The 6th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army, formed in 1942 during the Second World War. It was attached to Pacific Command. The division had a brigade sent to the Aleutian Islands Campaign, particularly at Kiska, but never saw action. The 6th Division was to have been part of a proposed Commonwealth Corps, formed for a planned invasion of Japan, but was disbanded in 1945, after the war was ended by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The 6th was raised as part of a home-defence scheme in Canada, the culmination of various mobilizations throughout 1941 and 1942. The 6th was raised in March 1942 with its headquarters on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Various composite units were stationed at Port Alberni, Vancouver Island and Vernon. Throughout 1943, the division lost its artillery units to coastal defence work, and other battalions were shipped overseas. In June 1943, these units were sent to Kiska only to find the island abandoned, and in late 1943, the 7th Canadian Infantry Division was disbanded and various battalions were amalgamated into the 6th. By January 1944, the units had returned from Kiska, having not taken part in any fighting. On 1 December 1944, the need for coastal defence having lessened, the division was disbanded, the process completing by 31 January 1945. Remaining units loaned from other, now defunct divisions, were finally disbanded in January 1946.
The Division was reformed as part of the Canadian Army Pacific Force, and was to be a component of the Commonwealth Corps intended to be used in Operation Olympic, the planned 1945 invasion of Japan. The division was to be commanded by Major General Bert Hoffmeister. 6th Division was organized on American lines and with U.S. equipment, but units were named after the component units of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The division was disbanded after Japan's surrender made the Corps's use unnecessary.
Headquarters, Sixth Division
6th Division Intelligence Section
No. 6 Field Security Section
No. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Machine gun battalion – 1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
13th Canadian Infantry Brigade
2nd Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment
1st Battalion, The Brockville Rifles
1st Battalion, The Edmonton Fusiliers
No. 13 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
14th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Kent Regiment
1st Battalion, The King's Own Rifles of Canada
1st Battalion, The Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham)
No. 14 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
15th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Montmagny
1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Québec
No. 15 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Canadian Armoured Corps
31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Battalion
Royal Canadian Artillery
Headquarters, Sixth Divisional Artillery, RCA
19th Field Regiment
20th Field Regiment
21st Field Regiment
9th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
25th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
46th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
48th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
6th Anti-Tank Regiment
33rd Anti-Tank Battery
56th Anti-Tank Battery
74th Anti-Tank Battery
103rd Anti-Tank Battery
Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers
Headquarters 6th Divisional Engineers, RCE
7th Field Park Company, RCE
20th Field Company, RCE
25th Field Company, RCE
26th Field Company, RCE
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Headquarters 6th Divisional Signals RCCS
9th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
19th Field Regiment
20th Field Regiment (shared with the 7th Canadian Infantry Division)
21st Field Regiment
24th Field Regiment (shared with the 7th Canadian Infantry Division)
25th Field Regiment
13th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers
1st Battalion, The Rocky Mountain Rangers
1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Hull
24th Field Regiment, RCA
46th Light AA Battery, RCA
24th Field Company, RCE
"C" Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)
No. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment
15th, 25th, 26th Field Companies, RCE
13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
24th Field Regiment, RCA
46th Light AA Battery, RCA
The Canadian Fusiliers
The Winnipeg Grenadiers
The Rocky Mountain Rangers
Le Régiment de Hull
1 Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)
24th Field Company, RCE
No. 13 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
14th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
25th Field Regiment, RCA
48th Light AA Battery, RCA
The Winnipeg Light Infantry
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
The Oxford Rifles
The Prince of Wales's Own Rangers
1 Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)
No. 14 Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
15th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
20th Field Regiment, RCA
25th Light AA Battery, RCA
The Prince Albert Volunteers
Les Fusiliers du St. Laurent
Prince Edward Island Highlanders
The Royal Rifles of Canada
No. 15 Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
1 Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)
No. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment
1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)
20th, 24th, 25th Field Regiments, RCA
22nd Heavy AA Battery (Mobile), RCA
25th, 46th, 48th Light AA Batteries, RCA
15th, 24th, 25th, 26th Field Companies, RCE
14th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
The Winnipeg Light Infantry
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
The Oxford Rifles
No. 14 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
15th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
The Prince Albert Volunteers
Les Fusiliers du St. Laurent
Prince Edward Island Highlanders
No. 15 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
16th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group
The Midland Regiment
The Royal Rifles of Canada
The Prince of Wales's Own Rangers
