Shortly after forming the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade was redesignated 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, it took part in 8th British Army’s assault landing on the toe of Italy, Operation Baytown. Both British 8th Army and US 5th Army controlled the 1st Brigade at various times, and its formations were often widely scattered during the Italian campaign. Like 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 5th Canadian Armoured Divsion, 1st Armored Brigade moved from Italy and joined Canadian 1st Army at the beginning of 1945.
In its twin incarnations as 1st Tank and 1st Armored, the brigade’s service at Dieppe, on Sicily, in Italy, and in Northwest Europe earned it the distinction of the longest and widest service in the Canadian army in the war.
Although reorganized as an armored brigade, no motor battalion served under command.
Organization:
11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment) 12th Armored Regiment (Three River Regiment) 14th Armored Regiment (The Calgary Regiment)
