3rd Canadian Division

For the World War II formation, see 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

3rd Canadian Division
Active	1915-1919
Country	Canada
Allegiance	Allies
Branch	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Part of	Canadian Corps
Engagements	Battle of the Somme Battle of Vimy Ridge Battle of Passchendaele
Commanders
Current commander	n/a

The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the 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 both France and Flanders until Armistice Day. While with 3rd Division at Ypres, Mercer became the highest-ranking Canadian officer killed in action in World War I. On the same day, Brigadier V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Infantry Brigade, became the highest-ranking Canadian officer captured in World War I, also at the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Mercer was replaced by Louis Lipsett, who commanded the division until September 1918 shortly before he too was killed in action.

Infantry units

7th Infantry Brigade:

• The Royal Canadian Regiment. December 1915 – November 11, 1918;
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. December 24, 1915 – November 11, 1918;
• 42nd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. December 1915 – November 11, 1918;
• 49th (Edmonton) Battalion Canadian Infantry. December 1915 – November 11, 1918.

8th Infantry Brigade:

• 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. December 1915 – November 11, 1918;
• 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. December 1915 – November 11, 1918;
• 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. December 1915 – November 11, 1918;
• 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, CEF. December 1915 – November 11, 1918.

9th Infantry Brigade: (Joined the Division in January 1916)

• 43rd (Cameron Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 – November 11, 1918;
• 52nd (North Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 – November 11, 1918;
• 58th (Central Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 – November 11, 1918;
• 60th (Victoria Rifles) Battalion Canadian Infantry. January 1916 – April 30, 1917. (Disbanded)
• 116th (Ontario County Infantry) Battalion Canadian Infantry. April 1917 – November 11, 1918.

Pioneers:

• 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. January 8, 1916 – May 1917 (Disbanded);
• 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. March 1917 – June 1918. To the 3rd Canadian Engineer Brigade.

Battles and engagements on the Western Front

1916:

• Battle of Mount Sorrel – June 2–13
• Battle of Flers-Courcelette – September 15–22
• Battle of Morval – September 25
• Battle of Thiepval – September 26–28
• Battle of Le Transloy – October 1–18
• Battle of the Ancre Heights – October 1–11

1917:

• Battle of Vimy Ridge – April 9–14
• Attack on La Coulotte – April 23
• Third Battle of the Scarpe – May 3–4
• Affairs South of the Souchez River – June 3–25
• Capture of Avion – June 26–29
• Battle of Hill 70 – August 15–25
• Second Battle of Passchendaele October 26 – November 10

1918:

• Battle of Amiens – August 8–11
• Actions round Damery – August 15–17
• Battle of the Scarpe – August 26–30 (including the capture of Monchy-le-Preux)
• Battle of the Canal du Nord – September 27 – October 1 (including the capture of Bourlon Wood)
• Battle of Cambrai – October 8–9 (including the Capture of Cambrai)
• Battle of Valenciennes – November 1–2
• Capture of Mons – November 11

Further reading

• Fowler, Robert (1995) Valour in the victory campaign : the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division gallantry decorations, General Store Pub. House ISBN 1896182151
• Saunders, Tim (2004), Juno Beach: 3rd Canadian & 79th armoured divisions, McGill-Queen's University Press ISBN 0773527923