Canadian Corps (World War II)

The unnumbered Canadian Corps was the first corps-level military formation established by the Canadian Army during World War II. A four-division Canadian Corps had existed during the First World War. However, during World War II Canada's military contribution was to increase to the scale of a five-division, two-corps army.

The Canadian Corps became effective in the United Kingdom on December 25, 1940. It began as essentially a renaming of the existing Anglo-Canadian VII Corps. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division had already been sent across the Atlantic in December 1939 and early 1940, and had been attached to VII Corps to help defend southern England against the threat of German invasion from occupied France.

However, the number of Canadian troops in the United Kingdom had increased significantly with the staged arrival, over the second half of 1940, of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. A Canadian Corps was deemed advisable to accommodate and clearly highlight the growing military contribution from Canada.

British staff officers in the new Canadian Corps were replaced gradually with Canadians as trained replacements became available. Similarly, British units in the Corps were gradually replaced with Canadian units.

The Canadian Corps was redesignated I Canadian Corps on April 6, 1942, when the growing size of Canada's overseas expeditionary force in the United Kingdom required the formation of the First Canadian Army.

The Canadian Corps was commanded initially by Lieutenant-General Andrew McNaughton (December 1940 to December 1941), who had previously commanded VII Corps. From November-December 1941 Major General George Pearkes was asked to assume command of the Canadian Corps, taking the place of Andrew McNaughton who was on an extended leave. Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar assumed command from December 23, 1941 to April 6, 1942.