The 2nd Canadian Division was one of the unluckiest Divisions in Canadian history. Raised in September 1939, it remained in Canada when the 1st Division was immediately sent overseas. When it was finally sent to England the following year, equipment shortages severely hampered its training. Once trained and equipped, it was judged to be the best division in the United Kingdom – and so was used to generate the troops for the ill-fated Dieppe raid. Once rebuilt, it followed the lead Canadian division into Normandy, distinguishing itself in hard fighting across France and into Holland where it took heavy casualties clearing the Scheldt and elsewhere. The division ended the war on German soil, having won 29 battle honours (in addition to “North-West Europe”).
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