27th Canadian Infantry Brigade

The 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade (27CIBG) was an Active Force infantry brigade created on May 4, 1951, for service in West Germany. The brigade sailed to Rotterdam in November and December of that year.[1] It was posted near Hanover and provided contingents for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2]

Formation

In the early 1950s, Canada had several armies. In addition to the Permanent Force and the Canadian Militia, there was the Special Force who had specifically enlisted for the Korean War. In January 1951 another Canadian Army was created for service in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as the Permanent Force was earmarked for defence of North America. Since Canada was the only member of NATO without conscription (except for Iceland), it was decided that the new force would be created by volunteers from the militia who would enlist for three years in their specific units.[3]

The brigade consisted of three infantry battalions called "PANDA battalions" (for Pacific and Atlantic). They were the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (formed in Valcartier, Quebec, on 4 May 1951), the 1st Canadian Rifle Battalion and the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion. Each battalion drew their personnel from five Canadian Militia infantry regiments of the same type (line infantry, rifle or highland). Each militia regiment formed a complete PANDA company within that battalion with the headquarters unit being a composite.

A reorganisation of the Canadian Army in 1953 led to a force of 15 infantry battalions: three for Korea, three for Canada, three for Europe and six for rotation.[4]

On 14 October 1953 the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade was reactivated and replaced the 27th.[5] In the same year its battalions were redesignated as the Canadian Guards, the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.

Footnotes
  1. p.63 Watson, Graham & Rinaldi, Richard A. The British Army in Germany: An Organizational History 1947-2004 Tiger Lily Publications LLC, 2005
  2. http://www.householdcavalry.info/crowning.html
  3. pp.372-380 Harris, Stephen J. The Post-War Army in Canada and NATO in We Stand on Guard 1992 Ovale Publications
  4. p.378 Harris
  5. http://www.army.gc.ca/iaol/143000440000164/143000440000327/index-Eng.html Archived 2010-12-20 at the Wayback Machine and http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/orgformations/1cmbg.htm

References
  • Berton, Pierre (2001). Marching As to War. Anchor Canada. ISBN 0-385-25819-4
  • Zuehlke, Mark (2001). The Canadian Military Atlas. Stoddart. ISBN 0-7737-3289-6.
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