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 Division6th Division Intelligence SectionNo. 6 Field Security SectionNo. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)Machine gun battalion – 1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)13th Canadian Infantry Brigade2nd Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment1st Battalion, The Brockville Rifles1st Battalion, The Edmonton FusiliersNo. 13 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)14th Canadian Infantry Brigade1st Battalion, The Kent Regiment1st Battalion, The King's Own Rifles of Canada1st Battalion, The Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham)No. 14 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)15th Canadian Infantry Brigade1st Battalion, Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Montmagny1st Battalion, Le Régiment de QuébecNo. 15 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)Canadian Armoured Corps31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance BattalionRoyal Canadian ArtilleryHeadquarters, Sixth Divisional Artillery, RCA19th Field Regiment20th Field Regiment21st Field Regiment9th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment25th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery46th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery48th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery6th Anti-Tank Regiment33rd Anti-Tank Battery56th Anti-Tank Battery74th Anti-Tank Battery103rd Anti-Tank BatteryCorps of Royal Canadian EngineersHeadquarters 6th Divisional Engineers, RCE7th Field Park Company, RCE20th Field Company, RCE25th Field Company, RCE26th Field Company, RCERoyal Canadian Corps of SignalsHeadquarters 6th Divisional Signals RCCS9th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment19th Field Regiment20th Field Regiment (shared with the 7th Canadian Infantry Division)21st Field Regiment24th Field Regiment (shared with the 7th Canadian Infantry Division)25th Field Regiment13th Canadian Infantry Brigade1st Battalion, The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers1st Battalion, The Rocky Mountain Rangers1st Battalion, Le Régiment de Hull24th Field Regiment, RCA46th Light AA Battery, RCA24th Field Company, RCE"C" Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)No. 6 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment15th, 25th, 26th Field Companies, RCE13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group24th Field Regiment, RCA46th Light AA Battery, RCAThe Canadian FusiliersThe Winnipeg GrenadiersThe Rocky Mountain RangersLe Régiment de Hull1 Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)24th Field Company, RCENo. 13 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)14th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group25th Field Regiment, RCA48th Light AA Battery, RCAThe Winnipeg Light InfantryLes Fusiliers de SherbrookeThe Oxford RiflesThe Prince of Wales's Own Rangers1 Company, 1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)No. 14 Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)15th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group20th Field Regiment, RCA25th Light AA Battery, RCAThe Prince Albert VolunteersLes Fusiliers du St. LaurentPrince Edward Island HighlandersThe Royal Rifles of CanadaNo. 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 Regiment1st Battalion, The Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun)20th, 24th, 25th Field Regiments, RCA22nd Heavy AA Battery (Mobile), RCA25th, 46th, 48th Light AA Batteries, RCA15th, 24th, 25th, 26th Field Companies, RCE14th Canadian Infantry Brigade GroupThe Winnipeg Light InfantryLes Fusiliers de SherbrookeThe Oxford RiflesNo. 14 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)15th Canadian Infantry Brigade GroupThe Prince Albert VolunteersLes Fusiliers du St. LaurentPrince Edward Island HighlandersNo. 15 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)16th Canadian Infantry Brigade GroupThe Midland RegimentThe Royal Rifles of CanadaThe Prince of Wales's Own Rangers
