4th Canadian Division The 4th Canadian Division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War . It was stood down following the war only to be reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infantry Division and then quickly rebranded the 4th Canadian Armoured Division during the Second World War . In both wars the division was recognized by the distinctive green patch worn on the sleeve of its soldiers . First World War . The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the Britain in April 1916 from several existing units and others scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter . Under the command of Major - General David Watson , the Division embarked for France in August of that year where they served both in France and in Flanders until Armistice Day . The 4th Canadian Division was a part of the Canadian Corps in the Battle of Vimy Ridge , which attacked and defeated the Germans , driving them from the ridge . As a result the Canadians became known as masters of offensive warfare and an elite fighting force . In the Battle of Vimy Ridge , the 4th Canadian Division was given the job of capturing Hill 145 , the highest and most important feature of Vimy Ridge . However , when they attempted to capture the hill , they were hampered by fire from the " Pimple " , which was the other prominent height at Vimy Ridge . To capture Hill 145 , forces which were supposed to attack the Pimple were redeployed and captured Hill 145 . Infantry Units . 10th Canadian Brigade : 11th Canadian Brigade : 12th Canadian Brigade : Pioneers : Battles and Engagements on the Western Front . 1916 : 1917 : 1918 : 4th Canadian ( Armoured ) Division . The 4th Canadian ( Armoured ) Division was created by the conversion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada . The division proceeded overseas in 1942 , with its two main convoys reaching the United Kingdom in August and October . The division spent almost two years training in the UK before crossing to Normandy in July 1944 . In UK , it did participate in war games together with the 1st Armoured Division ( Poland ) , and in France , Low Countries , and Germany , both divisions followed very close paths . It participated in the battle of the Falaise pocket , the advance from Normandy and spent almost two months engaged at the Breskens pocket . It wintered in the Netherlands and took part in the final advance across northern Germany . The division is to be reactivated with the renaming of Land Force Central Area Formation . 1944 – 1945 David Vivian Currie VC . David Vivian Currie VC was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in command of a battle group of tanks from The South Alberta Regiment , artillery , and infantry of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada at St . Lambert - sur - Dives , during the final actions to close the Falaise Gap . This was the only Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian soldier during the Normandy campaign ( from 6 June 1944 to the end of August 1944 ) , and the only VC ever awarded to a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps . The then 32 year - old Currie was a Major in The South Alberta Regiment . During the Battle of Falaise , Normandy , between 18 – 20 August 1944 , Currie was in command of a small mixed force of tanks , self - propelled anti - tank guns and infantry which had been ordered to cut off one of the Germans ' main escape routes . After Currie led the attack on the village of St . Lambert - sur - Dives and consolidated a position halfway inside it , he repulsed repeated enemy attacks over the next day and a half . Despite heavy casualties , Major Currie ' s command destroyed seven enemy tanks , twelve 88 mm gun s and 40 vehicles , which led to the deaths of 300 German soldiers , 500 wounded and 1 , 100 captured . The remnants of two German armies were denied an escape route . Land Force Central Area and 2013 reactivation . LFCA was created on 1 September 1991 , taking command of what was previously Central Militia Area and the Regular Force Army units and formations in Ontario from the northern Lakehead region to the border with Quebec . At that point in time , the six subordinate Militia Districts were reorganized into four : Northern Ontario District , London District , Toronto District , and Ottawa District . Later that decade , in 1997 , the four reserve force districts were again reorganized into three brigade groups . At the time of its creation in the early - 1990s , it was housed on the grounds of the former base and subsequently moved ca 1993 to the Place Nouveau office tower at Yonge Street north of Finch Avenue ; this was controversial as the offices of the Area Commander , Major - General Brian Vernon , were lavishly renovated , attracting political criticism and attention from the Auditor General of Canada . In 2013 , it LFCA was renamed 4th Canadian Division . With this change of name , the formation was also granted the identifying patch and historical lineage of the division that fought in the two world wars .