The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of
Manitoba,
Saskatchewan,
Alberta and
British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from the city of
Thunder Bay.
It was first created as a formation of the
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December ...
during the
First World War. It was stood down following the war and was later reactivated as the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during the
Second World War. The second iteration served with distinction from 1941 to 1945, taking part in the
D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. A duplicate of the 3rd Canadian Division was formed in 1945 to serve on occupation duty in
Germany and was disbanded the following year.
History
First World War
The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of
Major-General Malcolm Mercer. Its members served in
France and Flanders
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
until
Armistice Day. While with the 3rd Division at
Ypres, Mercer became the highest-ranking Canadian officer killed in action during the First World War. On the same day,
Brigadier V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Infantry Brigade, became the highest-ranking Canadian officer captured in the First World War, also at the