Canadian Military Culture and Tactical Training, 1940–1944: The Making of Infantry Junior NCOs

Between 1939 and 1944, the Canadian Army underwent significant reforms to redress prewar deficiencies in the training of its infantry junior noncommissioned officers. The startling German successes of 1940 would eventually challenge the Canadian traditional tactical culture. As a result, the Canadian Army would expand its training organization as well as revising and updating its tactical doctrine and training. However, owing to a narrow-minded military culture, the new ideas came across some resistance. This article examines this process at work and thereby disputes the concept of a straight Canadian ascending learning curve during the Second World War.