Formation and early war service

The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was mobilized in 1939 and deployed to the United Kingdom in 1940 as part of Canada’s early commitment to the war in Europe.

Early history

Following its mobilization at the outbreak of World War II, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was formed on 1 September 1939 and began training and organization in Canada. Unlike the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, the 2nd Division did not deploy immediately. Its movement overseas occurred in stages, with units arriving in the United Kingdom between May and August 1940.

Once in Britain, the division joined the Canadian Corps and undertook extensive training and defensive duties, preparing for eventual operations in northwest Europe. It remained in the United Kingdom for several years, ncluding the period leading up to and following the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. Following a prolonged period of training and reorganization of training and reorganization, the division entered sustained combat in July 1944 in Normandy, marking the beginning of its operational service in the European Theater.

Command Chronology (World War II)

Major-General Victor W. Odlum — Oct 1939 – Nov 1941
Major-General John H. Roberts — Nov 1941 – Aug 1944
Major-General Charles Foulkes — Aug 1944 – Nov 1944
Major-General George Kitching — Nov 1944 – Jan 1945
Major-General Bert Hoffmeister — Jan 1945 – May 1945

Order of Battle (World War II)

Infantry Brigades and Battalions

4th Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Royal Regiment of Canada
• The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
• The Essex Scottish Regiment

5th Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
• The Calgary Highlanders
• Le Régiment de Maisonneuve

6th Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
• The South Saskatchewan Regiment
• Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal

Division Artillery

• 4th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
• 5th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
• 6th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
• 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
• 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

Reconnaissance and Support Units

• 8th Princess Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars (Reconnaissance Regiment)
• 2nd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers
• 5th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers
• 6th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers
• 2nd Canadian Division Signals

Additional Division Units

• Royal Canadian Army Service Corps companies
• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps units
• Ordnance and workshop units (RCEME)
• Military Police units

The Dieppe Raid (1942)

The division’s first major combat operation was the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942. The assault was carried out largely by formations of the division, particularly the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades, including the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, which led the main landings.

The operation encountered strong German defenses, including fortified positions, artillery, and obstacles on the beaches. The result was heavy casualties and a large number of personnel taken prisoner.

Although unsuccessful, the raid provided important lessons for future amphibious operations. The experience is often regarded as a formative moment in the division’s development prior to its later combat operations.

Normandy Campaign

Landing in Normandy (July 1944)

The division landed in Normandy between 6 and 9 July 1944 as part of the continued build-up of Allied forces following D-Day. It was committed to operations in the Caen sector under British command.

Operations in the Caen Sector

The division participated in a series of offensives aimed at breaking German resistance around Caen.

It was heavily engaged in:

• Operation Atlantic
• Operation Spring

A key objective in these operations was Verrières Ridge, a dominant piece of high ground south of Caen. The ridge was strongly defended by German forces and became the focus of repeated attacks.

Fighting in this area resulted in some of the highest casualties sustained by Canadian forces during the Normandy campaign. During Operation Spring, the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada suffered particularly severe losses in an attack toward May-sur-Orne.

Breakout and advance

Following the Allied breakout from Normandy in late July 1944, German resistance began to collapse. The division participated in the advance across France as Allied forces transitioned to mobile operations.

The Battle of the Scheldt

In the autumn of 1944, the division took part in the Battle of the Scheldt, a critical operation to secure access to the port of Antwerp. The fighting involved operations in flooded terrain, fortified positions, and difficult conditions. Securing the Scheldt estuary was essential for restoring Allied supply lines.

Continued Operations (1944–1945)

Following the Scheldt campaign, the division participated in further operations in the Netherlands and Germany as part of the Allied advance. It contributed to the clearing of German forces from occupied territories and the final defeat of Germany in 1945.

Operational significance

The combat record of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division reflects its role across key phases of the war:

• Early amphibious assault: Dieppe Raid (1942)
• Normandy operations: Caen sector and Verrières Ridge
• Breakout and pursuit: France
• Critical logistics campaign: Scheldt estuary
• Final operations: Netherlands and Germany

The division’s experience at Dieppe influenced Allied planning for later amphibious operations, while its sustained combat in Normandy and the Scheldt contributed significantly to Allied success in northwest Europe.