Combat Mission British Uniforms - Khaki Drill and Jungle Green

CANADIAN DIVISIONS
A listing of the Canadian Divisions to see service in the Mediterranean during World War Two; only the main infantry (rifle) battalions and armoured regiments have been listed below.

1st Canadian Infantry Division

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The First Canadian Division was mobilized on 1 September 1939, and departed for the United Kingdom in December. After several long years of training, the Division landed in Sicily on 10 July 1943. After many hard fought battles on the island, the Division moved to the mainland in September 1943. Their first divisional level battle took place on the Moro River, culminating in the capture of Ortona at Christmastime, 1943. The Division remained in the area north of Ortona until April 1944; in the interim, it came under command of I Canadian Corps headquarters, which was created with the arrival of a second Canadian division in the theatre in January. In May, the Division entered the battle for the Liri Valley and breached the Hitler Line. The Melfa River was crossed afterwards, and on 4 June 1944, the entire Canadian Corps went into reserve. On that day, Rome fell to the Allies.

In August 1944, the Division moved to the Adriatic Front once more, saw action at the Gothic Line, and after a series of battles had crossed the Savio River by the end of October, once more going into reserve. In December 1944, more action followed at the Lamone and the Division settle in for the winter on the Senio. They were relieved at the end of February, and withdrawn from the theatre to join the rest of First Canadian Army in Holland.

Composition July 1943 - February 1945
4th Recce Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) (Except Jul 1944 - Mar 1945) 1st Canadian Armoured Car Regiment (Jul 1944 - Mar 1945)
1 Infantry Brigade	The Royal Canadian Regiment
	The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
	The 48th Highlanders of Canada
2 Infantry Brigade	Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
	The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
	The Edmonton Regiment (renamed The Loyal Edmonton Regiment in 1943)
3 Infantry Brigade	Royal 22e Regiment
	The Carleton and York Regiment
	The West Nova Scotia Regiment

5th Canadian (Armoured) Division

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The First Canadian Armoured Division was raised in February 1941, as experience in the Western Desert saw an increased understanding of the capabilities of armour in modern warfare. By June 1941, the division had been renamed the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, and was organized along British lines, with two armoured brigades. The division moved to the UK at the end of 1941, and in 1943 was heavily reorganized, moving to a new organization calling for one brigade of infantry and one of armour.

In late 1943, the division moved to the Mediterranean, and in January infantry units of the division saw their first combat action at the Arielli River. As the Canadian Corps became operational, the division's gun supported the assault on the Gustav Line, and the division followed through the breach in the Hitler Line created in May by 1st Canadian Division, followed by stiff fighting at the Melfa River.

In July 1944, it was realized that an imbalance existed in the armour-infantry mix in the division, and a second infantry brigade was created in theatre. The 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment was converted to infantry and rechristened The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, with the full support of the home service battalion of that regiment in Canada. The 4th PLDG were converted from reconnaissance to infantry, and the Westminsters were added to the brigade, retaining their duties as the Motor battalion of the Division.

In August 1944, the division returned to action north of Rome, and were the first formation to punch through the Gothic Line. The Rimini Line followed aferwards, and several water barriers were crossed as the division battled north. By January 1945, the division had reached the Senio River, and the Winter Line. The Division was moved out of the theatre at the end of February, to join the 1st Canadian Army in Holland.

Composition Jan 1944 - February 1945
3rd Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The Governor General's Horse Guards)
5th Armoured Brigade	2nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians))
	5th Canadian Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick)Hussars)
	9th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons)
	The Westminster Regiment (Motor) In a dual role during the period the12th Canadian Infantry Brigade existed
11th Infantry Brigade	The Perth Regiment
	The Cape Breton Highlanders
	The Irish Regiment of Canada
12 Infantry Brigade (Jul 1944 - Feb 1945)	4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
	The Westminster Regiment (Motor) In a dual role during the period the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade existed
	The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment

1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
(Independent)

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The First Canadian Army Tank Brigade was created in February 1941; the 14th Canadian Tank Regiment (Calgary Regiment) saw action at Dieppe, and the entire brigade moved to Sicily in July 1943. There, it was redesignated the First Canadian Armoured Brigade, and the Tank Regiments were redesignated Armoured Regiments.

The Brigade saw action throughout Sicily and Italy, in support of various British and Indian units in theatre, and moved to NW Europe with I Canadian Corps in early 1945.