History
The 1st Canadian Tank Brigade was formed on 4 February 1941. The Ontario Regiment and The Three Rivers Regiment were transferred from the incomplete 1st Canadian Armoured Division to provide the nucleus of 1st Canadian Tank Brigade in February 1941. In March, The Calgary Regiment joined the new brigade from 2nd Division. The Fort Garry Horse were also originally part of the brigade, but transferred to the 5th Canadian Armoured Division in May 1941.
1st Tank Brigade moved to the UK in the summer of 1941; personnel arrived in the Clyde on 30 June and were promptly moved to Salisbury Plain where they were issued sufficient Churchill tanks for training. The Calgary Regiment participated in the disastrous Dieppe landing in 1942. Issued brand new M4 "Sherman" tanks, the entire brigade moved to the Mediterranean, with The Three Rivers Regiment participating in the assault landing at Pachino. The remainder of the brigade landed with the follow-up convoy of 13 July and served alongside the Three Rivers Regiment for the final weeks of the brief campaign. 1st Tank Brigade's role in the latter operations was largely one of fire support, the rugged terrain limiting the role of the armoured corps. The fight for Sicily ended with 1st Tank in reserve. Preparing for Operation Baytown, landings on mainland Italy, it was redesignated 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in August 1943. Although reorganized as an armoured brigade, no motor battalion served under command. Having established a reputation for both courage and skill, the Canadian tankers were in constant demand by British commanders.
It took part in 8th British Army’s assault landing on the toe of Italy in Operation Baytown. Its regiments participated in the Battles of Potenza, Termoli, Ortona. It helped break the Gustav Line crossing the Gari River with the 8th Indian Division. Its regiments helped the 1st Canadian Division and the 78th British Division in breaking the Hitler Line. It cooperated with the XIII British Corps in the Battle of Lake Trasimeno. It was active in the crossing of the Arno River.
Combined with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 5th Canadian Armoured Division as part of I Canadian Corps, the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade was moved from Italy and joined the First Canadian Army at the beginning of 1945. Here it participated in the crossing of the Ijsel river.
In its two incarnations as 1st Tank and 1st Armoured, the brigade’s service at Dieppe, France, in Sicily, Italy, and Northwest Europe earned it the distinction of the longest and widest service of any brigade in the Canadian Army during the war.
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