cape Breton Highlanders, at Victoria Park Armoury, Sydney[15]
		1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, at Bayers Lake Armoury, Halifax
		84th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, at Yarmouth Armoury, Yarmouth[16]
		36 Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, at CFB Shearwater[17]
		36 Signal Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals, at Willow Park armoury, Halifax[18]
		36 Service Battalion, at Willow Park armoury, Halifax[18]
	37 Canadian Brigade Group
		Headquarters, 37 Canadian Brigade Group, at 5 CDSB Detachment Moncton[19]
		8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's), at 5 CDSB Detachment Moncton[20]
		The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton & York), at Carlton Street Armoury, Fredericton[21]
		The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, at Colonel CCL Gammon Armoury, Bathurst[22]
		1st Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, at CFS St. John's[23]
		2nd Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, at Gallipoli Armoury, Corner Brook[24]
		3rd Field Artillery Regiment (The Loyal Company), Royal Canadian Artillery, at The Barrack Green Armoury, Saint John[25]
		37 Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Canadian Engineers, at CFS St. John's[26]
		37 Signal Regiment, Royal Canadian Signals, at CFS St. John's[27]
		37 Service Battalion, at CFS St. John's
	5th Canadian Division Support Group
		5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, at CFB Gagetown
		5th Canadian Division Support Base Aldershot
	5th Canadian Division Training Centre, at CFB Gagetown
	5th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, at CFB Gander
	3 Intelligence Company (Reserve), in Halifax

See also

• List of military divisions
• List of Canadian divisions in World War II

Notes

References

• Dancocks, Daniel G. (1991). The D-Day Dodgers. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc. ISBN 978-0-7710-2544-0.
• Groningen, J. Niemeijer "History of 17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, 5th Canadian Armoured Division" by (J. Niemeijer Groningen, 1946)
• Zuehlke, Mark, "The Liri Valley: Canada's World War II Breakthrough to Rome", Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., Vancouver, 2003

External links

• Official website
• Canadian Forces Recruiting
• "RA Park (Archived copy)". Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2011.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 5th Canadian Division.