By 1943 and the fourth year of the
Second World War, Spry had commanded the 1st Battalion,
The Royal Canadian Regiment and then the
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, both of which had fought in
Sicily and, later,
Italy. In 1944, now a
brigadier, he commanded the
12th Canadian Infantry Brigade, part of the
5th Canadian Armoured Division, which was also serving in Italy. Later, in August, he took charge of the
3rd Canadian Infantry Division, in
Northwest Europe, commanding the division after Major General
Rod Keller was wounded, leading it until the end of the
Rhineland campaign in March 1945. The commander of the 3rd Division's parent formation,
II Canadian Corps, Lieutenant General
Guy Simonds, was dissatisfied with Spry's performance during the assaults on heavily defended woodland near
Moyland, southeast of
Kleve and later on the
Hochwald, saying that he "lacked quick tactical appreciation and robust drive in ... urgent tactical situations". In turn, Spry felt that neither Simonds nor the latter's superior, General
Harry Crerar, commanding the
First Canadian Army, fully understood the situation "at the sharp end of battle". Simonds was adamant that Spry should go but Crerar was more sympathetic and he campaigned for Spry's appointment to the Canadian Reinforcement Units in Britain, appreciating Spry's ability as a trainer of soldiers (endorsed by Simonds) and the value of having a battle experienced officer in that role. Spry was relieved of command of the 3rd Division at the end of
Operation Blockbuster and he duly left for Britain to command the Canadian Reinforcement Units. ==Postwar==