The Canadian Corps - 2nd Canadian Division – World War I
The formation of the 2nd Canadian Division began in May of 1915 in France in September of 1915. Under the command of Major-General R.E.W. Turner, its members spent a long and bitterly cold winter in a Belgian section of the front between Ploegsteert Wood and St. Eloi, south of Ypres. Infantry units as well as Artillery Units of the 2nd Canadian Division served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day.
Infantry Units
4th Canadian Brigade: (Formed after the original 4th Brigade was dispersed)
18th (Western Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 1, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
19th (Central Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 19, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
20th (Central Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 1914 - November 11, 1918;
21st (Eastern Ontario) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 19, 1914 - November 11, 1918.
5th Canadian Brigade:
22nd (Canadien Francais) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 21, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
24th (Victoria Rifles) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 22, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
25th (Nova Scotia) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
26th (New Brunswick) Battalion Canadian Infantry. November 2, 1914 - November 11, 1918.
6th Canadian Brigade
27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 21, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
28th (North West) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 19, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
29th (Vancouver) Battalion Canadian Infantry. October 24, 1914 - November 11, 1918;
31st (Alberta) Battalion Canadian Infantry. November 16, 1914 - November 11, 1918.
Pioneers:
2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. March 1916 - June 1917. To the 2nd Canadian Engineer Brigade.
The 2ndDivision's role was a general advance south of the junction of the Odon and Orne rivers, but by the 19th, in the face of fierce resistance as well as poor weather, the division came to a halt.
The 2ndDivision's attack was made over open ground, with enemy troops on the flank and in subterranean iron mines in which he took cover and from which he infiltrated the Canadian rear.
The Canadian Army was ordered south; while the armour made its preparations to move on the 14th, the 2ndDivision busied itself with prepatory attacks, crossing the Laize River at Bretteville and southward for two days, recrossing the river at Clair Tizon and threatening the main German defensive line along the Falaise Road.
On October 2 the 2ndCanadianDivision began its advance north from the Antwerp area with a view to closing the exit from South Beveland and advancing along the South Beveland Isthmus.
By October 24, the isthmus was sealed off and the 2ndDivision began the advance against South Beveland (assisted by an amphibious landing by the 52nd British Division).
Thus the formidable Beveland Canal was outflanked and the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade began a frontal attack in assault boats.
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