3rd Canadian Division

The 3rd Canadian Division refers to three organizations raised by the Canadian Army during the 20th Century.

• 3rd Canadian Division

• 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (Second World War)

• 3rd Canadian Division (CAOF)

The first formation so designated was a fully manned and equipped combat division which operated as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Division distinguished itself in several hard fought campaigns, and was disbanded at the end of the First World War. A second iteration was raised for the Second World War, and served in II Canadian Corps. A duplicate division was raised for duty with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in 1945. This article deals with the First World War formation which served in the Canadian Corps.

The Division was formed in France in December 1915, and served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

The 3rd Division was created in December 1915 under Major-General M.S. Mercer, a veteran of the 1st Brigade and Commander of Headquarters Corps Troops. He was a Canadian as were all three brigade commanders and many of his staff officers. By the end of 1916, only three major appointments would be held by Britons (G.S.O. I, G.S.O. II and Brigade Major Artillery). A number of staff officers and unit commanders had combat experience but few soldiers or sub-unit leaders had been in the field.¹

The 7th Brigade, formed on 22 December 1915 under Brig.-Gen. A.C. Macdonell, consisted of one veteran battalion and three units with no field experience. From the 27th British Division, after a year's distinguished service in France with the 80th Brigade, came Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. The Royal Canadian Regiment, at that time the only Permanent Force battalion, had been employed on garrison duty in Bermuda for eleven months; it had arrived in France in November 1915 and trained with the 2nd Brigade. The two remaining units, the 42nd Battalion (from Montreal) and the 49th (Edmonton), had both undergone a tour of non-operational duty in France. The 8th Brigade was organized on 28 December and Colonel Williams, though still holding the appointment of Adjutant General, was placed in command with the appropriate rank. It was made. up of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions, Canadian Mounted Rifles, formed by the conversion to infantry of the six C.M.R. regiments. The units of the 9th Brigade (Brig.-Gen. F. W. Hill), which joined the division in February 1916, were the 43rd, 52nd, 58th and 60th Battalions. They came from Winnipeg, Port Arthur, the Niagara area and Montreal, respectively, and in the main had reached England in November. Except in artillery, the 3rd Division was complete by late March 1916. Until the middle of July, when its own gunners arrived, it was supported by the artillery of the Indian 3rd (Lahore) Division.²

The Division originally fought under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer, who became the highest ranking Canadian officer killed in action in the First World War. Brigadier V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Brigade, became the highest ranking Canadian officer captured in the First World War, also at Ypres. Mercer was replaced by Louis Lipsett, who was also killed in action.

Order of Battle

9th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery

• 31st Field Battery
• 33rd Field Battery
• 45th Field Battery
• 36th Howitzer Battery

10th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery

• 38th Field Battery
• 39th Field Battery
• 40th Field Battery
• 35th Howitzer Battery

Divisional Units

• 3rd Division Ammunition Column
• 3rd Brigade Canadian Engineers
  • 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions
• 3rd Divisional Signal Company
• 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. 8 Jan 1916 - May 1917 (Disbanded)
• 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. Mar 1917 - Jun 1918 (Moved to 3rd Canadian Engineer Brigade.)

Canadian Machine Gun Corps

In early 1918, infantry machine gun companies were consolidated into Machine Gun Battalions, one per division. At first the battalion had three companies, and in May 1918 this increased to four, with a total complement of 96 Vickers Guns. The 3rd Canadian Machine Gun Battalion was formed for the 3rd Division.

Militia Regiment Parentage

The following is a list of the Militia Regiments in Canada that provided soldiers for the numbered infantry battalions.