Following its redesignation from '1st Canadian Armoured Division', the bulk of 5th Canadian Armoured Division (officially “5th Canadian (Armored) Division”) proceeded overseas in one main convoy, arriving in the UK at the end of November 1941.
5th Armored spent two years of the war uneventfully in the UK, finally transferring to the Mediterranean in November 1943. The division moved without its tanks and vehicles, inheriting that equipment (in a less than pristine state) as a legacy from British 7th Armoured Division in Italy where the Canadians campaigned until the end of 1944. As with other Allied armoured divisions in the Mediterranean, local resources were used to establish an additional infantry brigade, the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
In January 1945 the division moved by truck, train, and naval transport to Belgium via Livorno and Marseille, arriving, disbanding 12th Brigade, and re-equipping in time to participate in the final offensives across the Rhine.
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; 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade :
; 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade :
Formation
Organization until July 1944, and from March 1945
; 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade :
; Other Units :
Organization July 1944 until March 1945
; 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade :
; 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade :
; Other Units :