Actually Defence Scheme Number One was based on the use of one cavalry and eleven infantry divisions of militia to fight a strategic delay until forces could arrive from overseas, i.e. the rest of the Empire. The plan was a non-starter as it failed to take into account the inability of the Royal Navy to keep the sea lanes open following the naval treaties of the early 1920s. which provided total parity in strength between the British and American navies.
As ofr the regular army, during the period between the wars the Canadian regular order of battle consisted of three infantry battalions totalling seven infantry companies, two cavalry regiments, each of two squadrons, a field artillery regiment of three batteries as well as a medium battery and a field company of engineers. All were understrength and the militia only had equipment for four infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade. To make matters worse the regiments/battalions were spread across the counthry, the PPCLI had its headquarters and one company in Winnipeg and the other company in Esquimalt, for example.
