The formation of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division was authorized on 17 May1940. There was then a considerable delay until the brigade and divisional headquarters were formed on September 5, and the first divisional commander was appointed on October 26.
While the division’s components were forming, The Cameron Highlanders were detached and transferred to Iceland as part of Z Force. The battalion spent the winter of 1940-41 there before moving to the UK. The division's 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades began embarking as early as July 1 1941 and arrived in the UK at the end of that month. The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade embarked in August and arrived at the beginning of September. After its arrival, the division spent three uneventful years in garrison and training duties prior to the assault landing on Juno Beach in Normandy. Battle honours include Caen, Falaise, capturing the Channel ports, the Breskens pocket, and the final offensives of 1945.
The 21st Panzer division guarded Caen, and the 12th SS Panzer division was stationed to the south-east.
The exception was the 352nd Infantrydivision, which defended Omaha beach, and the tenacity of their defence was responsible for the high casualty rate there.
The failure of the 3rdDivision to take Caen, an overly ambitious target, on the first day was to have serious repercussions on the conduct of the war for well over a month, seriously delaying any forward progress.
The formation of the Canadian3rdInfantryDivision was authorized on 17 May1940.
The division's 8th CanadianInfantry Brigade and 9th CanadianInfantry Brigades began embarking as early as July 1 1941 and arrived in the UK at the end of that month.
The 7th CanadianInfantry Brigade embarked in August and arrived at the beginning of September.
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