Canada’s Call to Arms: Recruitment, Deployment, and Preparation for War
In September 1939, when Britain declared war on Germany, Canada, a sovereign member of the British Commonwealth, also committed to the conflict. The memory of the First World War was still fresh for many Canadians, but a new generation was ready to serve. The Canadian government, under Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, faced a monumental task in mobilizing the nation. Public opinion was mixed; while there was a strong sense of loyalty to Britain, many Canadians remembered the high cost of the Great War and were hesitant about sending their sons overseas. Historian J.L. Granatstein noted, “Canada’s entry into World War II marked a defining moment for the nation, a balance between duty to Britain and a growing sense of independence” (Canada’s War).
The Recruitment and Mobilization of Canadian Forces
In the first months of the war, the Canadian government quickly moved to organize and expand its military forces. Recruitment efforts spanned the entire nation, drawing volunteers from cities, towns, and remote rural areas. The Canadian Army, still relatively small after years of peacetime downsizing, began a rapid buildup. The first Canadian division mobilized for overseas service was the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, commanded by Major-General Andrew McNaughton. McNaughton, a seasoned officer and scientist, would become a prominent figure in Canada’s war effort, known for his intellectual rigor and commitment to the development of a modern, well-equipped Canadian fighting force. Historian Tim Cook wrote, “McNaughton saw Canada’s army not just as a supporting force for Britain, but as an independent, technically advanced fighting unit” (The Necessary War).
By December 1939, the first wave of Canadian troops had embarked for Britain. Their arrival was symbolic of Canada’s commitment, but they faced a long period of preparation and adaptation. The winter of 1939–1940 in Britain was cold and damp, and Canadian soldiers endured long months of training in the fields and forests of southern England. Initially, Canadian soldiers had limited modern equipment and were often trained with outdated rifles and inadequate supplies. Nevertheless, morale was high, and the soldiers saw themselves as part of a greater cause.
The Battle of France: A Role in the Midst of a Catastrophe
As the Canadian forces trained, events on the European continent unfolded rapidly. In May 1940, Hitler launched his blitzkrieg, a rapid and devastating assault through the Low Countries and France that caught the Allies unprepared. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), along with French and Belgian armies, struggled to contain the German advance. Canada’s 1st Division, still in training in Britain, was initially held back as British commanders focused on evacuating the BEF from the beaches of Dunkirk. Although Canada’s forces did not participate directly in the evacuation, they were soon called upon to bolster Britain’s defenses as the situation in France deteriorated.
In the final days of the Battle of France, a Canadian unit, the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, was deployed as part of a hasty operation to bolster British defenses in Brittany. Commanded by Brigadier Arthur E. Potts, these Canadians were positioned alongside British and French forces, prepared to defend against a German advance that never fully materialized in that area. Instead, they watched helplessly as France fell, witnessing the speed and ferocity of Germany’s new warfare tactics. Historian C.P. Stacey wrote, “For the Canadians, the fall of France was a baptism by fire in a war that had only just begun. It underscored the brutal reality of what lay ahead” (Six Years of War).
Although the Canadians did not engage in major combat in France, the defeat left a lasting impression on them and underscored the need for further training and modernization. They returned to Britain with a sense of urgency, aware that they would likely be called upon to defend Britain itself if Hitler chose to invade.
Building Defenses in Britain: The Role of the Canadian Forces in 1940-1942
Following the fall of France, Canadian forces focused on reinforcing Britain’s defenses, as an invasion seemed imminent. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was deployed along the south coast of England, prepared to repel a German landing. Canadian soldiers dug trenches, built anti-tank obstacles, and patrolled the countryside as part of a massive defensive network known as GHQ Line. This line, running from the south coast through England, was intended to delay any potential German invasion long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Canadian soldiers, in collaboration with British units, became a critical part of this defensive line, maintaining readiness while honing their combat skills.
In July 1940, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division arrived in Britain to reinforce the 1st Division. Commanded by Major-General Victor Odlum, the division was tasked with augmenting defensive positions and preparing for a possible counterattack. By late 1940, two full Canadian divisions were entrenched across Britain, forming part of the island’s last line of defense. Historian Terry Copp observed, “The Canadian forces in Britain, though untested in battle, were a steady presence—a reminder of Canada’s commitment to the defense of the free world” (Fields of Fire).
Over the next two years, Canada’s forces continued intensive training. They participated in joint exercises with British units, learning the tactics needed for potential amphibious and airborne operations. Canadian commanders like McNaughton advocated for more autonomy and for Canadian forces to be deployed as a unified army rather than scattered across different British commands. His vision was for Canada to maintain a distinct, independent force within the Allied structure.
The Dieppe Raid: A Test of Canadian Resolve
By 1942, with an invasion of Western Europe not yet feasible, Allied planners looked for ways to strike directly at the German-occupied French coast. Operation Jubilee, known as the Dieppe Raid, was launched in August 1942, aiming to test German defenses and gather intelligence for future operations. The raid was conducted primarily by Canadian forces, with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division leading the assault. Major-General John Hamilton Roberts commanded the operation, overseeing units like the Royal Regiment of Canada, Essex Scottish Regiment, and the South Saskatchewan Regiment.
The Dieppe Raid would become one of the most controversial episodes of the war for Canada. The operation was met with disaster almost from the start. The element of surprise was lost, and Canadian troops faced fierce resistance from well-fortified German positions. German machine guns and artillery tore into the landing troops as they disembarked from their boats, and Canadian tanks struggled to maneuver on the rocky beach, becoming easy targets. Historian Tim Cook wrote, “Dieppe was a tragedy, a moment of profound loss and bravery, where Canadian soldiers, in the face of overwhelming odds, fought with courage and determination” (The Necessary War).
By the end of the raid, over 900 Canadian soldiers were killed, and thousands more were wounded or captured. The raid’s failure underscored the formidable defenses of the German-occupied coast and provided invaluable, if costly, lessons for the Allies. Dieppe would shape Canadian military strategy and reinforce the resolve of Canadian forces, who were determined to return to Europe not as raiders, but as liberators.
The Result: Preparing for the Long Campaign
The period from 1939 to 1942 was marked by Canadian preparation, loss, and learning. Canadian forces, though largely untested in battle until Dieppe, had solidified their role as a critical component of the Allied defense in Britain. They had built defenses, participated in joint operations, and developed a growing sense of national unity and autonomy. The lessons from Dieppe would inform Canada’s future contributions in the Normandy invasion and the campaigns to follow. Historian C.P. Stacey noted, “The Canadians in Britain came away from Dieppe with a deeper understanding of the war, hardened by loss yet emboldened by the belief that their time would come again” (Six Years of War).
Strategically, Canada’s presence in Britain contributed to a sense of security at a time when German invasion seemed imminent. The Canadians’ willingness to stand alongside Britain in its darkest hour earned Canada international respect and underscored the depth of its commitment. Furthermore, Dieppe, while tragic, provided the Allies with vital information on German defenses, influencing planning for the eventual D-Day landings in 1944. Historian J.L. Granatstein argued, “Dieppe was Canada’s sacrifice and its lesson, a chapter that would not be forgotten in the greater march toward liberation” (Canada’s War).
Conclusion: Canada’s Journey from Preparation to Action
From the early days of recruitment and mobilization to the hard lessons learned at Dieppe, Canada’s journey in the early years of World War II was one of growth, resilience, and transformation. The Canadian forces in Britain endured long years of training, a heartbreaking setback in France, and the devastating experience at Dieppe. But each step reinforced Canada’s resolve and steeled its soldiers for the campaigns to come.
The Canadian army’s role in Britain up to July 1942 set the stage for its contributions in Normandy, the Scheldt, and the liberation of the Netherlands. Canada’s early years in the war were marked by preparation and sacrifice, yet they laid the groundwork for a future in which Canadian soldiers would be among the leading forces in the liberation of Europe. Today, the memory of Canada’s contributions in those early years serves as a testament to a nation’s courage, endurance, and unbreakable spirit in the face of adversity.
References
- Copp, Terry. Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy. University of Toronto Press, 2004.
- Cook, Tim. The Necessary War: Canadians Fighting the Second World War, 1939–1945. Penguin Canada, 2014.
- Granatstein, J.L. Canada’s War: The Politics of the Mackenzie King Government, 1939–1945. University of Toronto Press, 1975.
- Stacey, C.P. Six Years of War: The Army in Canada, Britain, and the Pacific. Queen’s Printer, 1955.