The Partition of Canada (1939)

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The Partition of Canada

In June 1938 a Captain M.L. Fitzgerald Officer Commanding of "N" Squadron in Quebec traveled to the UK to convince the Commonwealth Executive that Canada was too large for the command of one person and that it should be split into two regions (East and West). Colonel Morton at Imperial Headquarters agreed to this at once but without due consideration of the Divisions Charter. Colonel Scott was advised that there was to be an Eastern Command under Captain now Commandant Fitzgerald with Scott as Commandant Western Command.

At the 1939 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Division a motion was passed that the Division break from the Commonwealth. This motion was passed and Scott was elected Commandant of the "New" Canadian Division. Scott like many others both in the UK and Canada had to leave this matter unresolved due to the outbreak of the 2nd World War. However the "Canadian Division" had been formed and in 1945 with the war over Scott returned as Commandant. After Colonel Scott resigned Colonel E. W. Cormack, OBE, ED, CD became Commandant and on 26 September 1964 Brigadier A. Mack CD, CDM succeeded him. Mack was to remain Commandant until 9 October 1990 when he passed away. Brigadier (Mrs.) D. H. Mack, CDM, AMM, PNR is currently Dominion Commandant. The Canadian Division have their own badge, medals and officers. At the current time they have 7 Provincial Commands; Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba & North West Ontario, Saskatchewan and one in the United Kingdom.

The UK Provincial Command of the Canadian Division has its roots in the 1939 split at which time Colonel C.H. Wybrow who was Chief of Staff at Commonwealth HQ in the UK resigned in protest over the "Canada Affair" and enlisted in the Canadian Division. He was appointed by them in 1948 as their Liaison Officer in the UK and in 1952 established the Canadian Division UK Command, In March 1952 he was appointed Commandant of the UK Command, a position he held until January 1960.

Corps of Imperial Frontiersmen

With the success of the Legion in Canada at this time other groups tried to establish their own Legion Commands. One was the "Corps of Imperial Frontiersmen" under Capt. J.C. Mantell of Weymouth, who by October 1940 was able to legally incorporate the "Imperial Frontiersmen". In 1944 they reorganized along military lines (the terms Provincial Commands, Districts and Squadrons were abolished) and they organised a General Headquarters, with Brigades, Battalions, Companies, Platoons and Sections. The Commandant of the Corps became Brig. F. Blackwell who passed away in 1957 with the new Commandant being Brig. W. Hocken who reorganized along the lines of the RCMP with Canada divided into Divisions. These being:

No. 1 Division British Columbia
No. 2 Division Alberta
No. 3 Division Saskatchewan
No. 4 Division Manitoba
No. 5 Division Ontario
No. 6 Division Quebec (North West/Central)
No. 7 Division Quebec (East Central/South East)
No. 8 Division Nova Scotia
No. 9 Division Ontario

Hocken remained as Commandant up to the 1960's and was succeeded by a Brigadier Hawkins. By this time only two Imperial Divisions remained, these being Ontario and British Columbia. The BC Division becoming a "Commonwealth Command" in 1961. In 1968 the Corps of Imperial Frontiersmen became re-affiliated with the Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth. Brigadier Hammel is currently Commandant of the Corps which is now based in St. Catherines, Ontario.

Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth Canada Command

The Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth also remained in Canada as there were those members who did not agree with the 1939 AGM and remained as "Commonwealth Frontiersmen". In 1961 they were joined by some members of the Imperial Frontiersmen in British Columbia who became "Commonwealth" again. This unit becoming the (current) BC Commonwealth Command under then Col. Squarebriggs. In 1976 all Commonwealth units were combined as the "Eastern Canada Command Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth" under Col. N. St. G. Hyslop, TD, LCM.

By the 1990's they had become two separate Commands, these being the "Alberta Command" under Brig. C. Freure and the "BC Command" under Brig. Bayley. These two Commands united again in January 19993 but again became independent Commands in 1994. The BC Command is once again under Brig G. Squarebriggs. The two Commonwealth Canadian Commands wear the badges and award the medals of the Commonwealth. They also have their own range of Canadian Awards and Medals. Despite all these events, relations between the Legion in Canada and the other Commands throughout the Commonwealth have been cordial. Medals and Awards have been exchanged between the Commands through the years and many members of the Canadian Division have Australian and New Zealand medals. In 1999 Alberta Command split with the Commonwealth after many differences imposed by the Commandant General and is now an Independent Command.

In the spirit of Legion fellowship the Commandant General of the Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth stated in 1994 that "The Awards of the Canadian Division are recognized by the Commonwealth (Command)".