First Canadian Army |First Canadian Army| Formation patch worn
by army-level personnel |Active||Second World War 1942-1946|
|Role||Senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during
the Second World War.| |Size||5 X divisions 2 X brigades The
First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational
formation in Europe during the Second World War. The Army was
formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian
Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United
Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps. By the end of
1943 Canadian formations in the UK consisted of three infantry
divisions, two armoured divisions, and two independent armoured
brigades. The first commander was Lieutenant-General A.G.L.
"Andy" McNaughton, who was replaced in 1944 by General H. D. G.
"Harry" Crerar. Both had been senior artillery officers in the
Canadian Corps in the First World War. Allied formations of
other nationalities were added to the First Canadian Army to
keep it at full strength. The Army'