The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from the city of Thunder Bay. It was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. It was stood down following the war and was later reactivated as the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during the Second World War. The second iteration served with distinction from 1941 to 1945, taking part in the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. A duplicate of the 3rd Canadian Division was formed in 1945 to serve on occupation duty in Germany and was disbanded the following year. History First World War The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General Malcolm Mercer. Its members served in France and Flanders until Armistice Day. While with the 3rd Division at Ypres, Mercer became the highest-ranking Canadian officer killed in action during the First World War. On the same day, Brigadier V. A. Williams, commanding the 8th Infantry Brigade, became the highest-ranking Canadian officer captured in the First World War, also at the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Mercer was replaced by Louis Lipsett, who commanded the division until September 1918, shortly before he too was killed in action on 14 October 1918, while commander of British 4th Division. Major-General Frederick Loomis closed out World War I as the commander. Battles and engagements on the Western Front 1916: Battle of Mount Sorrel – 2–13 June Battle of Flers-Courcelette – 15–22 September Battle of Morval – 25 September Battle of Thiepval – 26–28 September Battle of Le Transloy – 1–18 October Battle of the Ancre Heights – 1–11 October 1917: Battle of Vimy Ridge – 9–14 April Attack on La Coulotte – 23 April Third Battle of the Scarpe – 3–4 May Affairs South of the Souchez River – 3–25 June Capture of Avion – 26–29 June Battle of Hill 70 – 15–25 August Second Battle of Passchendaele 26 October – 10 November 1918: Battle of Amiens – 8–11 August Actions round Damery – 15–17 August Battle of the Scarpe – 26–30 August (including the capture of Monchy-le-Preux) Battle of the Canal du Nord – 27 September – 1 October (including the capture of Bourlon Wood) Battle of Cambrai