Canadian and Australian troops were not assigned demanding attacks simply because commanders saw them as disposable colonial manpower. Their reputation also drew on strong unit identity, physical conditioning associated with contemporary recruiting pools, and the extra time formations often spent together while travelling to the theatre. Poor living conditions in industrial Britain could lower the average physical condition of some recruits, though British formations also produced their own highly regarded assault units. Material recruiting conditions, training time, esprit de corps, and commanders' perceptions all shaped the reputation.
Chapter · 1:29:10-1:35:36
Why Canadian and Australian troops gained a shock-force reputation
Dominion units were valued as shock troops for cohesion, fitness, and extended unit training, not because commanders simply regarded them as expendable.