3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade


The 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade was a formation of the Canadian Army in both World War I and World War II. The brigade fought on the Western Front during the First World War, and in Sicily and Italy during the Second World War.

History

World War I

First formed on 29 August 1914, the brigade was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin, but these titles were replaced with numerals before the brigade arrived in Britain on 14 October 1914. On arrival in Britain, it consisted of four infantry battalions, numbered 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th. As part of the 1st Canadian Division, the brigade fought in every major Canadian engagement on the Western Front between 1915 and 1918. Its first commander was Colonel Richard Turner. From March 1916 until the end of the war, the brigade was commanded by Brigadier-General George Tuxford.
After training on Salisbury Plain in late 1914, the brigade moved as part of the 1st Canadian Division to the Western Front. During its deployment on the Western Front, the 3rd Brigade fought in the following battles and engagements on the Western Front:
1915:
  • Second Battle of Ypres
  • *Battle of Gravenstafel: 22–23 April
  • *Battle of St. Julien: 24 April – 4 May
  • Battle of Festubert: 15–25 May
  • Second Battle of Givenchy: 15–16 June
1916:
  • Battle of Mount Sorrel: 2–13 June
  • Battle of the Somme
  • *Battle of Flers-Courcelette: 15–22 September
  • *Battle of Thiepval: 26–28 September
  • *Battle of Le Transloy: 1–18 October
  • *Battle of the Ancre Heights: 1 October – 11 November
1917:
  • Battle of Vimy Ridge: 9–14 April
  • Battle of Arleux: 28–29 April
  • Third Battle of the Scarpe: 3–4 May
  • Second Battle of Passchendaele: 26 October – 10 November
1918:
  • Battle of Amiens: 8–11 August
  • Actions round Damery: 15–17 August
  • Battle of the Scarpe: 26–30 August
  • Battle of Drocourt-Quéant: 2–3 September
  • Battle of the Canal du Nord: 27 September – 1 October
  • Battle of Cambrai: 8–9 October

    World War II

During World War II the brigade, again as part of the 1st Canadian Division, participated in the Allied Invasion of Sicily and then later fought in the Italian campaign. It was demobilized for the second time at the end of the war.

Order of battle

World War I
  • 13th Battalion, CEF
  • 14th Battalion, CEF
  • 15th Canadian Battalion, CEF
  • 16th Canadian Battalion, CEF
World War II