![]() ![]() The original Canadian goal was to employ the 1st Canadian Army as a complete formation in the invasion of Europe but, partly due to tremendous public pressure at home to get Canadian troops into battle, and partly to dropping morale amongst the all-volunteer troops anxious to end the long wait in Britain, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade left Britain in the summer of 1943 to take part in the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Three more infantry divisions were active for home defence on the east and west coasts of Canada. ![]() The 1st Canadian Army strength in Britain was approximately 240,000, with two Corps, two armoured divisions, three infantry divisions, 2 armoured brigades and 2 artillery groups. The Canadian Army reached a peak strength of 485,000 men and women in 1943. Canadian units saw action in Hong Kong in 1941 and at Dieppe in 1942, but the vast majority of Canadian troops were held in Britain from 1939–43 as a reserve to defend against a possible German invasion. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was partly landed in France in June 1940, before being recalled when it was realised that the Battle of France could not be won. Almost 16,000 Canadian soldiers were in England by December 1939, mainly in the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. Canada was firmly on the side of Great Britain from the outset, but the government delayed declaring war on Germany until 10 September in order to emphasize Canadian independence. Upon being informed that German troops had invaded Poland, Canada declared full mobilization on 1 September and preparations were immediately begun to send troops to Britain. If you were to ask a Canadian, “Do you have to go to war because England does?” he’d answer at once, “Oh no.” If you then said, “Would you go to war if England does?” he’d answer, “Oh, yes.” And if you asked, “Why?” he would say, reflectively, “Well, you see, we’d have to.” Stephen Leacock, ‘The Atlantic Monthly’, June 1939 The Canadian Soldier in World War Twoĭue to the worsening crisis in Europe, the Canadian government declared partial mobilization on 25 August 1939. ![]()
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