History Browser

Canada's regular army emerged from the war with two new regiments, one of which was francophone, that formed the professional core for the Canadian Army Corps. A Non-Permanent Militia was planned with a fifteen division structure. There was considerable debate over merging the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) units into the militia.

Lieutenant-Colonel William D. Otter became the first Canadian-born officer to command this country’s military. As commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry in South Africa, his no nonsense, no frills approach to soldiering brought him into conflict with the less disciplined ways of his officers and men, but his austere professionalism got results.

Canadian forces raised in the First World War were disbanded and military affairs resumed their pre-war status. The National Defence Act of 1923 rationalized the three services into one organization that was poorly funded until rearmament began in 1936. The financial crises of the 1920’and 30’s severely restricted budgets and military planning.

From 1965-1980, Colonel C.P. Stacey organized the Directorate of History out of the three former separate Service historical sections. He introduced the practice of writing historical narratives of current operations or on topics of contemporary interest. The Canadian Forces Headquarters Reports deal with peacekeeping, naval aspects of the Second World War, and the organization and structure of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence from colonial times.

A shift of sorts has occurred since the times of the colonial French and British regimes. While Canadian society still depends on major allies to defend itself, relations have changed from one of subservience to the colonial regimes to an alliance with the United States. While attempting to assert a more obvious Canadian stance within these alliances, Canada has yet to take the final step to full independence with a robust fully funded independent military.

An account of the effort by the Canadian Forces, since 1915, to deal with "records generally appertaining to the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces and particularly the reporting of all casualties occurring therein", by organizing and compiling the vast collection of information produced durings the Forces' duties, into a manageable collection of historical reports.

A vital factor throughout Canadian military history has been the role of the militia or reserves. While there has been a shift from a small professional core of soldiers supporting a larger militia, to a small militia supporting a larger regular force; society has seen the necessity of funding both groups.

Lieutenant-Colonel François-Louis Lessard went to South Africa as a Canadian officer attached to the British Army to learn about the latest developments in warfare. In 1900, the Canadian government appointed him to command the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, later named the Royal Canadian Dragoons.

This report outlines the changing responsibilities and significance of the positions of Deputy Minister of National Defence and Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence since 1867. Includes a list of the individuals who have held these positions.

The British North America Act of 1867 declared that the Parliament of Canada should have exclusive legislative authority for the "Militia, Military and Naval Service, and Defence." This report describes various attempts to integrate Canada's Armed Forces prior to Paul Hellyer's appointment as Minister of National Defence in April 1963.