Post-war History of the Canadian Army

korean war memorial wall.

canada sent 26,791 canadians serve in korean war, 7,000 more remaining supervise ceasefire until end of 1955. of these 1,558 became casualties, including 516 deaths, due combat. canada s participation included several naval vessels , aircraft, in addition 25th canadian infantry brigade served part of 1st commonwealth division.

canada s military revitalized result of korean war. planned changeover us-designed weapons equipment had been planned 1950s, emergency in korea forced use of war stocks of second world war–vintage british-designed weapons. in late 1950s, canada adopted variety of weapons of european, british , design rather proceeding planned americanization.

post-korea

aside providing field force korean war, few operational missions existed until rise of peacekeeping in 1960s.

prior coronation of queen elizabeth ii, canadian army imperial/commonwealth nation have provided king s guard in london. in lead up, contingent of canadian troops sent coronation provided guard during june 1953, along equivalent unit of australian army.

during 1950s army advertised in british newspapers british ex-servicemen join canadian army. these recruits transported canada training. after 6-month trial period soldiers families allowed emigrate join father. transport scheduled sea transport.

in 1954, report of kennedy board tabled, giving suggestions reorganizing militia. anderson report followed in late 1957.

the late 1950s saw dramatic increase in army s size , canada s largest ever standing army created, largely through vision of general g. g. simonds chief of general staff. reason expansion need maintain presence in germany part of nato, while simultaneously providing forces korean war. initially, 6 new regular infantry battalions raised regiments of militia – 2 raised ordinary line infantry regiments, 2 regiments of rifles , 2 regiments of highlanders. when decision made make arrangement permanent, decided battalions become regular battalions of regiments. decision taken make rifles , highland battalions part of 2 of senior existing militia regiments, while infantry battalions organised new national regiment:

1st , 2nd canadian infantry battalions – 3rd , 4th battalions, canadian guards (raised carleton , york regiment, algonquin regiment, loyal edmonton regiment, les fusiliers mont-royal , hastings , prince edward regiment.)
1st , 2nd canadian rifle battalions – 1st , 2nd battalions, queen s own rifles of canada (raised queen s own rifles of canada, victoria rifles of canada, royal winnipeg rifles, regina rifle regiment , royal hamilton light infantry (wentworth regiment).)
1st , 2nd canadian highland battalions – 1st , 2nd battalions, black watch (royal highland regiment) of canada (raised black watch (royal highland regiment) of canada, north nova scotia highlanders, 48th highlanders of canada, seaforth highlanders of canada , canadian scottish regiment (princess mary s).)


centurion tank of canadian army, photographed in 1963

in 1950s canada sent brigade west germany part of nato commitment after creation of alliance in 1949. 27th canadian infantry brigade later became 4 canadian mechanized brigade group, remained stationed in west germany , later unified germany until 1990s , end of cold war.

the future of army put in doubt in age of nuclear deterrence. postwar militia (the part-time component of canadian army) reroled combat operations civil defence, extremely unpopular move. in 1964 suttie commission made suggestions on improving army.

in 1968, canadian airborne regiment, full-time parachute regiment, created.